Chapter Seventeen

Flora

MY EYES PEEL open to sunshine. I’m in Ashrac’s room, in his bed, and he isn’t. I look around and still no Ashrac. I stretch my arms and I’m about to rise from the bed when a shadow passes in front of the window from the balcony. Dragonbreath went for a flight without me. We’ll be discussing this after he comes back to bed and welcomes the new day with me like he should have.

The dragon’s shadow shifts to a smaller human than Ashrac and before I can put together what human it is, Jewel pops her head in the window. She looks at me questioningly. I pull the cover over my bare breasts that were perky and waiting for my mate. “Come in,” I say because what else can I do? The strange expression on her face isn’t what I’m expecting, and for a moment I wonder if I should have read more into her friendship with Ashrac.

She sits on the end of the bed and continues staring at me.

“Is there something you need?” I ask.

She gives a small smile that in no way reaches her eyes. “Ashrac sent me to get you.”

Strange, but I’ll go to wherever he is. I whip back the cover and jump from the bed. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

“He wants me to return you to your realm.”

She couldn’t have said what I think she said. “What?”

“He flew to my home this morning and told me you’re returning to Earth and he needs me to take you.”

Now I understand her expression. It’s pity. “Where is he?” I ask with hurt I can’t hide in every word.

She turns her head toward the window. “He flew away and left my realm. He said he had things to do and wouldn’t come back here for a while.”

It’s sinking in. He doesn’t love me. We’re mated. It hits me. I’m mated and Ashrac’s dick is satisfied. I pull the tears in and lift my chin, refusing to give into my pain in front of Jewel. “Take me home please.”

§ § § §

I BARELY REMEMBER the flight. I flew in eagle form until we reached the crossing. Jewel tried to talk but I didn’t bother answering. I couldn’t. She left me at the crossing and I flew back to my apartment.

My life is over.

My apartment is stale, and I open a few windows to let air in. My personal belongings are exactly as I left them. My heart is not. I go to my bedroom and lie down. I have swords displayed on the wall and I don’t even want to look at them. It takes an hour of rehashing every minute I spent with Ashrac before the tears fall. Grief overwhelms me and I eventually fall asleep.

My ringing cell phone wakes me sometime later. At least I left the thing plugged in when Ashrac kidnapped me. I check the screen and it’s Gerri. I almost don’t answer. “Hello,” I say in a throaty, sleep-filled voice.

“Ah, Flora?” she asks.

“Yes, Gerri, it’s Flora.” There’s no inflection in the words. They’re cold and hard like my heart.

“I was only leaving a message for when you came to retrieve your belongings. Please tell me that’s what you’re doing.”

I’m too heartsick to do more than give the outline. “He kidnapped me. Held me in his castle. I fell in love, we mated… no, I mated, and he sent me home.

Ten seconds of silence is my immediate answer before her rough, angry voice fills my ear. “I’ll hire someone to take out that no-good, rotten son of a bitch. I promise.”

“You set me up didn’t you?” The thought’s been puzzling in my head and now I’ve said it aloud.

“You should have been the perfect match. I’m sorry are not the words I expected to say to you, but I’m incredibly sorry.”

“I’ll be okay, Gerri.” Liar, liar, liar.

“I know you will, sweetie. Is there anything you need?”

“Yeah, there is. Don’t go after him, don’t ever say his name in front of me again, and never hook me up again.”

More silence.

I disconnect that call, knowing I’ll feel guilty later about treating her this way. Right now I just need peace to clear my mind and figure out how I’ll explain all this to my family. I’m mated and that won’t change. The only way I will be free is if Ashrac truly dies, and that thought breaks my heart even more. The tears start falling again. I’m a survivor, and that’s what I will eventually do.

§ § § §

I STAY IN bed for two days. It’s now the evening of the second day. I don’t bathe or eat. I know I must do more than take a sip or two of water, but I can’t bring myself to do it. I’m stronger than this. Or maybe I’m not. I stare at the ceiling without moving.

