Kohl
Kohl jerked at the cuffs holding his dragon arms and legs to the cave wall. The metal biting into his flesh. His wings tucked against his back and his dad had even chained his tail. Sweat rolled down his back at his exertion, but he continued to pry and pull at his confinements in order to find a weakness.
What had his father been thinking? Without this chance at Earth for the crystals or some other planet, his people were doomed. Why couldn’t his father realize that? He needed to escape and get back to Earth. Kohl was certain there would be more meteorites with other humans or in what they called a museum. He and his brothers could swoop
Isabelle Isabelle rolled over and groaned. Her stomach heaved and she scrambled to the bathroom before vomiting. No way could she miss today...her class was doing a field trip to the zoo and all of her students were looking forward to it. Maybe it was the buffet she had last night with her friend and fellow teacher, Julia. Oh was she sick too? Once Isabelle’s stomach settled, she wanted to crawl back into bed, but kids were depending on her. She brushed her teeth and threw up again. Taking gulping breaths, she then splashed water on her face. She had to hurry or Cooper would write her up again and she'd lose her job. And what about her students? They'd be devastate
Kohl How many days have I been here? Unable to fight or leave this cave?Kohl slumped as much as he could with the chains digging into his scales and now the flesh beneath. His father had left him like this for nine days. His sisters and brothers brought him food and water and cleaned his cave. Then Kohl was allowed to be unchained during the day, but guarded at all times until he was locked up. No matter how much Kohl tried to convince his father that they needed to go to Earth because of the quasicrystals, his father refused, saying that it was too dangerous to send dragons to Earth with their superstitions and prejudices.
Isabelle “This is stupid.” Isabelle tugged on Julia's arm. “I'm not pregnant.” She would have a feeling or inkling, right? Something besides nausea and days of little energy. “No, it's best to know then worry. Besides, if you are, then you need to start prenatal vitamins and—” She sighed, not liking this discussion one bit. “Yes, doctor.” Isabelle followed her friend down the aisle of baby and feminine products. A woman with an infant walked past them while a toddler wailed about his broken cookie. “Ah, here we are.” Julia rattled a glass case in the isle full of pregnancy, fertility tests, and condoms. The locking bar slid open a bit.
Kohl Kohl ducked under a low-hanging branch and raced deeper into the forest. The Tryn trampled the ground behind him. Hundreds...maybe more. Their black bodies covering the ground like hairy locust.His breath lodged in his chest.At least the rest of my family is safe.Kohl ducked under a low-hanging branch and raced deeper into the forest. Heflewthroughthe forest,dodgingtreesandbouldersandTryn. The Tryn trampled the ground behind him. Hundreds...maybe more. Their black bodies covered the ground like hairy locusts.His breath lodged in his chest.At least the rest of
IsabelleA flood of emotions washed over Isabelle. Anxiety, fear, and disbelief. She was pregnant! Her body refused to move as she stared at the positive pregnancy stick. All three tests had come back with the same results...she was going to have a baby.“Congratulations,” Julia said, swooping off the couch and hugging her. "You're going to be an excellent mother."“How can you be so excited?” Shock raced through her as she stared at her friend, willing this to be a crazy dream. Her life had changed in the blink of an eye. She felt as if someone had strapped her to a spaceship and blasted her into outer space. What would Principal Cooper do when he found out? He'd never let her teach being a single mom, pregnant after a one-night-stand.The kids needed her. Tears threatened as she imagined how hard it would be to bring up this baby by herself. And she had had sex without even knowing his last name or anything about him. She had no idea where he was or if he was living or dead! Oh my g
