RoxanneTo wake up alone after what I gave him the night before was devastating. To hear the dragon's explanation more so. I want his love so badly my chest constricts and I have trouble breathing. Gaining that love will cause him additional suffering and I cannot allow that to happen.I rest in his arms, the blue glow fading slowly. My hand is on his chest and my fingers draw small circles around the small pucker at the tip of his breast. I've seen my share of human male chests. Nothing compares to my dragon."May we fly this morning, dragon?" I'm tired from lack of sleep and I don't want him returning me to my room if I nod off."If my bride wishes to fly, we will fly.""I'm sorry for the halberd."He laughs which reassures me that he isn't angry. "I will teach you to use it properly and you will have better aim next time."I smile with a shyness I've never felt. "You know I don't want better aim when it comes to lopping off one of your body parts.""That's good to hear." He gives m
LarynEach night that passes and she isn't in my bed, the yearning builds. She shares an hour or two with me before falling asleep. She tries to stay awake. I push her hard during the day for this reason. She's been with me for two weeks now. She's settled so quickly that it feels like two years. In my life the brides are but a blink of time. If just once time would stand still.She's feisty and funny. Grumpy on occasion and a smart-ass on others. She's not whiny and isn't given to tears. It's refreshing in a bride. I hate to think that Bastian might have the right of it. They come to us with no knowledge of what a new life will hold and worried that they may be a dragon's evening meal. Not that my new bride wanted anything more than to kill me. She is far different than all the others. My little warrior.Tonight we travel to Bastian's realm for cards. I've missed Ashrac and know his parents keep him away to give me time with my bride. The little red hellion has burrowed into my heart
RoxanneHe doesn't know my name and it hurts.After the opening introduction and the extended time-out for the two dragons, Laryn returns. His and Sarn's clothing are slightly disheveled but if there was blood they cleaned it off. Laryn remains by my side for the rest of the evening. I know of Calista, Sarn's bride. Her name and that of Meagan and Acasia as well as all the past brides are spoken of with reverence. To sacrifice yourself to a dragon is the highest honor a woman in my village can achieve. Of course, everyone believes they go to their death. It doesn't matter what they say to keep the brides from living in fear of the claiming. The village sacrifices the few to save the many. I had hoped by killing the dragon, the villagers would see what they do as wrong. The brides have no true life until one of them is chosen. The tradition is horrible and must be stopped.Meagan is old and frail. I don't question Tahr's love for her. You can see it in the attention he gives her. In on
LarynSir Orland Locksy is a weasel in every sense of the word. I hate him and I hate the realm he lives in. Mucky skies, putrid air, and immoral people. I call it hell's realm. It's also my favorite place to collect treasure. My dragon brothers and I have been many times. It's always a challenge and, best of all, dangerous. I should feel apprehensive bringing my bride here, but what I feel is exhilaration clear to the tip of my dragon's tail.She's dressed in the manner of the day for women. I played the lady's maid and helped with the heavy makeup and putting a hot iron and pins to her hair. There were several advantages to playing a lowly servant to get her ready. I told her that I could only perform the artistry needed while she was unclothed. The sparkle in her eyes let me know she didn't believe a word. She uttered no objection, though. It took much longer than we planned and now we are late for the ball.Smelly people all. We're in a large chamber filled with gluttonous humans.
RoxanneHe asked for my name. My brave, brave dragon. He took me to steal my first treasure and had no qualms about me fighting bad men with swords. In his eyes, I'm as capable as a man. I love him more than I can ever put into words. It's hard to remain unselfish and not want his love in return.We have many good years ahead of us. Great years. I just can't help worrying about what will happen when I die. My heart breaks over the thought of any pain he will suffer. To wait thousands of years for a mate to transcend is cruel. The time he has already waited crueler still.I gather my hair back and prepare for a visit from Acasia and Ashrac. My stolen piece of jewelry proudly adorns my throat on a piece of leather that matches my outfit. My dragon likes the stone and I enjoy seeing pride in his eyes when I wear it.Sir Orifice only had one goal and that was to remove my dress and fuck me. Hitting him over the head with a large vase from the nightstand beside the bed was easy. Repeatedly
Laryn"My bride has no fear. She's like all the brides rolled into one without the incessant whining," I say to Bastian.He doesn't reply immediately. I've spoken of my bride for an hour and not shut up. Finally, he responds with more reserve than usual. "I don't understand why she's sleeping in the tower room, Laryn. This truly baffles me."A touch of spite enters my tone. "Of course you don't. You have Acasia for eternity. You can love her without risk of heartbreak. I don't have that luxury and I refuse to lose myself again when this one is gone. She's all I could ask for in a friend and bed companion, but it goes no further."We lazily glide through a canyon until we spot a herd of deer. It's an easy capture and we both have our own tasty lunch within a few minutes. This is what I've missed these last years of separation from my friends-hunting, laughing, the occasional treasure run. My sharp talons tear through the hide like it's paper. I need to teach my bride to hunt. I know sh
RoxanneFriends.I want to kill him as badly as I wanted to that first day. It's the day after we became such great friends and I'm running the tower stairs to get such thoughts from my mind. A friend is a good thing. It is! I've run six-hundred and twenty-seven stairs and I've yet to convince myself.He told me before that he wished us to be friends. I didn't know how badly the word would hurt.Damn dragon."Bride of Uncle Laryn, what are you doing?"I'm so startled I miss a step and bang my shin. "Damn, ouch, darn..." I cut off the rest of my tirade because it's more frustration with Ashrac's uncle than actual pain. "What are you doing here, Ashrac?" I try to temper my question. From the look in his eyes I failed."I wished to visit you." His lips tremble and I instantly regret my less-than-pleasant tone. I sit on the stair that jumped up and bit me and rub my shin. "Please shift to your human form and sit down to tell me what you're up to today."He doesn't shift or sit, which surp
LarynEarth is much as I remember-busy, noisy, and crowded. Because of military radar, I must limit flying as a dragon, which is never easy when one is in a hurry. I also don't want Dmitri, a vampire of this realm, to tip off Bastian that I am here. I have no doubt Bastian used Dmitri's connections to discover the location of the chalice.The man in question, the one with no morals, lives in a place called Texas. It sounds decidedly liberal, which matches this country's appalling views on feudal societies. I mumble the name a few times, "Tex-ass, Tex-ass." It totally fits.I crossed into this realm more than five-hundred miles from Texas. Now, I'm on a plane after booking a private jet with human money that Dmitri exchanged for gold many years before. Finding a jet and pilot was time-consuming. Time is my most precious commodity at the moment. My bride gave me a name and location. The plane will drop me within ten miles of the place I seek.I feel my bride plays with me. For some reas