[Primus]
I set the crystals to sing and pulled her close to me.“Thank you,” I smiled down at her.“For what?” her large golden eyes shine brightly under the lamplight.“For giving me a chance to be near you again. I…I am so sorry for how I behaved. It will never happen again. I promise you, Carnelia, I will never force you to do anything you a[Carnelia] “You jerk!” I scream at him, my dress and hair are surprisingly dry for having just rushed through a waterfall. “That was not nearly enough warning.” His large belly laugh echoes through the chamber, his body rattling me as he holds me tightly in his arms. I punch him hard in the chest and he drops me. But instead of hitting hard stone, I find myself lying on top of a soft silk cushion. Surprised, I look down to find the cushion is not alone, it has several
[Primus]I scoop her into my arms, pulling her up to me so that our faces are at the same height. She feels so light, so small, and so very fragile. But there is nothing weak or timid about how she claims me with her body, wrapping her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist as I push her up against the wall. We are both breathing quickly, the sound of her heart beating a rapid rhythm as I take a moment to marvel at her beauty. Her sunshine hair is tousled, coming free of her simple braid, the tightly curled strands floating around her. Her cheeks are freshly flushed as she blushes, darkening to a sweet berry brown as my eyes drink her in, her tan skin warming at my touch as I place gentle kisses along her chin.Smiling at my good fortune, I begin to kiss her neck, the hollow at her throat and as she gasps, I cannot imagine a world without the sound of
[Carnelia] I didn’t think my heart would break any more until he left me, again, uncertain of his love.Rejected.I cried myself to sleep that night, cried until I ran out of tears. Curled up in my bed, I ignored the curtains as they were drawn by the maids, and ignored the breakfast left at my bedside. I was angry at Primus, but also angry at myself. I promised that I would never lead him to a place where he was unsure of his welcome, but I did. I opened myself up and then shut it all down, unable to make that final, crucial move forward.Do I want to be his mate? If I do, why can’t I commit to him? Why can’t I give my heart over to him freely, to join with him and accept his love fully?
[Primus] As she walks away from me, my heart begins to burn for her, to crave her. My hands are shaking as I try, and fail, to set our mating bands back on the table. I wait until I feel the door reseal behind her before I let my rage loose. I promised to let her go if she wanted to leave, but making that promise and seeing out are two very different types of torture. One is only potential pain, the other is actual, and in this moment I cannot think with the same logical brain that knew that she might someday choose to seek out her own life, to be free of me. All that is left is the part of me incapable of thinking, the animal, the beast,
[Carnelia] He didn’t even leave me a note. I expected him to say goodbye at the very least. But I haven't seen him yet. I haven't seen anyone at all. Laced in a comfortable vest and simple dress, a single bag of basic provisions in my hand, I leave my room and look for someone to show me the way out of the keep. Other than falling from the window and landing on the beach, I have never been outside these walls. I have no idea which hallway to take or which door leads to fresh air and a trail heading south. "Hello," I call, b
[Primus] I transform as I land back at the keep, deciding to go through the stables to not disturb anyone. The first light of dawn is beginning to peek over the horizon and I know that very soon Carnelia will be awakened by the dancing rainbows of that first light shining through her faceted crystal windows. Wanting to avoid any awkwardness, I make plans for when she is ready to leave, hoping to stay out of her way. My heart is still quite tender, but I am sure hers is as well. I tell my servants to prepare the dapple gray, my gentlest horse, along with her tack and saddle for Carnelia. In her saddlebags, I also secret away some gold, additional clothing, and food as well as flint, a knife, and basic medical supplies. One bag will not be enough for any kind of extended journey. Part of me is hoping that she’ll change her mind and come back someday. I hope that when she finds it on her ride later this morning, she will know that I am thinking of her, that she is wanted, and she is l
[Carnelia] He is as ugly as I remember him. He glares down at me, his pock-marked face covered in soot, his clothing in charred tatters around his chest. Reaching down he pulls me up by my front. “Where is he,” he spits in my face. “Where is your dragon?” He shakes me, rattling my teeth. “WHERE IS YOUR DRAGON!!” Clawing at his hands, I begin to kick and scream. He shakes me again. “Nothing to say, you stupid wench?” he continues to shout. Kicking out, I hit his groin but instead of buckling over in pain, he laughs in my face. “Your master made sure that would never be a problem for me again,” he barks. “Decided that I needed to pay for ever touching you.” Pulling his hand back, he slaps me hard across the face, forcing me to bite my lip. “I wonder what he’s going to do once he finds out…” he slaps me again, harder this time, my head ringing, “...that you were here?” He slaps me again. “He can’t hurt us anymore, we’re already dead!” Throwing me down to the ground, he lands on top
[Primus] My stomach is tightening in fear and pain as I draw closer to the keep as my hand burns with the intensity of the emotion being transmitted through the ring. So much fear and anger, so much sadness. I push myself as hard as I can, making the flight in almost half the time, my instincts pushing me to veer a bit inland, towards the forest. Towards Crimson. There is a commotion in the town square. A few humans cluster in corners around the edges of the square, both fascinated by and terrified of the dragon standing in the center. There is a bloody mess at his feet, a young man dead and broken. The dragon is holding a human woman tightly around the neck as she stands almost naked before him, her fists clenched, her bright blond matted and falling around her shoulders. Carnelia. My Carnelia. Mine. Fueled by rage, I fly faster. I watch as the dragon, who I now recognize as my brother Segundus, sniffs her neck. Can he smell that she is my mate? “Get your hands