AN: Wow, I'm trying to get over my coffee addiction but it has just led to anxiety. I've heard that eventually you get over this stage but for someone who already has anxiety it sucks. Well, hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Three – A Pet Dragon

I feel even more nervous right now because I don't know where Kuon is, the real Kuon. I know where the fake Kuon is who hopefully can't be able to sense where the dragon Kuon is. I have put some snacks in the cupboard as well as left some hot cocoa out. I don't know how much research this faker has done but if I can catch him eating this stuff then that will just remind me that he's not really Kuon. I look down at my phone. It's dangerous to call Father even to check on Kuon but I feel at a complete loss without him here.

"What are you thinking about?" the fake Kuon says as he wraps his arms around me and I feel sickened that he even touched me. I didn't ask for this and I wish my husband had his arms around me. I take a deep breath in before turning to the fake Kuon with a strained smile.

"Hi," I tell him trying to use my acting skills as I remember how Ren's false smile used to be, "I was thinking about what to make for dinner." I sigh before looking away. "How did acting go for you today?"

The false Kuon shakes his head with an annoyed sigh, he takes a few steps away from me and goes to look out of the window with his palms face down on the counter top. I see him looking at his reflection in the window and I take deep breaths. "You'd think the director an idiot. He asked me to redo the scene so many times, it was exhausting. I can't believe that his ego is that big. I mean, I'm an actor right, I get paid to show up and look pretty and smile.

I take a deep breath in. If I knew that this being wasn't willing and ready to harm the actual Kuon, the man that I truly love with my whole being, then I might correct him in that horrible misconception of actors. No. There's a lot more than to look pretty and Kuon is an amazing actor because he understands that. That's why so many people get excited about working with him.

"Yes, they don't understand how much work you already put in," I tell him before going to the stove. I have some stronger sleeping pills today, hopefully he won't be able to sense them because I want to sneak out and if I can't see Kuon then at least I'd be able to call Father and check that everything is going okay.

"I really want to eat meat, you can make meat sweet, right?" he asks and I blink. I know that in Canada they have candied bacon but I don't have any bacon. I could probably make some with the steaks that I bought today but those were bought with Kuon in mind. I don't know much about the appetite that dragons have but he seemed to like the steaks that I brought him before.

"I could make the broth a little sweeter tonight and how about some sweet tamagoyaki as well," I suggest. I close my eyes and turn back to the stove. Yes, Kuon would never ask that question. Kuon definitely prefers his food to be more savory in taste than sweet. I wonder if I should cook the steak for him but he seemed to enjoy it when raw. I'm not going to claim to know the ins and outs of feeding a dragon.

I wish that I wasn't here. I would rather be with Kuon in the form of a dragon rather than this being who stole his body. This isn't a dragon in a human body, is it? He has to have been a person originally, maybe a wizard or something. He catches me watching him and raises an eyebrow.

"You keep staring at me," he tells me and I look away. I put some meat into a pan and start to gather the ingredients for the sweeter broth.

"Just thinking about how lucky I am to be in love with you," I tell him trying to hide the fact that I know what is happening and it scares me and I don't know why this creep won't leave me alone. He's not Kuon, that much is more than obvious. What does he hold against Kuon anyway? Why is he spending so much time from me? I don't know what he wants from me.

"No. I'm the lucky one to be able to love you," he tells me before kissing my cheek and I have to try my hardest not to flinch and lean into the kiss. I don't want anyone to kiss me but the real Kuon. I don't know how to explain that. I know that for Kuon's safety, I shouldn't, it would only put him in danger. I just hope that Father keeps him safe.

…

…

Dad leads me to an area with a large barn. He's taken me down trails that I didn't know existed and therefore nobody would be able to spot us. He walks to the side before picking up a piece of rope and I turn my head to the side. What is he going to do with that? He comes over to me and looks at me very sadly before holding the rope up.

