“She used you to get to me?” I asked. David nods. A look of shame washes over his face. “I’m sorry you were put in that position,” I tell him.David nods, “I’m sorry I let her manipulate me.”Something inside me seems to break. Looking at Taran, I ask, “Will it ever stop?”Taran shakes his head, “No, but I’m never letting you go again.” Taran squeezes my hand, “That is why I made a home for us. I put wards around our home to protect you.”“It doesn’t end with me, does it? What about the heir you desperately want?” I demanded.“Without an heir, the dragons will die. They will fight for power until they kill each other, leaving the world open to all the night creatures to kill. The water, the ground, and even the air will become poisoned.” Taran’s eyes soften, “I know you’re worried about the future, but I promise you if we decide to ignore our destiny, the future is much worse.”I stare at Taran, “They will never be a child. Someone will always be trying to hurt them or take advantage
We land on the beach near our house. I struggle to climb off Taran, but he uses his tail to help me. After Taran passes me the box, he steps away. “Wait,” I stammer.Taran pauses, watching me closely. I put the box on the ground. “I haven’t gotten a good look at you. This is the real you, right?” I asked gesturing towards him.A grumble, then Taran’s bends his head so his gaze meets mine. I extend my hand out to touch him but quickly recoil. “I’m sorry. I forgot that it is rude to pet someone.”Another grumble, followed by something gripping me around the waist. I’m pulled towards the dragon. If my hands were not in front of me then I would have slammed into him, face first.“You don’t mind me touching you?” I asked. Taran shakes his head. My fingers trace the red scales varying in hue. Some are bright red, some scarlet, other a blood red all with thin golden marbling. “You’re beautiful,” I whisper. I look up into Taran’s reddish-orange eyes. “And you’re warm. I assumed you would feel
In the late 15th century, a human stole the Dragon Stone from my people. For thousands of years, we lived alongside humans. We protected them from the dangers of this world: vampires, demons, werewolves, and other blood-thirsty creatures that would take too long to name.What did they do to thank us for our protection?They stole the source of our power and turned on us.Without the dragon stone, we lost the ability to transform, the ability to wield magic, and our ability to reproduce. The stone was a gift to the first dragon. The story is so old that it is unclear what the sorcerer's name was, but he cursed his former lover after she had an affair. He transformed her into a dragon. It said that she was so heartbroken that she jumped into the water, hoping to drown, but instead found peace in the water.Years later, she surfaced, desperate for human interaction, but found everyone feared her. After trying to kill herself, the sorcerer gifted her with a s
TrudyI decide to get a drink while the bus stops and debate on if I should get crackers or something. Pulling out my money, I feel someone behind me swipe their card. I don’t need to look to know who it is.Turning around, I hand Bryan the money I was going to give to the cashier. His golden eyes stare at me with heartache, “Please, can we just talk, Tru?” I roll my eyes and begin walking away, “Baby, please. I’m sorry. I don’t want to lose you. Please give me a chance to explain. I wasn’t in the right frame of mind last night. The guys were talking about us and how we only know each other. That I won’t have any stories of hooking up with random girls in Europe as they do. My drunk brain made a poor decision.”I pause and turn towards him. We haven’t spoken since this morning when I saw the girl leave. Bryan tried to talk to me, but I couldn’t. Speaking in public will test my ability to be ration
TrudyBritany and I walk down a boardwalk with a few pubs and a popular nightclub. One the way to the club, we pass a fortune-teller stand. “Tru, let’s get our palms read,” Britany tells me excitedly. I shake my head. “Oh, come on, it will be fun. What’s the worse that can happen?”“Look no offense to the teller, but there is no evidence that your palm has anything to do with the outcome of your life. Besides, you’re just inviting bad things to happen when you mess with trying to read the future.”Britany looks at me, surprised, “I didn’t know you were so superstitious.”“I’m not, but things like this give me the creeps.”She sighs, “At least come with me to get mine done. You don’t have to do it.”I nod, and we walk towards the woman’s stand. The sun is starting to set, and it looks like she is closing up the shop. “Hello
TrudyThe next couple of days, Bryan and I don’t leave each other’s sides. As we begin our Scotland tour, everything that happened in Ireland seems like it’s far in the past.“When we get back home, why don’t we find a place of our own?”I pull back and look up at him, surprised. “You want to move in together?”He nods, “Why not? It seems like the next step for us. The penthouse apartment will be available soon in the building my parents own. There are going to sign it over to me. It could be our place.” Bryan runs his nose up the crook of my neck before he begins kissing me.I breathlessly respond, “I don’t know Bryan. You enjoy having parties, and I always need to study.”“I’m done throwing parties. If I want to, I can go to someone else’s.” He whispers in my ear, “Besides, cleaning up takes too long. I’d much rather spend a Sa
