Duskleaf

I kept my eyes glued to Elarinya, expecting her to make the first move. After all, I wasn’t that naive! A big part of the reason why I stuck around was the way she had suddenly revealed a much more intriguing side of her. Leaning in close, she gave me a wicked, teasing smile.

“Tell me, little prince... would you like to try the prized possession of Astranaar?”
“Yes,” I replied instantly, a confident smirk playing on my lips. I mean, she was looking directly at me, practically offering herself up. It was a no-brainer!

But instead of pulling me into her arms, Elarinya let out a knowing chuckle, shifted backward onto the cushions, and gently turned my shoulders away.

Before I could ask what was happening, a massive shadow blocked out the soft, ambient glow of Lythirn’s room. An elf, who named himself Duskleaf, stepped forward, completely bypassing Elarinya. Around the room, the sudden shift sent a wave of electric excitement through the rest of the company. Lythirn let out a low, thoroughly amused chuckle, leaning back against his cushions to enjoy the show, while the other elves murmured in eager anticipation. Everyone else in the room seemed entirely in on the joke (it must’ve been a joke, right!), completely thrilled by what was about to happen.

I, on the other hand, was utterly blind-sided.

Was... Duskleaf the prized possession? Surely, it had to be Elarinya!

I began scrambling backward, but Lythirn’s rich laugh cut through my panic.

“Don’t tell me the brave prince of Beornia is afraid of a little elven hospitality?” Duskleaf smirked, leaning down so his warm breath fanned my face. “A true ruler doesn’t shrink away from a gift, my prince,” he murmured, his deep voice vibrating right through me. “Unless, of course, you aren’t man enough to handle it.”

My pride flared instantly. Not man enough? Me? I swallowed hard, my jaw tightening as I stubbornly planted my hands on the cushions.

“I am man enough! It’s just... I don’t want to do it!”
“Well... we’d beg to differ.”
“So what, you’re telling me I’m not man enough unless I sleep with another man?”
“Correct!”
“W-what?”, I couldn’t wrap my head around it.
“My prince,” Elarinya said, “any man can sleep with a woman... but only a true man can take another and still feel as proud as an oak!”

Her comment made me briefly reconsider. She had... a point, I guess. But still, I wondered, is this really necessary? One look at Duskleaf and his... thick elfhood... was enough to raise a few doubts.