Betty's arms loosen and she leans away a bit. She rubs her fingers gently across my cheek in reassurance. Her tender smile lightens my shame as she places a finger out and gives me the sign to wait. I nod and watch her leave the room. I can't look at Tahr again. The last thing I want is his pity.Betty returns a moment later holding my most precious possession. I stare at the delicately shaped gold with an uncomfortable burst of emotion. I love it because Meagan gave it to me and it's always hid my lack of hair. I lift the gold from Betty's hands and simply hold the cold metal for a moment.The dragon clears his throat and I look at him. "You're beautiful without the hair covering, don't let it bother you."I don't believe him. Meagan was beautiful. I look nothing like her. Slowly I lift the headpiece and place it over my baldness. It's cold and familiar. This isn't the first one Meagan had made for me. As I grew, she had the piece resized or another made from scratch and always had
I used my magic to put her to sleep because I needed time to gather my thoughts. With her awake the strange magical current between us intensifies. There is a similar connection between a dragon and his bride, but nothing this strong. No matter how crazy it sounds, she has her own magic and it resonates with mine. This should be impossible.I remove my pants and jump from the bedroom perch. The imbalance I feel sends my thoughts back to the time before the curse. A time I rarely think of because it causes such deep pain.My parents loved me and as the humans of the earth realm would say, I was raised with a silver spoon in my mouth. I was repeatedly told I came from the mightiest lineage of dragons and had to live up to my birthright. I was third in line to the throne-a royal child by right of royal birth. My parents were protective and also spoiled me rotten. Bastian, Laryn, and Sarn were not in my life when I was younger. My uncle Drakon, who ruled the silver dragons, felt other,
"Hah," Bastian said as he launched himself. "Blue is a sissy color, red is better."I stood with Sarn as we watched them streak around, charge each other, and then miss by mere inches in an astonishing display of dexterity."I suppose it was your father who put the silver-is-better crap into your head," Sarn said beside me."It was actually my Uncle Drakon," I replied."I've heard of him. My father doesn't like him much." My father didn't like his brother much either, but I wasn't going to tell Sarn that. "Drakon is a mighty warrior."Sarn only grunted. "Do you want to fly?"As much as I wanted to breathe. "Yes.""Then let's join them. Do you breathe smoke yet?""Yes.""Well at least you have that going for you. Bastian thinks he's hot shit because he can do it better than me and Laryn. Let's see what you got."We took off and when I was higher, I pushed out more smoke than I had previously had luck with."Not bad," called Bastian from above me. "I think you're better at
A few hours later, thunder and lightning filled the sky. I'd never seen anything like the angry display of fierce weather. Then as suddenly as it began, all went quiet. A woman's harsh voice swelled within our heads until the pain was so great we fell to our knees. My eyes were tightly shut with my hands covering my ears. A female voice rang bitterly through my mind until I thought my head would explode.The Goddess cursed us and we could do nothing. One-hundred-thousand years for the sins of my uncle. Each word of the curse was more painful than the last. When her voice stopped, the sun shown for the first time since the death of our parents. We didn't fully understand the depth of the Goddess's hatred. After vomiting our guts up, we tried to appear brave by joking about her wrath. Love for some human bride was the least of our worries. It seemed minor after everything we'd lost.Days later we all became violently ill again. The Goddess had told us to choose the first to claim a bri
I awake feeling rested. My legs are a little unstable, but I manage to get myself to the bathing chamber to take care of necessities. My breathing is heavy by the time I make it back to Tahr's bed. I hear a noise and I look up expecting to see Tahr. I'm relieved that it's Betty bringing food. I need thinking time to put my thoughts in order about the dragon. Betty looks over me closely and only when she's satisfied that I'm okay does she give me a gentle smile. I've imagined her smile for weeks and answer it with my own.The soup she brought is heartier than the earlier broth. My stomach growls loudly and our grins widen. Using sign language, Betty asks how I'm feeling.We converse for a short time until she wants me to explain why I was punished. I look away, unable to meet her eyes and unwilling to share my transgressions. I had no right to touch Tahr. Even Meagan would have been upset. Thankfully Betty doesn't push for an answer. Instead, she wraps me in her arms and pulls me clos
She hates me. What a joke! And I can't help my large grin at her feistiness. I like when a bride challenges me. No! Not a bride and I must remember that.I've decided the best way to care for Pepper is to have her care for me. That way I can keep an eye on her. Seeing her standing so close to the ledge terrified me. I slice my fingers through my hair wondering what the hell she was thinking.Then, there is the magic that flows between us when we touch. Magic, I can no longer overlook. I wonder if her parents were more than what they appeared. As far as I know, earth shifters and vampires don't become ill. There's no denying she was very sick when Meagan and I fetched her as a child.I pull a large section of my hair in frustration this time. I really need to visit Sarn and his mate, Sierra. It took a long time to forgive what he did to Roxy and Ashrac. Now I'm just relieved he's finally happy. And living in the earth's realm, he or even his mate might understand what Pepper is. Beca