Isabelle Isabelle shuddered against the cold cell that reminded her of a prison. Her world had turned upside down and morphed into a nightmare. Aliens existed! And the scowl on his boar-ish face let her know he wasn’t a misunderstood being who wanted love and peace. The air was dank and musty in the corner of the small cell. Her stomach heaved. Visions of Kohl’s evil face still plastered her brain and she wished she could scrub the image away. Isabelle shivered in dread against the cold metal floor. A metallic door slid open and Kohl stomped toward her. “Now that we comprehend each other, you will obey me and give me what I want.” Anger radiated from his face. She could smell his putrid breath as he spoke.She swallowed. What did a demon want with a human? She clutched her arms around her stomach. A breeding mare? Well, he’d already knocked her up, but she’d be damned if she was going to tell him that ne
KohlDryness filled Kohl's mouth as he waited for Isabelle’s response to his declaration. She was the second human female to ever find out what he really was. Would she be as accepting as his friend Dena or—“Let me out!” She rushed to the dungeon door and pounded against the metal frame. “Take me back to Earth, now, damn it.” Her breaths came out as wispy white smoke.It was too cold down here for her. His body regulated temperature better than hers. Plus all she wore was a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, so she’d freeze in no time.“Let her go and we'll negotiate.” If Kohl could get word out to his family somehow, he could lure the Tryns into a trap. Have his brothers and cousins pounce and destroy as many of the enemy as they could. And they needed to know about the massive Tryns and their plan. He and his kind couldn't allow these beasts to attack Earth. It must end here and now on Renjer.Once his fat
IsabelleIsabelle’s heart leaped into her throat at the demon's presence—an eight foot tall black beast with rows of jagged teeth and glowing red eyes. What was the creature going to do to her...to Kohl? Its black claws clicked as it clapped its paws together. Leathery wings were small on its back and she doubted the monster could fly. Kohl stepped in between them, blocking the demon from her view.“I congratulate you on escaping the tower, but your freedom is short-lived. My legion has you flanked. Surrender now and no harm will come to the human.”Kohl’s tail flopped against the ground in front of her, sending up dirt and shards of grass. “I know Tryns’ vows are as worthless as weed-seeds. All that comes from it is misery and remorse.”The demon grinned and its three rows of jagged teeth showed. Along the trees and bushes, hundreds of Tryns crawled forward resembling nightmares of monsters and devils. Is
Isabelle“Why do we have to go to your planet for the birth?” Isabelle panted as another contraction hit her. “What about the Tryns?”Kohl pulled up the couch cushions to find her wedding ring. Over the last month it had gotten too tight on her finger and he fastened a chain around her neck to wear it, but the lock broke last night in their lovemaking and she didn’t realize it was missing until this morning. “I can’t find it. We’ll have to hunt for it later.”“No way!” she huffed. “I’m not leaving without it.” They still didn’t know if she’d survive the birth, but she wanted everyone to know she was Mrs. D'Kohralx. Even though Kohl’s people didn’t wear rings, but kept each other’s scent on them, she liked her wedding ring of white gold and diamonds and sapphires in twinging hearts. Both symbolize her and Kohl and their twins.“Damn it, Isabelle. We can find it later.” He raked a hand through his hair.She tap
Isabelle Isabelle woke with a start. Oh crap, crap, crap—the alarm didn’t go off! She untangled herself from Kohl’s arms and scrambled to the bathroom. Late for class again!Where was her cell phone? While she jumped into the cold shower, she scrubbed her body and teeth, nearly slipping twice, but caught herself.What was she going to do when she was the size of a barn? Eventually, she’d have to tell Principal Cooper about her condition.She threw on a plain white, flowered dress with an Imperial waistband. Kohl leaned against the door frame, watching her.“You okay? Why the hurry?”“Some of us have to work for a living.” She gave him a wink and a smile. “Not all of us can be dragon prince.”He raised an eyebrow. “Well, this dragon prince would pay any amount of money to have you take off that dress and walk around naked all day. How much for you to come back to bed?”“More than you can afford.” She laughed.