"Kuon, I need to apologize to you before we go any further," he tells me and I look at him very confused. I give a low murmur almost like a whine as I study him. Is he going to tell me that he's leading me in the wrong direction and we're going to be heading into some kind of a trap? Is he going to leave me and tell me I'm not his son? "I need to hide the fact that you're my son," he says and I pause. He doesn't want me to be his kid any longer? "I hate to ask this of you but I need to call you my pet and treat you as one. It's for your own protection."

I blink at him and look down. The word pet hits me very strongly but then so do the words, ask this of you, treat you as, own protection. Those don't seem like the words of someone who sees me as an animal.

"I love you," Dad tries to reassure me, "You are my son and I hate that I have to ask this of you. When we're alone later on, I'll treat you like my precious son but right now I need for you to trust me." I listen to him before nodding. I close my eyes and lower my head as I feel a loop of rope around my neck. I feel Dad tighten it to the point where he has control but not where I will be hurt by it. "Is that okay?" he asks as he placed a hand near my horn and I nod. It doesn't hurt. "One more," Dad says and this time he's bound my jaw and snout. He runs his hand down it trying to soothe me and it's working. "Thank you," Dad tells me and I can see in his eyes that he still views me as his child despite my form.

Dad leads me to the outside of a tavern near a gigantic barn that looks like it could be a sports arena. What is that? How is it hidden out here? I tense. Are there going to be a lot of people who see me this way. "I'll be right back," Dad tries to reassure me and I let out another unintended whine. Dad wraps his arm around my neck in an embrace and I settle down in the shadows.

It doesn't take long before Dad comes back with a man who I've seen photographs of. I think they are related to us but not close enough for me to have met them. Dad walks over to me and as the other man nears me, Dad winks and nods telling me that he's going to start acting.

"He really is a beauty, Kuu. I think that you'd be able to sell him for a lot of money, maybe shave off some of those scales and sell them."

"Yeah," Dad says, "He would definitely fetch a high price but he's kind of a nervous thing, very shy and reserved. I wouldn't want to sell him to the wrong person."

"You whipped him yet?" the man asked, "Sometimes dragons need a bit of whipping to be able to get out of that scared and nervous state."

Dad takes a slow breath and shakes his head, "I can't do that to him. If he hides away then I'll never be able to sell him. Actually this one I don't think I will sell."

The other man sighs before walking over to me, checking me. He pushes my back down, patting me as you might with a horse. He gets on top of my back and I can feel his weight. Dad immediately puts a hand on the side of my head trying to calm me down and ease some of the pain. "Yeah, definitely a rider when he develops his wings. He's a baby, ain't he?"

"Yes. He's a young one for sure," Dad says. "Still needs to go through the training phase. However, since I only just gained ownership over him, we need a place to stay for the night."

"It'll cost you," the man says with a grin and then gets off of me. He puts a hand on one of my wings and starts to tug it. It hurts. I give a sad whine and Dad wraps his arms around me again.

"It'll be over soon," he whispers in a way that only I can hear.

"He know where to go when he needs to relieve himself?" the man asks and Dad nods. "Okay, follow me. I'll even give you some fresh meat at a price for him to eat. Better not be a noisy one, don't want the wrong people to get interested."

Dad nods and grabs the rope, he gives in a firm tug and I nod. I'm supposed to follow him. The man leads us into the barn and I know that there are a dozen places where I could hide in here. Who knew a place this big would even be here?

"This one looks a lot like you," the man says and I turn to Dad not understanding. He laughs awkwardly and then ties me to a wooden beam. "Okay. He'll be safe whilst you pay me," the man says, "Have you brought your checkbook?" he asks and Dad nods. I feel scared. How much do dragon lodgings cost?

…

….

Somehow, with some meat in my belly and being able to see the stars, I fell asleep. Now though, my anxiety is acting up and I feel trapped. Have I become claustrophobic. I try to move forwards but something is covering me. A blanket? I look around before seeing that it's a wing from another dragon. I look up and see there to be a dragon with scales of a variety of shades of brown sleeping next to me. He opens his eye as I stare at him. He's nearly three times the size of me. What the hell is this?

End of Chapter Three

Thank you for reading, reviews are appreciated

Thank you to the reviewers of Chapter Two

Hopewords, Kaname671