Chapter 15 #2
Griselda crawled closer to him as he shook his head. So much for listening. She stayed on her hands and knees, reaching for his own clawed hand and grabbing it firmly. Her warmth radiated through him. Such a simple touch but with so much meaning behind it.
A loud crack of thunder boomed, shaking the ground and the cave. Dust and pebbles fell around Thrasik and Griselda. Shrieks and yelps cut through the air as the beast bounded away. Hopefully knowing that this cave was inaccessible meant whatever it was would go find another place to hide.
Thrasik gripped Griselda’s hand harder. He didn’t know how desperate he’d been for her to willingly reach out to him.
“—And there’s terrifying beasts out there.” Thrasik’s teeth clacked against each other on his final word.
Griselda crawled closer to him, releasing his hand and moving to wrap her arms around his neck as she felt up his body.
He stiffened at her action, not knowing what he’d done to elicit such a show of affection.
They were basically laying back on the ground so at least he didn’t have to worry about her hurting herself.
“I’m so glad,” she sobbed, her voice breaking. “You’re okay! You’re alive!”
Sorrow ripped through him. He’d forgotten that while he was trying to find safety for them, the last thing she remembered was him passing out.
Wrapping an arm around her waist, he curled his head over her shoulder. “You did great out there. I’m so proud of you, and I’m beyond sorry for running.”
Griselda pushed off him and grabbed his face, pushing her forehead to his.
“I don’t care that you ran. You don’t need to explain.
I’m just glad you’re still here. I haven’t known you long at all and I can’t explain it, but I feel connected to you in ways that don’t make sense.
If I’d lost you back there… it would be like losing a part of me that I’ve only recently rediscovered. ”
His heart pounded in his ears. Was she confessing?
An odd rumble warbled through the core of his throat. Was he… purring?
“It doesn’t sound sane at all, but I feel like I’ve known you for ages.
And gods you’ve been frustrating me!” She pulled back, keeping her fingers wrapped around his cheeks.
“Thrasik, I know my world is different from yours. I know I was only a meal to you and it sounds insane saying it out loud. I don’t ever want to be without you. ”
He stared deep into her eyes. Even in the darkness they twinkled.
Her entire being did, in fact. Almost like she herself was made of the very stars in the sky.
He relaxed his body, his tail removing itself from the entrance of the cave just as lightning flashed in the distance.
The way it lit up her face and caressed the curves of her features was enough to make him envious that it was able to provide such wonder to her instead of it being his hands doing so.
“I believe I understand what you mean. Griselda,” Thrasik grabbed her hands, moving them to hold between their bodies. “I need to speak with you. There’s things you need to know about me that might change your feelings and I need you to listen to me.”
Lightning flashed again, blessing him with the view of her. Her snow white hair haloed around her face as small whispers of wind puffed from the entrance of the cave.
“I’m certain there’s nothing you could tell me that will change how I feel, but I’m listening.” Moving to sit, she crossed her legs and folded her hands in her lap.
Thrasik fully relaxed his body. The rain still drenched the outside world, but somehow helped make a little bubble for them in this cave.
He rested on his elbows, coiling his body in on itself and leaving a small amount of space between the two of them.
Though, he couldn’t help but let the tip of his tail graze and tap against Griselda’s thigh.
“You know, obviously,” He waved his hand about his figure.
“I’m a naga. My people are born from a long lineage of dragonkin.
The difference between myself and other naga are that I’m born from a direct line of dragons.
Which is why my features are different. Because of how sheltered…
Oglen, was his name? How he kept all of you in the village, I’m sure you’ve never met another naga. ”
Griselda nodded. Her head cocked a bit to the side, one of her long braids trailing over her shoulder.
“Other naga don’t have these features.” He pointed his finger to the spines coming from his head, the spikes on his chin, his sharp eyebrows, the plated scales on the back of his arms. “I don’t know which lineage, none of the elders do either.
Though, I suspect they’re lying. The point of the matter is, no other naga is alive that shares a direct lineage with the dragons.
They’re all either diluted or were killed off. I’m the last of my bloodline.”
Thrasik started drawing lines in the ground, showing a stick figure dragon on one end with two different lines leading to two circles with squiggles.
“The other bloodline went with a different species mixture. They’re more snakelike. They’re smoother. They don’t have jagged teeth or armor. They’re lithe, muscular, and sneaky. You wouldn’t know they’re in front of you until it’s too late.”
“We have stories of them. Though, stories to keep the girls from leaving the village and to make the men want to be warriors,” whispered Griselda.
“The other naga weren’t worried about earning a fear factor or ruining factions with ruling nations.
Politics and royalties were left to those with dragon blood running through their veins.
I was born royalty. I’m the last remaining prince, Griselda.
” Thrasik drew a line through each figure leading up to his, including the dragon.
Griselda stared at him. Her teeth worked her lip as though she were trying to find the right words.
Just as he was about to continue, her words blurted out.