BastianShe took the gift of her virginity from me. How dare she! I jumped from the landing at the end of the hall into my eating tower. My roar was loud; the burst of flames and smoke would incinerate anything in its path. My wings pulled me up to the parapet and out to the open sky. The moons shone bright, and I flew fast, heading for her town. Because she didn't know how many men despoiled her, I would kill them all. The crash through realms was painful. It didn't need to be, but I craved this pain, relished it.The town slept, the lights off. I swooped in low, my wings grazing the tops of their houses, and I roared. She made me crazy. I wanted death, blood, a fight. Killing these humans would give me two of the three. With a burst of flame to their public building, it exploded. Humans poured from their homes, women screamed, children cried. I made one last pass before changing my course. Was anyone inside the burned building? A small part of me didn't want a human death on my hand
BastianHer uncertainty was precious. "But a moment of pain-a lifetime of ecstasy."She looked around the field. "Will you take me here?""I leave the choice to you. Here, or in ten minutes, a bed."Her smile grew and I would swear it blocked the sun. She was my sun... bright, beautiful, mine."Here, dragon.""My name is Bastian.""Here, Bastian. I fear this, let us get it over with."I walked forward and cupped her face, my thumb running across her chin. Soft... calling to me. I stepped closer so only inches separated us. Lowering my hand, I used both to lift her gown over her head. She was bare beneath."So beautiful." Each curve was soft and delicate.Desperation showed in her eyes. "Hurry, Bastian, please."I would not give in until she was ready. "No, my sweet. Your first time is better slow. Did you like your finger?" I loved the red flush that traveled over her breasts, up her throat, blossoming on her cheeks.I would never forget her look of need. "No... it wasn't you."I turn
BastianShe passed out, which was usual for the first time. I should have warned her, but I was too impatient to make her mine. I stood up and moved away, shifting to dragon so I could fly her back to my lair. I lifted her, snagging her dress in a talon and taking off. She stirred as I entered the tower."You cleaned it," she said in a dreamy voice."I did. It was time. The smell repelled me."I loved her laugh. So full, so perfect. I released her on the perch at the top of the stairs and shifted to my human form. "Are you hungry?""Starving.""I shall eat with you."She gave me a quizzical look. "You can eat human food?"I laughed at her funny face. "Yes. I like to hunt as dragon, but I like the finer foods also.""Do you cook?"I shrugged. "No, I have servants for that.""You mean there are other dragons here?""No." I removed a piece of grass from her hair. "They are human.""Human. You have humans here?"She wouldn't like this. Most of the brides did not. "They serve me and now yo
BastianI watched her read, her legs curled on the settee, pillows propped behind her shoulders. "Do you play chess?"She gave me another treasure I hoarded-her smile. "I play checkers.""Humph. Chess is the game of kings. I do not play a child's game."She innocently gazed around the room not looking at me. "I see no kings here."That was why I enjoyed her so much. She liked teasing me and keeping me on my toes, or talons depending on my form. "I shall teach you and maybe in twenty years, you shall be competition.""Twenty years?" she scoffed."It will take at least that long to train your human brain in the game of warfare.""Only if I may teach you checkers.""Humph, when you beat me, I shall learn your silly game."We moved to the table holding my chess set. The pieces were heavy gold and silver, the board black and white marble. I'd stolen it from a king in a faraway realm. The fool thought he'd captured a dragon. I challenged him to a game for my freedom. He'd agreed, and I won.
AcasiaSarn's lair was different. Not as comfortable as Bastian's, barren actually. Calista, his bride, welcomed me with a soft melodic voice. She was much older than I was, her hair long and grey, her face wrinkled but the beauty she once held was still evident. It was surreal meeting a claiming bride whom I'd studied in school. The other, Megan, belonging to Tahr. She was middle aged, with graceful beauty and still full of life. The dragons seemed relaxed, friendly, and curious of me until Laryn arrived. I received a sharp jerk to my hand, which brought me closer to Bastian's side within seconds of the devastatingly handsome man's approach. With gentler and more subtle moves, Sarn and Tahr brought their women nearer too.Laryn nodded his head in greeting. "Tahr, Calista, Sarn, Megan." He looked at Bastian, but then his eyes wandered to me.Internally, I winced. Not from the leer he half-heartedly gave me, but from the pain I saw deep within his dark eyes. They had a blue spark; wher
BastianThe days became weeks and weeks, months. Acasia fit into my world and blossomed from sexually shy to the erotic bride of my dreams. I knew she missed her family, but I didn't let that bother me. She entertained me, made me laugh, and sometimes vexed me. Overall, I was calmer. It was always like this once my bride settled.I'd caught Laryn entering my territory one night. I needed to be more vigilant with my shiniest treasure. I also understood his pain, so I didn't kill him."Why are you here, bastard blue child of Cookie Monster?" Tahr came up with the nickname after a trip to the earth realm. We all laughed after our own inquisitive travels when we discovered the reference. It stuck."I can't do this, Bastian. Not again. I'm lost." The words sounded as if they were retched from his gut.I swooped in beside him and stuck close as he glided through my territory. I had no doubt he'd steal Acasia if given the chance. But he came for company- anything to combat the grief and lone
BastianHer excitement kept us awake most of the night while she pestered me with questions. I would almost be asleep and she'd think of another one. But I didn't regret telling her. I knew she got lonely, I just didn't like thinking about it. The following morning, she fluttered around preparing herself and asking more questions as I watched. We would be gone for two earth days, but the time between realms was strange and impossible to pinpoint how much time would pass here. During these trips, I rarely stayed more than a few days. It could be hours or days later once I returned. No rhyme or reason, but that was the gods' doing."Have you known your friends in this realm for a long time?""Yes," I snapped, my impatience to leave making me cranky.She ignored the tone of my voice. "What will be the strangest thing I see?"I sighed; it would do me no good to put her off. "Technology. The dragon realm exists on magic. Earth has very little magic, so they are able to build and control to
AcasiaI was away from Bastian and in the presence of another woman. It was difficult not to jump up and down with excitement but I acted reserved so I wouldn't scare Nikka away. Brunya had spoken aloud, and Bastian told me they could so I knew earth humans spoke. Another female named Mandy joined us. She was as excited to meet me as I was to meet her. She explained that she was a wolf and human mix and that Nikka was mountain lion and human. Since I now knew dragons shifted, I had no trouble accepting what she told me. I had so many questions about their realm, and Mandy patiently answered for about three minutes.She finally broke in when I asked about what Bastian called a cell phone. "So tell us about yourself. We've only just learned of your race and we've been dying to meet you. Honey, my mate, thought he could keep me away today. The man is seriously messed up in the head sometimes." She stopped talking and looked at Nikka before turning back to me. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'll let you