Her expression changes from delighted to worried and I wish more than anything that we could truly communicate. "Come on, it's time we return. I will pick you up in my talons and carry you back."She adamantly shakes her head no and begins walking back to the castle. It's my turn to roll my eyes in exasperation. "Stubborn human," I mumble under my breath. I could shift and carry her anyway, but for some crazy reason I decide to give in. I walk beside her until we reach my tower. Her neck stretches back as she gazes up to the top. I can't help but notice her irritation when she realizes I'll be carrying her anyway. I bite my lip to keep from grinning. Pepper huffs, which is absolutely adorable, and places her hands on her hips. Her headpiece is tipped low over one ear again but I wouldn't dare try to adjust it. It's her large, expressive eyes that hold me captive for a long moment. What is this hold she seems to have over me? A human. A human with something more.I back away so I can
Tahr hasn't said a word since reading my note and I'm worried. I finally got tired of waiting for his response and went to my room to lie down. He followed me in a few minutes later with the rope in his hands-still silent, still running his fingers through his hair, and still as gorgeous as ever. He's dressed in tight trousers and no shirt. There's nothing about his body I don't like and in his current state of silence, pacing and making no eye contact there's nothing for me to do but scrutinize him.None of the humans I know have muscles quite so defined. They flow under his skin and make my mouth water. Other parts of me water too but it's embarrassing. Meagan told me of such things but I didn't believe her at the time. "It's like an itch that needs scratching," she once said. Now I know it's more like an out of control fire that needs extinguishing.Is his silence because I called him foolish? Or is it telling him of my dream? He must think I'm crazy and it's actually a good possi
"I'm Acasia." She gestures behind her. "This is Bastian. We're very pleased to meet you. We just didn't expect you after what Jewel told us."I drop her hand and interlock my fingers in front of me so maybe I won't strangle her son in front of her. "I didn't expect to be here either," I reply honestly."Mother."We all turn to Ashrac."I'm in the middle of a kidnapping here and it would be better if we had this conversation another time. I haven't gotten to the having my wicked way with her part yet."My elbow slips and lands directly in his ribs. My cheeks burn. Boiling oil's too good for the ratfink.His father steps closer, his expression filled with concern and more than a touch of anger. "Flora, I will take you back to Earth if you wish to return."A loud rumbling growl leaves Ashrac's throat. "She is my mate, Father. No one will be taking her anywhere but me."Bastian's eyebrows arch. I'm guessing Ashrac doesn't usually speak to his parents this way. Decisions, decisions.
My eyes peel open to sunshine. I'm in Ashrac's room, in his bed, and he isn't. I look around and still no Ashrac. I stretch my arms and I'm about to rise from the bed when a shadow passes in front of the window from the balcony. Dragonbreath went for a flight without me. We'll be discussing this after he comes back to bed and welcomes the new day with me like he should have.The dragon's shadow shifts to a smaller human than Ashrac and before I can put together what human it is, Jewel pops her head in the window. She looks at me questioningly. I pull the cover over my bare breasts that were perky and waiting for my mate. "Come in," I say because what else can I do? The strange expression on her face isn't what I'm expecting, and for a moment I wonder if I should have read more into her friendship with Ashrac.She sits on the end of the bed and continues staring at me."Is there something you need?" I ask.She gives a small smile that in no way reaches her eyes. "Ashrac sent me to g
I've chosen my mate and so has my eagle. I can no longer fight that he's the one. Seeing Ashrac with the kids melted my heart and changed something deep inside me. Ashrac caring about the humans and trying to make their lives better blew my world apart.He's about to do it again.His body against mine is firm, powerful, and incredibly sexy. His muscles ripple beneath my touch. I'm barely able to think and what I'm thinking is that I should tell him I've never done this before. Then, he releases my mouth and his lips travel down my body, kissing every inch of flesh along the way. I stop thinking at all and just feel. His tongue circles my bellybutton before dipping inside. I actually giggle over the sensation. My fingers go to his glorious hair and I pull slightly to make him stop. His head comes up and he's grinning. There are also flames dancing in his eyes and all I can think of is sensual fire.He lowers his mouth back to my flesh and continues on his merry way. Flames lick at my
