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Set during
Dragonwatch
Teen for implicit sexual overtones
⟢ Ronodin/Reader ⟣
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As Celebrant's secretary, you're bound to meet a plethora of interesting, powerful people. But no one has ever quite caught your eye like Ronodin.

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You didn't know what to think of Ronodin. A unicorn in the draconic independence movement? Seemed very unlikely.

However, your job was just to take notes in these meetings, so speculating on the unicorn in the room wasn't helpful. Or at least, that's what Celebrant would say.

Of course, you knew Ronodin's beauty must have opened a few doors for him—there's no way at least a few people hadn't caved to his devilish smile or the way he tousled his hair when he was listening.

Of course, you would never cave. You got to your right-hand position by being discerning and looking past all the façades.

Although, it didn't hurt if you only took a moment to admire him. His silk Tang suit jacket hung on his frame like a tailor had spent hours pinning it to his angles. His dark eyes swept across the table, piercing his opponents, before landing on you—standing in the corner.

Oh, well, you had been caught staring. Wasn't the worst thing to happen.

Ronodin raised an eyebrow in your direction and you cocked your head. What was he getting at?

His gaze returned to the meeting when another dragon asked his opinion on something.

You should be careful. It wouldn't do well to underestimate his cunning. No one could rocket to the top like he had without some manipulative strides. You would know—you had done the same thing.

Flipping through your notepad, you raised your gaze again. This time, you caught his stare.

A sly smile grew across his face. It looked so comfortable there—like he had popped out of the womb already his sinister self.

Narrowing your eyebrows, you mirrored his smile. Now, what's he doing ignoring the meeting? That was your go-to method in these rooms.

"Y/n?" Celebrant broke from the ongoing discussion and twisted toward you. He was in his avatar, but hints of his true nature lingered in his glittering eyes.

At the other end of the table, you saw Ronodin write something down. Was he noting your name?

No, forget that right now. The white whiskers of the most powerful dragon in the world were pointed at you.

You stepped closer, almost bumping into the long mahogany meeting table. "Yes, sir?"

"What were the latest numbers on the force in Titan Valley?"

You flipped to some random page and rattled off some data. Celebrant nodded and stroked his beard. "Thank you."

He turned back to the table and you returned to your corner. The data of the latest preserves spun through your mind as you attempted to organize your thoughts for Celebrant's inevitable debriefing after the meeting. You didn't even notice Ronodin's gaze until you were leaving, as you trailed behind Celebrant.

He was still in his chair, but he held up a coy wave. Even more bemusing was the wink that accompanied it.

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The accommodations of the hotel were absolutely lavish. Fluffy pillows, pounds and pounds of comforters, stunning chandeliers, and champagne buckets decorated your hotel room. It was gorgeous—but no matter how long you stared at the chandelier or rearranged the blankets, you could not fall asleep.

It was frustrating. Today had been exhausting. Mingling with all sorts of dark creatures, taking notes on meetings, and cozying up to the powerful and servile alike to glean information took a lot out of you. Especially as a human.

So, logically, your eyes should have closed as soon as your head hit the pillow. However, logic didn't matter, apparently, and the clock ticked closer and closer to spelling out the horrible exhaustion you'd have tomorrow.

Well, since the amazing hotel room didn't work for you, you pulled over a cardigan and left.

The halls of the hotel matched the rooms with its chandeliers and fancy wallpaper, but it couldn't compare to the view you got once you entered the top floor's balcony.

The Las Vegas strip dazzled in the moonlight and colored itself in various hues of neon. You had always wanted to visit the City of Sin, and when Celebrant had asked for ideas to hold the conference, you knew the metropolis's reputation would entice him.

You exhaled into the night and watched the warm breath become visible in the chilled November air. Fireworks burst over the strip and rained blue, red, and yellow. It was gorgeous.

Whoever said working for the dark side didn't pay off?

"Y/n, was it?"

The voice was unmistakable and the smug tone was trademark as well. You hid the shiver—from the cold, obviously—as you turned to face him.

Your arms rested on the railing and you smiled to hide your nerves. It was definitely a little anxious being alone with him. For one, he was really hot. Also, assassinations were fairly common in your line of work, and being alone with someone was a perfect opportunity. You would know—you had orchestrated a few.

"Ronodin, was it?"

He raised an eyebrow and stepped towards you. "I see you were taking good notes."

"It's my job." The cold metal of the railing bit your side as you leaned against it. Gales of wind blew through the balcony and tousled his hair. "What are you doing out here?"

"I enjoy the eventide," he carded his fingers through the strands of his hair. "Besides, unicorns don't require a terrible amount of rest like everyone else."

