Chapter 2
Chapter Two
MARI
Breakfast the next morning is quick because the dragons want to get on the road, or I guess it would be ‘in the air’.
I’m glad we don’t linger, though. The men at this inn stare at me, their eyes move over me like I’m still in that tiny dress and I hate it.
I’m kind of thankful I have the dragons to protect me because I have a pretty good idea of how last night would have gone.
I shiver as I remember the one who came out of the shadows like he was waiting for me. He launched himself at me as soon as I was close enough. He hit me across the face without warning and I was being half carried half dragged into the barn before I knew it.
‘I didn’t thank you,’ I murmur, glancing up from my eggs and bacon to find the older dragon man already watching me.
‘For…’
‘Saving me.’ I flinch a little because it was my own fault that I was in danger. I should never have tried to escape here. It was a half-cocked attempt, and I should have waited.
But I didn’t know it was going to take another two days to get to wherever they’re bringing me.
The dragon snorts, and I take in his straight brown hair, the angular jaw.
I can’t say I’ve seen many handsome men in my time, but this one is definitely a looker despite being a giant reptile.
I glance at the younger one. I already know he’s staring, mostly at my chest, although the other one gave me a knitted sweater this morning that covers me there, so he can’t see anything.
Doesn’t stop him looking though, and I resist the urge to cross my arms over my tits.
I finish my food and see they’re already done, too.
‘What’s your name?’ the younger one asks.
I don’t look at him. The older one told me not to encourage him and the last thing I want is for him to get the wrong idea and decide to rape and then accidentally kill me.
Hell of a first time. That would be some bullshit.
‘I asked you your name,’ he says, his voice sharper.
‘Marigold,’ I whisper. ‘Mari.’
‘I’m Orin and this is Torvial. Tor.’
I nod and glance at the older one.
Tor.
If I had to trust one of them, it would be him. There’s something in his eyes that I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. A quiet honesty. I doubt he would lie to me if I asked him a direct question. It’s a ridiculous idea, but I’m sure I’m right. He’s noble.
‘It’s time.’
‘I’ll take the female,’ Orin begins, but Tor shakes his head.
‘You carried her yesterday and we’ll be passing close to the edge of the Barelands. It’s best I take her today. In case there’s trouble.’
Orin deflates a little, reminding me of a younger boy with a crush on his teacher. I just hope his regard is as benign.
We leave the inn and hike up and down a couple of hills along the trails until we’re out of sight. As soon as there’s a clearing, Orin strips out of his clothes quickly, bundles them into a sack and changes within about ten seconds. He jumps into the air, soaring high.
My heart is pounding hard as I turn to Tor who’s still in his human form. ‘Are you going to carry me the same way as Orin did yesterday?’
‘Yes.’
My stomach churns and I hope I don’t lose my breakfast.
He tilts his head to the side. ‘I won’t drop you.’
‘I didn’t think you would,’ I whisper. ‘It’s just… I’ve never been… up there.’
He shrugs. ‘There’s no other way, Mari.’
He says my name like a caress and my breath hitches a little. I just hope he thinks it’s the fear.
This guy isn’t a guy, I remind myself. He’s a huge, scaled lizard who’s undressing.
I turn away and hear his quiet laugh. There’s a whoosh of air and when I look over my shoulder, he’s back in his pitch black dragon form. The sun shines on his scales, and I see some of them are iridescent like a sheen of oil and water.
He lurches at me, and I squeal as I throw myself backward.
But his long black talons envelope me anyway and I’m lifted off my feet.
Unlike yesterday I don’t feel the need to scream.
Maybe it’s because I now know what to expect, but as I look at the huge dragon above me, beating his wings in strong steady strokes, I’m not afraid like I was before.
By the time I look down, the trees are just patches of green and I see a river that looks like a thin, blue snake. The wind is cold, and I bury myself deeply into the furs I’m wearing as I look out at the mountains all around us. I feel oddly…safe. Free.
Time passes. The sun rises and then sinks, and the dragons show no signs of stopping, not until the bottom of the sun begins to disappear. They seem to know where they’re going because both of them dip suddenly in the same direction, making my stomach swoop.
Tor waits until he’s just off the ground before he drops me. I land on my feet with an ‘oomph’ and then fall to the side gasping a little.
‘Here, let me help you.’
A very human and very naked Orin holds his hand out to me.
‘I’m fine.’
I get up by myself, not looking at the younger dragon as I scan the skies for Tor. He didn’t leave me alone with his student, did he?
‘I was only trying to help.’
