Chapter 8 #2
“It’s simple enough to claim a mugging, but usually, under those kinds of circumstances, I’ll try to land in the vicinity of some outdoor clotheslines.”
“That’s smart. Do you have homes other than the castle?”
“Not currently.” I didn’t mention my mountainous lair because I never admitted to having one. Not much use in having a secret hidey-hole if everyone knew of it.
“Have you always lived in Scotland?”
“No, and is this really the time for one hundred questions? It’s getting late, and we really should head into Mallaig, seeing as how we have at least an hour of walking ahead of us.”
“An hour!” she yelped. “I’ve done enough walking the last two days. I’m going to call for a taxi.”
“Who won’t think it’s strange to pick up their passengers on a road with no house or business?” I pointed out as I snared the cap and goggles from her hand and stuffed them into my bag. The blankets were too bulky to fit.
She chewed her lip. “We could claim our car broke down.”
“Then why wouldn’t we have called from beside it?”
My reasoning led to her sighing. “You make a good point, but my legs are tired from trekking back and forth on your isle.”
“Is this a hint I should carry you?”
“Goodness, no. I am much too heavy.”
I begged to differ and was rather insulted she thought me too weak. Then again, given my unwanted attraction, probably best I didn’t tuck her close to my chest, my arms wrapped around her, inhaling her delectable—
“We’ll walk,” I groused, taking long strides, which I had to shorten since she had to practically run to keep up.
Despite huffing, she didn’t remain quiet. “Do you fly to the mainland often?”
“Why would I bother?”
“What of supplies for the renovation?”
“I have all my goods delivered, even though it’s astronomically expensive.”
“Do your friends come to visit? Or do you visit them?”
“No.” No point in admitting I lacked any, unless Astaria counted.
They all died eventually. Humans had such a short spark of time compared to dragons, another reason not to get involved.
It discomfited to see them age and pass on.
At least Astaria, with her selkie heritage, would have a few centuries before she left, but Davina? A couple decades, at best.
“You must be so lonely.”
“Solitude is part of being a dragon. We must hide what we are, thus making friendships difficult.”
“What about other dragons? Nessie might not be open to socializing, but surely there’s another somewhere in the world.”
“Until recently, there wasn’t.” Then, knowing she’d ask, I added, “It’s been brought to my attention that four eggs have hatched.”
“How exciting! Have you met the babies?”
“No.”
“Surely you’re planning to.” She paused before adding, “Are you their father?”
“What? No.” But only because I’d spotted the trap and escaped before it sprang.
“Hold on, I thought you and Nessie were the last two dragons?”
How to explain. “Dragon eggs can lie dormant for eons, as they require the right circumstances to hatch.”
“Which are?”
I sighed. Of course she’d want to know. “Extreme heat for a prolonged period of time. When a clutch is fertilized, the mother will deposit the eggs in a volcano, usually choosing one that is active.”
“The eggs are placed in a volcano? Wouldn’t the magma kill them?”
“It acts as an incubator, and when the hatchlings are ready, they can easily break free.”
“And not be burned, right?”
“Correct. Although, as they mature, some lose their protection against the magma depending on their ability.”
“Abilities being?”
“Mine is of changing my shape.” The one she knew about. I didn’t mention the others I’d gained during my lifetime. “Some can breathe fire—”
“Like the stories.”
“There are myriad forms a dragon’s innate skill can take. Some project lightning, blow ice, spit acid. Nessie, for example, can breathe water like air, and manipulate it as if it had substance. Even turn it into a drill that can bore through rock.”
“So very cool. I take it from what you said that the mom of those young dragons is dead.”
“Yes.” If it was Tiamat, as I suspected, she’d perished a long time ago, but I feared her twisted legacy might live on in her hatchlings.
“And their father?”
I shrugged. “I am unsure of his identity or fate.” Knowing Tiamat, likely she’d had him killed once she got what she wanted.
However, ever since finding out about the hatchlings, I did wonder at his identity.
Tiamat had wanted a strong male to fertilize her clutch, and at the time, I believed myself to be the most viable male.
After my rejection, she must have found another.
“Those poor babies with no parents. At least they have each other.”
“They do and don’t.”
“What do you mean?”
“They were born in different countries, and while they know of each other, only the youngest has travelled to visit one of the others.”
“How sad. I’m glad you’ve reached out to them to let them know they’re not alone.”
“Why would I do that?”
She stared at me. “You’re telling me you didn’t take them under your wing? You left them to fend for themselves?” A note of censure hued that statement.
“They are not my problem.”
“They’re defenseless babies!”
“Hardly,” I snorted. “Hatchlings are born with the practical memories of their mother. Language, customs both of human and dragon. While the newly hatched are somewhat vulnerable, being small and without wings or defensive ability, they grow quickly. Much more quickly than you could even imagine.”
“And? Still seems mean to leave them fending for themselves.”
“They aren’t alone. All four are surrounded by a bevy of attendants.”
“All I hear are excuses. I didn’t take you for heartless.”
“Dragons aren’t like humans. We don’t get emotionally involved or attached.”
“I find that hard to believe. All living things feel, and the more intelligent a species, the more they care about others of their kind.”
“Are you really going to chastise me because I lack human emotion about matters?” I snapped.
“Actually, I was attempting to guilt you into doing the right thing. Is it working?”
“No.”
“You’re not the teensy tiniest interested in making a dragon friend?”
“No.” Because I still didn’t know if I’d have to kill them.
“What about being a mentor? Someone they could look up to. Someone to teach them right from wrong. Good versus evil.”
I exhaled noisily. “Again, no, and whatever your next question is, no as well.”
“So grouchy. You might not be so antisocial if you had someone to talk to.”
“I’m talking to you, and it’s just making me regret leaving my castle,” I growled, my complaint not entirely true. For all her pestering, I did surprisingly enjoy myself.
And she knew it!
“Oh, please. If you hated my company so much, you wouldn’t be here with me right now.”
“I wanted to get you off the isle.”
“You could have simply dropped me and flown off, but here we are. Together. Admit it, you’re keen for the company and adventure.”
“Am not.” Even a dragon my age could sound childish when caught in a lie.
She laughed. “Okay, Mr. Grumpy-pants.”
“You’re awfully sassy considering I could eat you.”
“It’s time for a better threat because that one is truly getting old.”
“Do you ever shut up?”
“No. So long as I can breathe, I shall question—”
I couldn’t have said what possessed me—other than arousal. But I did the stupidest thing imaginable. I swung her around, curled an arm around her waist, and lifted her.
Lifted her high enough I could silence her with a kiss.
A kiss that was glorious.
And stupid.
That I couldn’t seem to stop.
I touched her and all sense and reason fled.
Need. Carnal desire. Filled me. Consumed me.
Perhaps I might have been able to control this unruly passion if she’d not kissed me back, her lips pressing and sliding just as passionately.
The taste of her the most exquisite thing.
Her scent, an aphrodisiac. It fed a hunger I’d not realized I’d had, one that only she could awaken.
Want.
I wanted her. More than any treasure. More than anything.
And that frightened me enough I broke away from her, set her on her feet, took a few steps back.
The distance did nothing to ease the ache in me. The roused longing. It didn’t help that her expression smoldered with a matching passion.
She licked her lips and smiled. “Well, that’s one way to shut me up.”
Indeed, it was, and that knowledge might be my downfall.