The sound at my window only makes me roll away so my mother, father, or brothers can’t see my face. I know they’re worried about me. They’ve been calling and I haven’t answered, which is another thing I’ll feel bad about later. Right now, I just want everyone to leave me alone.

My body jerks when strong arms lift me from the bed.

I look up to see Ashrac cradling me against his chest while I just stare in shock. “You’re being kidnapped, my lady. Please don’t fight it. I’m taking you to my lair, where I’ll have my wicked way with you and you’ll fall deeply in love with me.”

He’s crazy. Anger burns inside me so suddenly and bright, I will most likely explode. “Put. Me. Down.”

“Good, I was hoping you’d play along. If you struggle a bit, that will put me in a better mood.”

I’ll kill him. If I don’t succeed, Gerri will have the deed done. If he wants me to struggle, it’s the last thing I’ll do. I go limp in his arms, wishing I had a sword in my hand to slice his lily-livered throat.

“Like that, is it? I knew you would be a touch upset and I planned on being here yesterday but I was waylaid at my alma mater by one of my professors who was interested in how my experiments are coming along.”

He’s a dead dragon walking, he just doesn’t know it.

“This kidnapping thing is tricky business and we’ll come back another time for your clothes and any belongings you want to take to my realm. I need to get the having my wicked way with you and you falling in love with me out of the way.”

Dead.

He carries me to the window and tosses me high. He shifts before I can even attempt to call my eagle, and he grabs me in one large talon. I ignore his magic that courses through me. I ignore how good it feels to be with him. I ignore my heart, which wants to melt into him and wrap his warmth around it. The sun is coming up when we reach the crossing. My mind is beginning to function past murder.

He planned this. He had Jewel bring me back knowing how devastated I would be and then he delayed his arrival because of some stupid professor. He is the most stupid, unfathomable idiot I’ve ever met. And, he’s my mate. My anger lowers from fury to rage, which is to say it lowers a millimeter. He actually starts whistling in my head when we cross into his realm. Enough of that. The power words flow softly from my lips and the energy pelts Ashrac’s tough scales.

“Hey,” he shouts into my mind. “What is this?”

I look at the color of his talons and it’s perfect. “They call it baby shit yellow. Get used to it.” This is the first time I’ve spoken since he threw me from the window.

The asshole laughs.

I’ll give him something else to laugh about at the first opportunity.

“Ah, oh,” he says when his castle is in sight. I can see where we are through his talons. He changes course to his lab.

Stupid, stupid move, dragon.

“We have company. You’re about to meet my parents.”

What? Oh hell no.

It’s too late. I roll from his talons after he lands and I jump to my feet. I’m only wearing Ashrac’s shirt, which I took with me when Jewel took me to the Earth crossing. My hair is a greasy mess and I stink. Goddess, do I stink.

His parents are nicely dressed in casual clothes. Ashrac lands and shifts before stepping in front of me. “Mother, Father,” he says.

His mother doesn’t look happy. Beautiful but very unhappy. “We just had a word with Jewel and I think there’s something you need to tell us.”

Ashrac looks at me with the exact expression you would expect when someone is scolded by their mother. Like I would help him.

He turns back when I offer no support. “Mother, Father, this is my mate, Flora of the Baby Shit Yellow Clan.”

His mother looks him up and down before turning her eyes to me. “I’m sure the color suits him from time to time, but please tell me you’ll turn him back eventually.”

“I’ll take your concern under advisement,” I reply, each word precise.

She steps forward and places her hand out with a soft smile. She tries to hide it but I notice the wrinkling of her nose. A slow death by boiling oil is awaiting Ashrac. I’ll light the fire that boils the oil with a smile. I place my hand out.

“I’m Acasia.” She gestures behind her. “This is Bastian. We’re very pleased to meet you. We just didn’t expect you after what Jewel told us.”

I drop her hand and interlock my fingers in front of me so maybe I won’t strangle her son in front of her. “I didn’t expect to be here either,” I reply honestly.

“Mother.”

We all turn to Ashrac.