He sounds closer. I turn and find him looming over me. I step back.
‘Where’s Tor?’
‘Circling the perimeter. We’re close to the Barelands here. There are treaties in place, and these caves are off limits, but sometimes they try their luck.’
Orin licks his lips, eyeing me.
I should try to keep him talking.
‘What do they want?’ I ask. ‘These Barelanders?’
‘Food. Water that hasn’t been contaminated.’ He gives me a wolfish grin. ‘Females.’
I take a step back and he follows me, stalking me across the clearing. I feel rock at my back and realize he’s cornered me.
‘Your heart quickens.’ He murmurs, a finger trailing down my cheek. ‘Like prey.’
‘I’m not prey.’ I say with forced confidence.
‘I think you are.’
He’s suddenly pressing his body against mine, making the cliffside dig into my back.
‘Females like you are coveted in our mountains. Your hair is like fire. You’ll be popular.’ He frowns. ‘I won’t even get a look-in once Aziel and his side get hold of you.’
I stare up at him with wide eyes, my body shaking as he leans in and takes a long, deep sniff.
‘I see why they make sure the females are afraid. The smell of your fear is intoxicating.’
His hands delve under my sweater and find the breasts he’s been so interested in. He’s rough, squeezing them and making me yelp in pain.
The irony isn’t lost on me that I avoided the village boys, and the dirty old men so well at home that I’ve saved myself for a fucking monster.
Just my damn luck.
I cringe closer to the stone. I have to do something. I can’t let this dragon rape me to death just because he doesn’t know any better.
I prepare to strike, moving all my weight slowly from one foot to the other. He doesn’t notice. He doesn’t protect himself. He’s probably never had this happen before, so he doesn’t know what to look out for.
So, when my knee makes contact with his, albeit much higher than anticipated, gonads, he gives a whimpering yelp and falls to his knees, clutching his junk.
I skitter away from the wall just in time to feel the beating of Tor’s huge wings as he lands no more than twenty feet away.
I don’t care how big he is, or if he could kill me. I still rush toward him, hoping that he’ll protect me.
There’s a weird shimmer in the air as he transforms into a human.
‘What happened?’ he snarls at me, rushing toward Orin, who’s still rolling around in the dirt groaning.
‘I kneed him in the balls,’ I say, my breathing stuttering. ‘Really hard.’
He freezes mid-step and turns back to look at me. ‘You? Kicked him?’
His eyebrows raise and I get the feeling I’ve surprised him.
But my breathing is suddenly getting faster, I’m struggling for breath and getting lightheaded. I’m scared and panicking.
I claw at my neck but there’s nothing there to pull at.
‘I can’t breathe!’ I whisper, tears filing my eyes.
His hands are on my arms. ‘Deep breaths,’ he says.
But I can’t breathe!
I hear him swear under his breath and his arms tentatively go around my body, hugging me firmly.
‘Feel my arms around you. The rock under your feet. Breathe deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth in time with me.’
I struggle to do as he says, my eyes locking with his as I try to calm down.
‘The girl kicked me!’ I hear Orin snarl. ‘I should be allowed to scar her.’
I tense, but Tor doesn’t let me go. He doesn’t even look at the other dragon.
‘If you feel you’ve been wronged, you can petition Dreythos to punish her. But she is his until he says differently.’
I hear Orin stalk into the dark caves and Tor stays with me, holding me tightly.
It’s a few minutes before my breathing begins to return to normal. When it does, he releases me and I’m suddenly very embarrassed.
‘Thank you,’ I say quietly, my cheeks hot.
He doesn’t say anything to me, just turns and strides into the darkness, leaving me on the huge, high mountain ledge.
I hear him yelling for Orin, and there’s some scrambling before the younger one sprints out of the cave in dragon form. He leaps into the air, beating his wings so hard that I’m knocked to the ground, and then he’s gone.
I peer up into the darkening sky, wondering what’s going on.
‘Mari?’ Tor calls from inside the cave.
I hesitate at the entrance.
‘Mari!’ He sounds much more impatient now.
I step into the dark and gasp. It’s not dark at all! It’s a well-lit and furnished living room, at least on one side of a huge cavern. Tor is sitting on a couch with a black square thing in his hand. When he sees me, he beckons me.
‘Orin is gone. I sent him ahead. He’s to fly all the way home without rest as punishment.’
‘Thank you,’ I say quietly.
He rolls his eyes. ‘The punishment was for disobeying my orders and not being able to control his urges, not for groping you. As far as I’m concerned, the kick was his penalty for that.’
‘Oh.’