Dragon Scorned

5. Nikolai

Iwatched as River and her friend, the witch, made their way across campus. Careful to keep my distance from the dragon. She was fascinating, and the first female dragon I’ve seen in a long time.

I’ve been watching her from the shadows for a month now. Waiting until the perfect time to make myself known. I would have to speed up the process now that Tate had her in his sights.

That was not happening, not under my watch. I spotted Tate Stonewell following her out of the lecture hall. My beast roared at the sight, shifting my nails into claws.

She broke away from her friend and headed toward the science building. Her next class was biology. I memorized her schedule. I needed to know what classes she was in so I could put myself in the same ones.

I needed to keep an eye on her, to protect her from the dangers in this world. She was not safe, there was no one to protect her. I would be that protector, I will keep her safe.

My beast hummed in appreciation.

Her blond curls hung down to just below her shoulders, framing her face. She was by far the most beautiful woman I’ve come across. I just needed to tread carefully to make her mine.

I watched as Tate followed her for a moment more before turning and heading into the academics building. She was all alone now, and it was the perfect time to insert myself into her life.

I crept along the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment. She stopped, turning in a complete circle with a confused look on her face.

Perfect.

“You look lost,” I purred as I approached her from behind.

She jumped at the sound of my voice, spinning around to face me. Her eyes were wide as she craned her neck to look up at me.

“No, I’m fine, thanks.” She turned away from me, looking at the names of the buildings around her.

My beast growled at her dismissing us. “I can point you in the right direction if you tell me where you”re headed,” I told her, laying on the charm.

She turned to face me, inhaling deeply. A mixture of confusion and relief crossed her face. That”s right, little star, scent me all you want. You won’t smell my beast. Watching River that first day on campus I knew she wouldn”t trust me if I smelled like a dragon. So, I bribed a witch to mask my dragon scent.

“What are you?” she asked, one brow raised high on her face.

I looked at her, the purple swirling in her bright blue eyes before I turned to walk away.

“Wait,” she called from behind me, and a smile formed on my face. She was like putty in my hands. I knew how to get her to do what I wanted without her even knowing I was doing it.

Ooh, little star, you are making this too easy. Soon you will be mine. I wiped the smile off my face before turning around and giving her my best annoyed glare.

“I’m looking for the science building,” she huffed out when I finally turned around to look at her.

I looked down at her, loving the way she looked away as the blush crept up her neck. I inhaled, my beast stirring at the scent of her, it was like a field of violets on a bright sunny day. I pushed him back down, it was too early to introduce her to my beast. He needed to be patient. “I’m actually headed that way. Would you like to walk together?”

“Umm, sure.”

I started walking toward the building, and she quickly went into step beside me. I caught her sneaking peeks at me from the corner of her eye as we walked. My star was definitely right where I wanted her, infatuated with me, exactly like I planned.

“What are you?” I repeated her earlier question for me.

She cocked a brow at me in challenge. “I’ll show you, if you show me.” A wicked smirk filled her face, and my beast roared at her challenge.

“Be careful what you wish for,” I growled, leaning down next to her ear. She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply as a shiver worked its way down her body. When she opened her eyes up again, the violet swirled more in the bright blue depths, almost consuming them.

“Can you at least tell me your name then?”

“I’ll be whatever you want to call me.” A sly smile spread over my face as she looked at me, dumbfounded.

“How would I know what to call you if you don’t tell me your name?”

I just looked at her, the challenge shining bright in my eyes.

“Dick it is then,” she said with a nervous laugh. Averting her eyes, looking everywhere but into mine.

“Nikolai Augustine.” I finally told her, ending her misery.

“Nikolai,” she tested the word on her lips, “It suits you.” My beast roared at the sound of my name coming from her mouth.

We walked on in silence as she eyed me up and down. When we made it to the science building, I held the door open allowing her to walk in ahead of me. Before she walked through the door she turned around and walked backward, a playful smirk on her face.

“I’m not falling for the ‘ladies first’ trick so you can stare at my ass,” she said playfully, waggling her finger at me.

I snapped my teeth at the appendage, and she yanked her hand away, laughing before my teeth connected with her flesh. Her laugh was the most beautiful sound. She would put the angels to shame.

She looked at the signs, pointing out the different classrooms, and headed down the hall. Not looking back to see me still following her.

I followed her as she made her way to the biology room, she sat at an empty table in the back of the room. I smiled, taking the seat next to her.

“Are you stalking me?” She asked without turning to face me.

If only you knew, my star. I will follow you to the ends of the earth. “No, I have this class also.” I gestured to the book I just pulled out.

“Isn”t that convenient.” She smirked at me. Toying with the pencil in her hand.

“What’s on your mind?”

She sighed, turning her blue eyes on me, “There”s just so many supernaturals in this school. It’s a little overwhelming if I’m being honest.”