KohlIsabelle! Kohl’s heart squeezed like a giant fist...every fiber…howled her name. He glanced around, hoping for a glimpse of her or one of her smiles that seemed to light the darkness inside him. Hell, he'd shout in joy if she rose from some safe place in her yard and tell him not to shout and wake the neighbors. Luckily, it seemed one set wasn’t home as cars were gone and the lights were out. But the flames didn’t stop chewing away at anything in their path. The earth foliage blackened and ash floated in their wake.The smell of charred pine needles filled his nostrils and left an acrid taste on his tongue. He’d lost her. The devastation made him feel as if he was buried alive under the weight of despair pressing down on him.It was all his fault that she got trapped between his enemies and him. He should've never gotten involved with her. Should've walked away when he first met her instead of spend
Kohl Kohl barreled outside into the night. His dragon vision allowed him to make out shapes and a few colors despite the overcast sky. He scanned his surroundings, searching for the enemy.Through the darkness, he spotted a figure in the middle and he advanced cautiously, ready to fight.The Tryn had a human man by the throat, dragging the body behind him.Inhaling, Kohl detected his brother's scent of cedarwood and smoke. His heart hammered against his ribcage as he shook his head to process what he was seeing. His brother was a dragon, not a human. Dragons couldn't shift. This man couldn't be Taurian. It wasn't possible.A blunt force hit him in the back and the air left his lungs in a rush and pain burst across his shoulder blade, then another finger of agony twisted into his back, missing his heart by inches. Kohl groaned and twisted around, spotting another Tryn who held a piece of wood fence in
Isabelle Isabelle took the time to read the last student's paper, then leaned back in her desk chair. She wrote the grade at the top with a smiley face and laid it on top of the pile of finished ones on her desk.Even though it was early release day and nearly dinner time, she was still at the school. Julia had called in sick and Isabelle told the substitute teacher she'd grade both classes’ papers.Everyone thought she was being nice and considerate, which she was, and normally she would have offered to help in any way she could. But this week she had an ulterior motive...to keep as busy as possible so she wouldn't dwell on Kohl and what a jerk he’d been when she was on his planet nearly a week ago.Vivid memories of him forcing her to leave plagued her mind. His harsh words. The way he'd looked like he couldn't stand her. Why was she so upset at his actions? Wasn't like they had even dated. And he lived in
KohlKohl's heart hurt as if it had been raked with burning tongs until nothing remained. As protest, his body refused to shift into his dragon-form and he remained human. Probably because his wing had been torn and was healing. He hurled aside the larva delicacy with blood-wine sauce. The metal bowl hit the wall, then rattled against the cave floor. Inside his chamber, he paced. Was Isabelle all right? Had she had the abortion yet? His human mother had died while giving birth to him and he wouldn't sentence Isabelle to that fate. As a human, she wouldn’t survive the ordeal. He couldn’t live with himself if that happened. Guilty paraded in his mind. This was all his fault. He had been stupid by having unprotected sex with her. And he’d not have his child grow up without a mother. He would do anything to make sure that didn’t happen. His chest tightened at the memory of Isabelle’s hurt and angry gaze wh
Isabelle“W-what?” Kohl's voice boomed through the chamber and made Isabelle cringe. His anger rolled off him in waves.She hadn't expected to blurt out that she was expecting a baby, but her nerves had been clawing on thin ice since she arrived on this planet.“That's not possible.” He turned a split-pea shade of green.Damn, she'd known he'd be shocked and surprised, but didn't think he'd have this reaction. “Actually it only takes one time.” Especially in our case.He met her stare and pain filled his gaze. “We have to get you back to Earth. Now.”“Why?” Was he ashamed that she was pregnant? Maybe it was taboo or something. “I'm sure your family and mine will accept our child. He or she won't be an outcast or unloved.” Not if I have anything to say about it.Without a word, he snatched her hand and led her out of the chamber down the corridor of caves.“Too tight, you're hurting me.” Why was he reacting this way? This was the worst scenario she’d thought of…he wanted
KholKohl felt something heavy on his arm. He blinked, raising his head to see Isabelle laying across his arm and chest. They'd made it to his family's hideout, but how? One of his siblings must have found them. The last thing he remembered was getting attacked, and his mind fell blank after that. “Don't wake her yet,” his sister, Desmonda said from the doorway. “She's been tending you nonstop for over a day.” Kohl nodded. “You're not surprised I'm in human form?” She brushed aside a tear. “I pick up on a lot of things, brother, just don't tell anyone unless I think they should know. Doesn't matter to me if you are half-human or half-Valiruc, you are still my brother.” “Thanks. Why are you crying?” He rubbed a shaky hand over his face. “Where is everyone? It's too quiet.” Even though they were in hiding, he would sense his family near or even hear the snores of his father or one of his brothers. Due to the Tryns, his family took turns sleeping and keeping watch. “Desmonda, the Tr
Isabelle“Kohl?” Isabelle waded in a circle in the river. No response. Even the travois was gone. Her breath hitched as fear crashed against her insides. Had a river monster taken him? Unconscious, he wouldn't be able to fight back. Along the riverbank, bushes sprouted bright violet flowers. A flock of birds with long necks and a brownish color flew overhead. A goat-like beast with three horns dipped its head to drink, but bounded off when it spotted her. She swam downstream in hopes of finding him. A shadow darkened the sky for a moment. What was that?Ahead of her, a massive emerald dragon swooped low. Its wings spanning as wide as the river's edge. Her heart hammered, and she couldn’t breathe. The creature looked twice the size of Kohl in his dragon form. And its tail was different with spikes on the end and longer. Did that mean it wasn’t part of his species…family?Wings that spanned the edge of either side of the river stirred up the water and gusts of air had her falling backwa