TaranI feel a presence nearing me. I’m still in stone, but I can feel myself beginning to wake. The doors creak open, and I hear light footsteps in the room. I can't see, but I can hear and smell. The person who enters is a woman. She’s light on her feet and doesn’t seem to smell like fear, more of curiosity and wonder. Then I smell something else, a wolf. It isn’t her, but she’s close to one. Is she here as a spy? Maybe she knows it’s almost time for me to awaken and hopes to kill me.If that is her plan, she’s in for a surprise. I’m quick and can easily overpower one human before they even know it. My mother and the council turned me to stone to freeze me in time. Being stone should not affect me. I will be in the same shape I was before becoming stone.The woman trips and falls into me. I’m too heavy for her to knock over, but there was a moment I questioned if that is what she was trying to do. Then she
TrudyI find Taran attractive but a colossal jerk. His tone is always condescending. As a person, I don’t believe I like him. But something is telling me this isn’t the real him. When he first started talking, I thought all of this was a joke, but it would be a lot of effort to go this far. I realized at the stairs this was real. The basic world I knew isn’t real. There are doors that appear out of nowhere, walls you can walk through, crystals that work as lights, and a man that is outside nature's laws.Taran asks for my hands, and I reluctantly give them to him. He pushes them together, places the gem in my hands, then covers them with his. Closing my eyes, I begin to see things. I’m transported to another time.I see Tantallon castle in its prime. It’s full of music and laughter. People are dancing.“You cannot let go of my hand, but we can walk around the room, and I will explain everything.” Taran’s voi
We land on the beach near our house. I struggle to climb off Taran, but he uses his tail to help me. After Taran passes me the box, he steps away. “Wait,” I stammer.Taran pauses, watching me closely. I put the box on the ground. “I haven’t gotten a good look at you. This is the real you, right?” I asked gesturing towards him.A grumble, then Taran’s bends his head so his gaze meets mine. I extend my hand out to touch him but quickly recoil. “I’m sorry. I forgot that it is rude to pet someone.”Another grumble, followed by something gripping me around the waist. I’m pulled towards the dragon. If my hands were not in front of me then I would have slammed into him, face first.“You don’t mind me touching you?” I asked. Taran shakes his head. My fingers trace the red scales varying in hue. Some are bright red, some scarlet, other a blood red all with thin golden marbling. “You’re beautiful,” I whisper. I look up into Taran’s reddish-orange eyes. “And you’re warm. I assumed you would feel
“She used you to get to me?” I asked. David nods. A look of shame washes over his face. “I’m sorry you were put in that position,” I tell him.David nods, “I’m sorry I let her manipulate me.”Something inside me seems to break. Looking at Taran, I ask, “Will it ever stop?”Taran shakes his head, “No, but I’m never letting you go again.” Taran squeezes my hand, “That is why I made a home for us. I put wards around our home to protect you.”“It doesn’t end with me, does it? What about the heir you desperately want?” I demanded.“Without an heir, the dragons will die. They will fight for power until they kill each other, leaving the world open to all the night creatures to kill. The water, the ground, and even the air will become poisoned.” Taran’s eyes soften, “I know you’re worried about the future, but I promise you if we decide to ignore our destiny, the future is much worse.”I stare at Taran, “They will never be a child. Someone will always be trying to hurt them or take advantage
“Trudy-bug,” my father cries when he sees me. He hugs me so tightly that I can barely breathe. “I was worried you would never want to see me again.”“I’m sorry, Dad,” I say as tears start to stream down my face.“No. No. I’m sorry. I should’ve listened to you about Cindy,” my father said.“What happened?” I asked.My father shakes his head, “It’s not important now. All that matters is that you’re safe.” He motions towards a house, “Come, I will have everyone over soon to say hello.”Taran stands next to me after shifting back into his human form. My father smiles and offers him a hand, “Taran, thank you for bringing her home.”Taran accepts my father's hand, “Tru’s home is with me. Once she is settled, I will take her to learn from the spirits. She will likely be gone a year or more.”“You’re sending me away?” I asked surprised.Taran nods, “When I can no longer teach you, yes. I will visit you often.”“I am not losing another year with my family,” I replied.“We will not discuss this