“Wanna get out of here?” I whispered in her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.

“It’s the first day. We can’t skip.” She gaped at me, her mouth hanging open at my question.

I tipped my head toward the door, “Come on, be a little bad.” A grin spread on my face when she nodded her head in approval. I grabbed our bags and headed toward the door, with River following close behind.

We ran out of the building, River was laughing at the thrill of skipping class. My star might just surprise me yet. We headed to the student parking lot, and I stopped in front of my car. I watched as her eyes lit up as she took in the sight of my Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

“Is this yours?” She asked as she ran her hand along the sleek black hood.

I held up my keys, clicking the fob to unlock the doors. “Wanna go for a ride?”

“Is the sky fucking blue?” She squealed, hopping into the passenger side.

I tossed our bags into the trunk before climbing behind the wheel. She was looking all over the sleek onyx interior.

“You got a little bit of drool,” I teased, pointing to her mouth. She snapped her teeth at my finger, and I pulled back to start the ignition.

“She sounds like a dream,” River said with the biggest smile on her face.

“Yes she does.” I said, looking straight at her, she caught my eye and turned her head away, but it was already too late. I saw the bright red staining her cheeks before she turned away from me.

“Hold on,” I told her before I took off out of the parking lot. The tires squealed against the pavement as a scream of delight came from the girl beside me.

I turned left out of the lot and headed toward my favorite street, Snake Road. It was full of twists and turns along the mountainside with plenty of open stretches in between the bends. I was about to give River the best ride of her life, until she was riding me, of course, then that would be the best ride of her life.

I turned off the main road onto Snake Road, and River’s eyes went wide. A mix of exhilaration and fear swirled in her gaze.

She braced herself against the dash as I whipped my Porsche around the first bend, picking up speed and barreling toward the next. River laughed in excitement as we raced up the mountain, only slowing when absolutely necessary.

I pulled to a stop at the top of the mountain, overlooking the valley below. You could see the curvy road working its way up far below us.

“This place is beautiful,” River said, breathless.

We sat in a peaceful silence, looking out over the edge of the mountain.

Her phone chimed in her pocket, she grimaced when she pulled it out looking at the message. Her fingers flew over the screen typing out a reply. I raised my brow at her in question, looking between her and the phone when she met my gaze.

“My best friend Natalia, she”s freaking out because I’m not in calculus,” she groaned, typing again after her phone chimed once more.

I looked at the clock on the dashboard, surprised two hours had already passed since we decided to skip bio.

“Do you want to head back?” I asked, praying to whatever gods were listening that she would say no. I wasn’t ready to return her yet, I only just got her in my grasp.

“No,” she strung out her answer, and I waited for the but that was inevitably coming, “But we should.”

Ah, there it was, the line was drawn between doing what she wanted and what she should. I hesitated, my hand hovering over the keys dangling from the ignition, waiting for her to change her mind.

“What I would give to fly here,” she said, pausing my movement. She gazed longingly out over the cliff. In the distance there was a beautiful waterfall, crashing down into the river below. The trees swayed as the wind rolled over them. I could see the beauty in the landscape, it called to my beast like no other. Beckoning me to free him from his chains.

I pushed him back down. Now was not the time to release him. I needed to get River to trust me more before I showed her the beast that hid inside.

“Come on, my star, I’ll take you back to your friend. Can’t have her thinking I’m a crazy stalker that kidnapped you, now can I?” I asked as a nervous laughter escaped her.

“No, we cannot,” she said as she eyed me weary.

A laugh rumbled deep in my chest at her shifting away from me. She acted scared, but the heat in her eyes and the scent of arousal coming off of her told me she didn’t really think that. I inhaled deeply, memorizing everything about her scent, burning it into my brain. Until I could get her underneath me, the smell of her arousal would have to keep me sated…for now.

I raced down the mountain, taking turns at lightning speed as River squealed next to me.

I pulled into the parking lot in record time and hopped out to grab her bag from the trunk.

“Thank you for the ride,” she said, taking her bag from me and slinging it over her shoulder.

“Anytime. Here, give me your phone. I’ll put my number in it, so the next time you need to escape, you can call me, and I can whisk you away again.” I told her, holding out my hand for her phone.

She only hesitated a moment before she slid it into my hand, nibbling her bottom lip as she waited for me to return the device.

I had to push down the urge to reach out and pull her lip out from between her teeth and bite it myself.

“Thank you,” she said again, pocketing her phone when I handed it back to her.

“I mean it. Anytime you need to escape reality, let me know,” I hollered at her as she walked away from me and back onto campus.

“I will,” she said without turning around, waving her hand above her head.

I watched her go until she was out of sight, then got back in my car and raced out of the lot.

River was playing into my hand perfectly, and she didn’t even realize it.