A light bulb went off in my brain at the table. It was the strangest feeling. The bulb then exploded into a million shards and sent an electrical current throughout my body. The feeling's been described to me many times, but I had no idea how instantly my world would change.Flora is my mate.My mind knows and my body knows. It no longer matters what her clothes hide. It no longer matters that she turned me green or that she hasn't told me about being an eagle shifter.She's mine.I have no idea how or why it happened, but it did and nothing will stand between me and this woman. No mountains or dragons or Goddesses.Flora follows us as we walk to the lab. The kids don't bother shifting to fly because she's here and they have no idea she has her own wings. I'm actually proud that they're considering her feelings. We enter the lab and I walk over to my latest experiment. The electrical circuit is within a plastic shield made up of melted cell phone glass. I have cell phone batteries
Botan gives me sad eyes and says, "Something smells really good and I'm a very hungry growing dragon."Cute is not a good enough word. I like this little guy."No," Ashrac says with a frustrated look. "Your mother will expect you home."Inside my head I'm calculating how much more food I need to make. "Okay," I say aloud, "I'm not cooking this alone so if you help, you can eat with us."Cheers go up at the same time Ashrac raises his hands in defeat. "It's on you," he says to me. "They'll eat me out of house and home and leave a huge mess behind."Kettle, black? "Why don't you run off to your little lab? We'll handle dinner.""Fine." He spins and marches off grumbling."Botan and Rotan, you're in charge of setting the table. Drayce, Ejder, I need you peeling potatoes. Zara and Zora you're backup and will be doing what's required to get this meal on the table. Right now I need more meat and potatoes brought up from the cellar."The kids hop to it and we have a meal for six growi
I slog into a dense part of forest and remove my sopping clothes. I tie them into a small wet package that I can carry in my beak. My shifting powers are different than conventional shifters because I need words to start the process. I whisper the sacred words in my head that my mother taught me and her mother taught her. The world goes from blurry to crystal clear. In human form, without my glasses, I can see for miles if the view is unobstructed. Close up is another matter; all eagle shifters are far sighted when in human form. Shifting to eagle brings everything into focus."Stupid dragon," I mumble in my head as I scoop up the bundle and fly out of the tree line. I can't help turning and flying over the lake. There he is deep in the water bathing, thank the goddess. At least when he flies me back to my realm he won't smell like a dirty old shoe.I don't think about what I'm doing, it just kind of happens. He plunges his soapy head into the water and I swoop back around. My gooey
She's been hiding from me. Now that I've seen her eyes I know there's more. Taking her to the lake to bathe is the only way I can think to see her naked body and decide for myself if she's worthy of mating a red dragon. I catch sight of myself in the lake as we fly over; Flora is riding in the saddle. Maybe the green will wash off.She's right about bathing, though. I do smell. I would say it's not a normal condition, but when I'm engrossed in a project, I forget about everything, including food and especially bathing. My mother still smacks me upside the head when she visits and I'm filthy. She also feeds me.Flora has no fear of being on my back. She's an eagle and I'm still flummoxed that I didn't know she was a shifter. I sensed her magic from the beginning but there are so many kinds. From precognition to witchcraft to vampires and weres it just never occurred to me that she could shift. Our children would be double shifters and could choose which form to take. Not that they wou
He's consuming me-his mouth, his touch, his very presence. The world around us stops revolving, or at least it feels that way. It's as if I've been waiting for his lips my entire life. They're firm where mine are soft. I consume right back. He plays with my mouth and I realize he understands the finer finesse of kissing. Who would have guessed that an egotistical megalomaniac would take the time to learn to kiss a woman properly? He explores my lips like they're an exotic treasure. When he bites my bottom lip, I open for him and he accepts my invitation. His tongue twirls and parries with mine. His head moves slightly and he pulls me closer to deepen the kiss. I swear my brain rolls out of my head, across the floor, and out the door.There's something else going on too. His incredible body, which is now fully pressed against mine, burns a trail of fire everywhere we touch. My hands go to his forearms and they're as big as my thighs but not soft at all. He's pure corded muscle with ama
I haven't provided any and maybe that's what this woman is upset about. Interesting. I'll have to think more on it. Without the glasses, she's passably pretty. Maybe if I could see her entire body, she would be a lot more interesting.Bowls hit the small side table off the kitchen. Eating in this room should be done by servants, which I don't have, so I guess I can lower myself to eating in the kitchen as long as the woman will be here too. Flora, that's her name. She might like it if I called her by her name."Flora," I say louder than I intended to. She jumps and turns in my direction. "Does it bother you if I eat like this?" I make a motion with my hands to show her I mean my naked body. Her eyes go straight to my big green appendage that isn't at its most attractive at the moment even with its great size. She keeps staring until I startle her again. "You like it?"Her eyes snap to mine and her face goes from yellow to red in mere seconds. "It's, um, very nice as far as green pen