You nodded. Alright, that was good to know. It would be prudent to adjust siege schedules. The Fairy Realm was high on Celebrant's attack list.

"And, you?" He leaned against the railing. "Are you a dragon?"

You shook your head as a coy smile slipped out. Giving out too much information was definitely not wise. However, you also definitely wanted to continue the conversation. It was safe to say you had ulterior motives. "No, I'm not a dragon."

"Demon, then? I've never seen a demon with an avatar before."

"Well, this is a fun game."

"Oh, come on." He rolled his eyes. "What are you? And how did you manage to become Celebrant's advisor?"

You just chuckled and turned back to watch the fireworks burst.

He placed an arm on your shoulder and turned you back to face him. His black hair fell over his eyes as he leaned in. "Don't tell me you're a unicorn, too?"

From this close up, you could see every pore and mark on his face. God, was he beautiful. "I'm a human."

His hand dropped from your shoulder in shock. Kind of rude—but it was always fun watching the various degrees of astonishment cross people's faces at that admission. "Celebrant employs a human advisor?"

You raised an eyebrow. "I don't know, does he?"

He laughed and ran his hand through his hair. "So much makes sense now. So, how did you come to be at Celebrant's side?"

You shook your head. "Uh uh, nope. This conversation is getting too one-sided. You have to tell me about yourself."

Ronodin grinned. "What is there to say? I'm a dark unicorn fighting for the emancipation of dragons and all dark creatures."

"Why?"

"What do you mean?" He propped his elbow up on the railing.

"You could have stayed in the Fairy Realm and stayed a good, little unicorn forever. You didn't have to do all this."

"I could ask you the same thing. I mean, how come a human abandons the preserves and joins dark creatures?"

You studied the skyline as you mulled over your response. Fireworks burst into the shape of the Eiffel Tower. "I guess it just didn't seem right to me—how dragons were treated."

"Exactly."

"But, now, what came first?" You turned to face him again. He glanced down at your lips and came back up to your face. "You forsaking your heritage or you joining the movement?"

Ronodin placed a finger over his smile and shushed you. "Some questions are off-limits."

"Oh, come on, now who's being a buzzkill?"

He laughed and shifted closer to you. "Oh, so you want to have fun?"

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The Las Vegas strip at night took your breath away. Neon cursive letters spelled out enticing offers, and string lights popped on the palm trees. But, all your brain could process was the weight and warmth of Ronodin's arm draped across your shoulder.

"Alright, where to, darling? Want to hit the Eiffel Tower?" His breath brushed your ear. "Get a taste of the City of Love in Sin City?"

You giggled and he smiled at you. "I could listen to that sound all day."

"Oh, shut up," you playfully pushed at his chest.

"You know how to shut me up," Ronodin murmured.

You raised your gaze to his face. The miniature Eiffel Tower shined behind his head. Tilting your head, you brought your lips a whisper from his.

"Oh, yeah? How?"

He closed the distance and you wrapped your hands around his neck. The rest of his body was cold, but his lips were burning.

You like the heat, though, so you released your inhibitions. Centuries of practice had obviously made Ronodin an adept kisser. You weren't quite as used to holding your breath for so long, so you pulled back to breathe.

Ronodin rested his forehead against yours as both of you gasped.

"I've been imagining that all day," he confessed.

You gripped his chin and pulled his lips gently towards yours. His throat gulped under your fingers.

You paused to whisper before diving into his lips. "Me too."

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Ronodin didn't even bother unlocking his hotel door with his card, opting for his dark magic instead. The lock popped with a wave of his hand and the door swung open.

His hotel room matched yours to a T, except for the jazzy music setting the scene.

"You ever danced swing?" Ronodin grabbed your hand and spun you into his arms.

You glanced up at him in the embrace. "I didn't realize we came here to dance."

"Oh, come on," Ronodin tilted your chin upwards and pressed a kiss to the edge of your lips. "Dancing can be just as fun. And who says we can't do both?"

"You've intrigued me."

He laughed and spun you back out. One hand deftly undid the buttons of his shirt and lifted it over his head. "Is it hot in here for you, as well?"

"Funny." You couldn't resist the smile breaking across your face as he spun you back in. With the way you wrapped your hands around his neck and the negligible space between, it was safe to bet cotillion teachers everywhere were wailing in agony. On your tiptoes, you melted into a kiss.

He was impossible to resist. And now, you could feel his muscles rippling across his torso as he reached under your thighs. You got the message, and hopped up, wrapping your legs around him.

Your awareness of your surroundings was limited, but you felt the wall press into your back.

Oh, yes...this was going to be a night to remember.

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the end