I hadn’t had this dream since I came home from Drakkir for the final time. I say dream but it was a nightmare. Reliving that night over and over again, the screaming, the blood. It never left me. The faces of those six dragons never left me, not even after Wyatt rescued me.
I damn sure tried to forget them and up until now, I thought I had.
White hair. Red eyes. The ringleader. Ferrekdos’ the one who broke me in. He stole my body that night and fought me until I was too weak to defend myself.
Why am I remembering that face now all of a sudden?
Not Mate.
What? What are you talking about?
Different scent.
He has the same hair and same eyes.
Different dragon.
My claws popped out, ripping the sheets.
Same hair and eyes!
My eyelids flew open when I finally put two and two together. I probably looked like I’d escaped a psychiatric hospital, hair flying in different directions, eyes wild as I searched for him.
No one else was in this room but me. My nose wrinkled and I covered it, trying to force his scent out. I need more bleach, anything is better than smelling him.
Heavy footfalls again. Great, he was coming back. Claws still out, I was ready to rip his throat out.
No! Mate helped!
I don’t care!
When his masked face came around the corner, I leapt onto him like a rabid animal, desperately clawing at his throat. Usually I’m a better fighter than this but I'm not thinking like a hero right now. I’m moving like a predator on the hunt.
“What the—get off me, woman!” His strong hands grasped me by the shoulders and held me at bay but I slashed at his wrist, spilling his blood across the once clean floor. He crouched low and hissed at me, tongue forked just like mine when I got mad enough.
Stop fighting! My dragon screamed at me.
Never!
My body started swaying but I fought it off. I wasn’t done yet. I needed to get my fucking revenge and prove to my dragon that he was the same man that raped me, scent be damned.
“Have you lost your fucking mind?! Why would you attack me?!”
“Don’t act like you don’t remember what you did to me, Ferrekdos’!” His eyes widened at the name and he stood up. I only now caught on to how freaking tall he was because I had to look up at him. Dragon males are naturally tall as fuck but he could easily put Noa to shame.
“I don’t know who that is.” The words felt hollow and my stomach dropped. No, it wasn’t my stomach, it was his. He’s lying and he feels bad about it? How do I know that?
Different dragon. Told you.
Shut up.
“Take off your mask.” I sat back down on the bed, retracting my claws.
“Not happenin’.” He narrowed his crimson eyes on me. “Lay down and get some rest before I tie you to that cot for your own good.” He wrapped a towel around his wrist to stop the bleeding. Wait. He was still bleeding?
“You’re not healing?”
“Not as fast as you. I’m too old. When you’re old everything starts slowing down.” I couldn’t see it behind his mask but I bet he wore a permanent scowl.
“Take off your mask and I’ll help you heal.” If the mate bond worked to help me, maybe it could help him.
Not that he deserved my help.
His eyes danced with amusement and low laughter rolled off his lips.
“Ha! Girl, you’re a funny one. Help me heal? You can’t even stabilize yourself or your clutch. Not without me.” The feathers on my wings raised up, ruffling with anger. He was right but I didn’t have to like it.
“Get out!” I jabbed a finger at the door but my hand wavered. Using my other hand, I propped my elbow up, poison be damned.
He shook his head and sighed.
“If I take off the mask, will you calm the fuck down and try to rest?”
“I make no promises…but take it off anyway.”
He whistled, “you are one stubborn little brat.”
I waited patiently. If he wanted me to rest and stop trying to kill him, he’d have to play ball. And he knew it.
With a low grumble of complaint, he gently moved his mask out of the way.
He was handsome but not pretty. His face had stubble and a five-o-clock shadow but he otherwise looked well maintained. Those crows feet around his eyes definitely gave away his age but if he were anyone else? I would absolutely be flustered and fangirling right now because it’s not everyday you meet a dragon cowboy.
If only he didn’t have that face.
“Happy now?”
“You’re him…but my dragon says you’re different. I don’t fucking believe it.”
“You should listen to her. Our dragons are the direct link to our instincts, ya know.” He pulled his mouth back up and walked over to me with a cup he’d had hidden around the corner. It smelled divine, like peaches.
“Is that peach tea?” Oh god, my mouth was watering from the scent alone.
“It’s a special blend. Meant to help with dragonsbane poisoning. I figure between that and our bond, we could slow the poison down. Might even help ya function.”
Why was his voice so deep? Why do I fucking care?
He held out the cup to me and raised an expectant eyebrow, waiting for me to take it.
Drink. We need it.
Fine, but only for the babies.
Taking the cup, I lifted it up to my nose and inhaled its rich aroma like it was my last breath. Still, I hesitated.
“What is it now? You think I poisoned it or something? Here.”
Gently placing his hands over mine, he didn’t take the cup from me but raised it up so he could take a sip. The way his tongue flicked out to catch a stray drop of the golden liquid sent a shiver down to my belly.
Mm. Wish we were a cup.
That’s probably the most complete sentence you’ve said yet and of course it’s horny.
Honest.
She was right…and I hated it.
“Stop messing around and drink.” Firmer this time, like he was a teacher scolding me as his student. Oh no, that’s the last thing I needed, another fantasy.
“Fine. If it’ll shut you up.” My skin burned with need as he took his hands away from mine. One sip and I felt its warmth rush through me, relaxing my body. My chest stopped being tight and I could actually breathe.
“There, atta girl. Now scoot over.” He didn’t wait for my protest, he just picked me up and gently moved me towards the wall. He pulled the blanket down over me and then slid next to me, one not-thick-enough layer of cloth separating us.
I wanted to hate him even more when he placed a protective arm across my belly, but it’s hard to stay mad when his presence is giving me life.
“So…tell me something.” I asked softly.
“Something.” He said, chuckling.
“Asshole…just, tell me this.”
He paused. “Go on.”
“Tell me why you abandoned me.” I felt my throat tighten, thick anguish stuck in my throat like gum. “Was I really that bad?”
“That’s the thing, kid.” He sighed and pulled me closer to his chest.
“It was never about you.”
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