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
It's another hour before we leave the bed and only because we are wasting away to nothing without food. A basket waits on the doorstep that apparently Sierra expected. "They will restock the fridge and cupboards today while we're out," she tells me. "They honor you with gifts of food.""I pay for the food," I tell her because it's true.She smiles as she shakes her head. "No, silly dragon, you pay Dmitri. The bears couldn't care less about money. They take care of me when I'm here. Nikka, Dmitri's mate, says it's because I spread happiness. Bears are different from other beastkind. Their way's older. Small changes occurred for a while, but with peace within the beastkind world, most have gone back to caring for their men and enjoying it. The only difference is now their females have the option to do more. The help they've given me proves it isn't just the men they care for. I think the bears are special and often misunderstood."I can only give her a slight grunt. I don't explain th
It's been two months since the day in the meadow. The day I fell even more in love with my dragon. I know he's ashamed that I watched him break down. I also know it's the best thing he could ever do for himself. He holds so much pain inside.And speaking of inside. My wolf remains silent. She hasn't poked her wild impulses into me once during the past two months. I can shift, but it takes an extra bit of concentration and it no longer feels as natural. I'm beyond worried and it's the reason I'm making this trip today.Veda and Tyboll's cabin is far from the bear clan. They choose to live way out here and have for more than twenty years. The bears whisper of them when they think I'm not paying attention. They love these two and respect them greatly. They're bear shifting witches. Something I've never heard of before.Nikka told me more about them with the help of a she-bear to speak for her. She said the witches are expecting me. When I asked why, her reply was that they contacted he
Everything inside me turns cold. A mate. The yearning in my heart for so damn long. And now I'm in love with Sarn. I fold my arms in front of me and lower my head onto them. Tears spill from my eyes at the injustice of what I'm being told. It's unfair... no that's too mild, it's tragic. I always expected to be so happy when I discovered my mate.Veda's hand rubs across my back. I don't even want to know who it is. I want nothing more than to curl up on the floor and never move again. I'm containing a scream because if I start I will never stop. I cannot do this to Sarn. My poor, poor dragon.I cry for a long time while Tyboll and Veda remain silent. When I finally lift my head, Veda hands me a tissue. I blow my nose in a very unladylike manner. Veda pushes my teacup in front of me and I take a sip of the now tepid liquid."Thank you," I say softly, my voice raw from crying.It's time I discover who will be my life partner. I must be strong. Even though a life without Sarn is more t