“I really don’t like flying,” I protest as Taran and I pack for the trip to my family’s island.“You were meant to soar, little dove.” Taran replies. His arms wrap around my waist from behind, “You are a mate to a dragon. Trust me, soon you will love being above the clouds.”I lean back against his chest. “What does my family think of all this?”Taran kisses the side of my head, “They don’t completely understand, but they know I will keep you safe at all costs.”“When will the dragons no longer see me as a threat? How long will we stay here?” I asked.I hear the smile in Taran’s voice. “Not even two days and you’re wanting to leave.”“It’s not that,” I argue. “I miss seeing people living their daily lives. Not cowering from me in fear or kissing up to me.”“The dragons will kiss up to you a lot, when they aren’t scheming your death.”I snort, “You forget I lived with wolves.”“One day, I will bow at your feet and beg for forgiveness at letting those animals take you,” Taran murmurs in
Taran grabs my dress and tears it down the middle—the dress pools at my feet before I can react. Taran grabs my wrists and pulls me towards the bed. Using his body weight to hold me in place, he bends me over the bed, holding my wrist behind my back. I struggle to get away until his free hand comes down on my bottom, causing a terrible sting. The impact stops my struggle.With a gentle touch, Taran soothes my back cheek. His voice is calm, but stern: “No clothes in the bed, dove. I want to feel your soft skin against me when we are in bed. I would prefer you naked at all times, but I have compromised and even provided you with clothes.” Taran removes his hand before bringing it down on the other cheek.“Ow,” I cry. I’m sure Taran has left his handprint on both sides of my bottom. “I won’t wear clothes in bed again my dragon.”“Why should I believe you, dove?” Taran asked. His hand slowly moves down the back of my thigh, then up the inside. Without thinking, I spread my legs wider for
I sit at the foot of the bed, watching the storm. The bedroom lights are dim, and I can see the waves crashing onto the shore as the lightning flashes.My back faces the door to the hall as I stare out the window. “You’re not supposed to wear clothes in bed,” Taran says, causing me to jump. I didn’t mean to startle you,” he adds while walking toward me. He removes his clothes before sitting opposite me. Taran hands me a package wrapped in paper: “I brought you a present.”“Thank you,” I reply.I unwrap the package to find a magic book as Taran explains, “I know you didn’t get to practice a lot of magic in the last couple of years. If you are interested, I can help you.”“I didn’t know dragons could use magic,” I reply while flipping through the book.“You will surpass me in a few months, but I can use magic. Most dragons have a natural magic, and the royal dragons can use spells.” Taran shrugs, “We can make charms and potions too, but I’m not very good.”“I would appreciate any help y
A loud crash of thunder jolts me from my sleep. The lightening brightens the room momentarily, and I find myself alone. A dim light seeps in from under the door. As I sit up, the room begins to brighten. I open the chest where Taran got the dress out and find that it is full of sundresses. I pick one and go out into the hall.Taran stands in the kitchen, cooking. He is dressed in a cotton shirt and board shorts. “Hello,” I say awkwardly.Turning towards me, Taran shows no emotion on his face. “Hello, dove. How did you sleep?”“I slept great until the thunder. What about you?”Taran is back, facing the food. “I didn’t sleep, there is much for me to do.”“What are you making? Can I help?” I offer.“It’s almost ready. Why don’t you set the table?”I nod and start looking for plates and utensils. “What do you want to drink?” I asked.“Just water,” he replies.I find glasses and fill them. Taran brings the food to the table, and we sit down to eat. “It smells nice,” I say with a smile.Tar
His tongue gently touches my lip, asking for entrance. Without much hesitation, I allow my tongue to meet his. The kiss becomes deeper as our tongues begin to dance. Taran’s hand moves up my hip to my waist, and finally my breast. His thumb strums my nipple through the thin fabric of my dress.Pulling back a little, Taran helps me sit up as he pulls the straps of my dress down and exposes my breast. He gently puts his hand on my chest and encourages me to lie back. I feel Taran slowly pulling up my skirt. Without thinking, I spread my legs for him. There is a hint of amusement in his voice, “You glisten.” Taran looks into my eyes. “It’s very beautiful.”We go back to kissing. Taran nips at my lips, causing me to let out a moan. I feel Taran smile against my skin, “Are we going to continue pretending you don’t want me to touch you, little dove?”I nip at his lips and chin. “I don’t know what you me
I follow Taran into the bedroom. He closes and locks the balcony doors. “Why are you locking the doors?” I questioned.“The wind from the storm will open them if they aren’t bolted. Plus, if the door is open, the sirens take it as an invitation they can join us, and I’m not open to sharing you.” Taran turns to look at me. “Why haven’t you removed your dress yet?”Slightly joking, I reply, “I thought we could do some hair pulling and light kissing. You know…to get into the mood.”“I’m already naked,” Taran states.I nod. I feel so nervous. I haven’t enjoyed sex since I woke up in the pack hospital. Though there are the dreams of Taran, real-life interactions can be much different. I faked it most of the time with Bryan, especially when he tried to dominate me. Something about him being in control felt off-putting.Taran sits on the side of the bed and motions for me to come to him. Once I’m close enough, he pulls me onto his lap so I’m straddling him. I realize how big and strong Taran