The following morning, in my wolf form, I charge through the forest at breakneck speed. An angry dragon is one thing-a dragon without hope quite another. I escaped the cabin yesterday as soon as I could. I didn't want to love Sarn, though it may be impossible not to. I'm now running to try to take the spunk out of my wolf who wants the dragon in our bed. I want him there too, but it's easier to deny if my wolf is tired. So I run.In front of me there's a thick copse of trees and I make a sudden turn and leap over a broken tree branch. I'm not expecting to run into the dragon out here, but that's exactly what happens. My claws dig into the pine needles and earth, but I can't stop in time and literally knock Sarn off his feet. I roll away and shift to human at the same time. "I'm sorry," I say as I try to help him stand. He brushes away my hands and gains his feet on his own. His stunned look turns into a smirk as his eyes run over my naked form. Crap, this is the last thing I need."I
She truly sees me. Not just my pretty human face, but my dragon in all its glory. Her eyes shine and she doesn't back away or even tremble. Her gaze eats me up like I'm the finest dessert. Her tongue runs over her lips and I watch all of this from three stories above her. I want her so bad it hurts. I could love her as I've loved my brides. It would be so incredibly easy.With a powerful flap of my wings, I rise into the sky. Dmitri assured me this morning that I could fly freely within his territory. Right now, I must get away from Sierra and contain my thoughts of having her as a bride. I am such a pathetic excuse for a dragon. My answer for everything is to run. Usually straight to a bottle. Right now I want a drink like nothing else. No, that's not true. I want Sierra as my bride more.She shifts and follows me for an hour. I lose her in a mountain range where I land and hide behind a high group of rocks until I sense she's gone. What the hell is wrong with me? Maybe it's because
I've always loved the sense of freedom I get when I'm in wolf form. No human could ever understand. Now, I'm on the back of a dragon as we shoot through the sky and I'm envious of what Sarn can do. My freedom is nothing compared to this. The wind swipes my hair back and causes my eyes to water. Everything about flying is magnificent. My beastkind blood keeps me warm, and I could fly on Sarn for hours without tiring.He performs a quick roll and I manage to hold on with my stronger-than-human legs and arms. I yell with the gloriousness of what he is capable of doing. My wolf needs to feel the full effect of what is happening. "May I shift, dragon?"He gives me one of his grunts again before answering. "Can you shift and remain on my back?" he asks.I can't believe he's going to allow it. "No more somersaults, but yes I think I can." I gain my knees, resting against his neck where it joins the larger section of his body. I pull in the magic and instantly I'm on four legs instead of tw
She vexes me so and I need a drink. She has no idea the danger she faces when around me. Until I told her what happened, I'd forgotten for a short time. Forgotten the look and smell of Roxanne's burned flesh-her whimpers and the devastation on Laryn's face when he saw what I'd done to his bride."Damn she-wolf," I mutter again. I finally locate my sweats and storm back to the cabin after pulling them on. I'm not at all happy when I see her brother waiting. Are all these beastkind animals without self-preservation? I need my dragon realm where everyone but other dragons fear and bow to me. They wouldn't dare be waiting in front of our homes with an attitude.Roland blocks my path when I attempt to charge past him. If he wants to play, I'll be happy to oblige. He's not quite as tall or as broad as I am, but he's still a large guy. Before he suspects what I'm planning, I grab his arm and twist him around. A firm shove sends him to the ground face first. He gazes up from the ground with
I finally make it to the tall grass that surrounds the lake. It's a peaceful area with a stunning view of trees and mountains. I shuck my sweatpants and wade in. The water is cool and refreshing. Exactly what I need. I swim out to the deeper section and float while thinking on my sins. There are so many that I'm not even sure where to begin. Burning Laryn's bride is always at the top of the list. Trying to take Ashrac away from his parents a close second. But my mind wanders to all my past brides. Each beautiful in their own way-forced to be with me and make the best of their fate. I know they loved me, but what choice did they actually have? They couldn't escape me and I'm sure loneliness guided their hearts as it did mine. Because they are born in claiming years, they are raised differently than other girls in their village. A group of potential brides must wait until the actual claiming to see who the special chosen virgin is. The others go on about their life while a single woman i
Our joining was too amazing to even put into words. I feel different somehow-older, wiser, settled. Maybe now I am truly a woman and no longer the child I run from. The only other man I've been with was pleasant enough after the first time we had sex, but it was nothing like this. What I just experienced was a joining of more than two bodies. Sarn completed me in some indescribable way. My blood pulsed to the beat of his heart and I felt a current traveling from me to him and back again. I could rest within his arms for centuries and be satisfied.The only thing strange is that my wolf is surprisingly quiet. Maybe for once, she's as content as I am. I finally pull my head from Sarn's shoulder and look into his eyes. He immediately avoids my gaze.What the hell?He will not turn away from me after what we just shared. "Sarn, are you all right?"He laughs, but it's not a pleasant sound. I reach up and jerk his hair so he's forced to turn back to me. "You will tell me what's wrong," I
I love seeing him smile wide and it deepens his laugh lines. I will always remember him with this wicked grin and his glorious body standing in the light from the window. His eyes are sensual stars flashing with the hottest violet fire imaginable. A desperate ache fills me."How will we ever let him go?" I whisper internally to my wolf. I don't get an answer. No whine. No brush of fur inside me... nothing. I feel so incredibly lonely. I need my wolf to help me keep away the thoughts of losing Sarn and she's unresponsive."Why are you crying?" he asks as he wipes a tear from my cheek. He brings his finger to his lips and licks it away.I offer a trembling smile. "I don't exactly know, dragon. You make me happy?" I reply leaving it as a question because I cannot tell him that it will kill me to see him go. For so long I've dreamed of him-his arms around me, our bodies smelling of sex, and the sweet ache between my thighs. To actually have this happening and knowing it can't last is to
Even with a bride I've never felt such a powerful connection of energy during my release. My violet light should have exploded and wrapped Sierra within its warmth. Like the last time, it remained elusive. I don't wish to feel this dejected sensation I've had both times we've made love. It brings all the reasons I'm here to the forefront.Unleashing my dragon and soaring through the sky helps. I love the sound of Sierra's laughter. I fly us over the main collection of bear cabins and hear her shout greetings to the children and females who stop what they're doing and watch.I've never relished having people see a bride riding me. It's always been a personal, somewhat intimate experience. I'm sure the humans at my castle have caught sight of me with a bride from time to time, though it's never acknowledged. The last thing a bride would do is wave to them. Sierra is different, and I'm delighted to see smiling faces on these children. One day, when all the dragons gain transcended mates