“I’m in the middle of a kidnapping here and it would be better if we had this conversation another time. I haven’t gotten to the having my wicked way with her part yet.”

My elbow slips and lands directly in his ribs. My cheeks burn. Boiling oil’s too good for the ratfink.

His father steps closer, his expression filled with concern and more than a touch of anger. “Flora, I will take you back to Earth if you wish to return.”

A loud rumbling growl leaves Ashrac’s throat. “She is my mate, Father. No one will be taking her anywhere but me.”

Bastian’s eyebrows arch. I’m guessing Ashrac doesn’t usually speak to his parents this way. Decisions, decisions. Really there aren’t any. We’re mated, I love him, and hopefully someday I can say the words without wanting to kill him. And maybe someday he’ll grow to love me.

Ashrac turns fiery eyes on me. I would take a step back but he grabs my hand and glances back to his father. “She’s my mate and the first mating has taken place. When I kidnapped her the first time, I thought she had already agreed, but she hadn’t, so I had to send her back. If I told Jewel the truth, she wouldn’t have lied about it. Now I’ve kidnapped Flora the right way. She loves me and I love her. If you don’t mind,” Ashrac lifts me into his arms cradling me close to his bare chest, “we have unfinished business in bed.”

He’ll remain his current color for embarrassing me again in front of his parents. But, one word he said makes my heart swell. Love. “You love me?” I ask in wonder.

His baby shit yellow face goes soft and he leans in so our lips almost touch. “Of course I love you, my darling eagle.” His lips move the last inch separating us and my world tips back on its axis.

I part my lips and he deepens the kiss. I forget about his parents until his mother calls out, “We’ll be going now, but don’t think I won’t be back to get to know you better. I’ve always wanted a daughter. Just a warning, though, I will show up several times a week to remind you both to bathe.”

Ashrac doesn’t stop kissing me and it’s the only thing that keeps me from sinking to the floor in mortification. When we come up for air, his parents are gone.

“I’m sorry I worried you,” he whispers against my wet lips.

“You devastated me,” I tell him simply.

His forehead leans into mine. “Then I’m truly sorry. I’m easily distracted and my very old professor was insistent.”

I place my fingers over his lips. “Never again, dragonbreath, or I’ll turn you pink and drop turds on your head while you sleep. You need to stop talking and get on with the having your wicked way with me part or you won’t like the consequences.” His arms tighten around me and I realize we both smell bad. “Shower first,” I say.

“Deal,” he says, regardless of my finger across his lips. He bites the finger gently. “I like you wet.”

“Believe me, I’m wet,” I say with a husky laugh.

His low return laugh runs through my body. He flies me to his bedroom. His shower is a monstrosity and much bigger than the one in my room. He has my shirt off in seconds and he turns on the shower jets that pulse from every direction. He actually lifts me in his muscular arms and carries me into the shower.

The water feels so good but his arms feel better. He bends and releases me so my feet touch the tiled floor. I’ll need to ask him about how he’s managed hot water in his realm once I can think clearly. He lathers soap in his hands and washes me from my head to my toes. He pays extra attention to the special spots. I’m breathing hard when he hands me the soap to do the same for him.

I lather my hands in anticipation. Ever so slowly, he bends forward and I begin washing his hair. After it’s rinsed, my hands travel lower. I take my time to be sure I’ve washed every inch. I need to feel each part of my mate beneath my soapy fingers. My hands flow over the muscles and valleys of his body. His erection juts out beautifully and I wrap my fingers around him until he groans. Though I want to, I don’t stay there. I grab more soap because the water washes it way too quickly and I bend lower until I’m on my knees so I can wash his feet like he did mine. I lift my wet face and look up at him. His enormous erection bobs in front of me, and the look of worship on his face is almost my undoing. My lips are too close to resist. Not that I want to. I slowly slip my mouth around the head. He’s so wide I’m not sure if I can take more, but I plan to try. His fingers slide into my hair and he releases a low growl. I have all the power. I love it and I love making him groan.

He only gives me a minute before I’m snapped up, and then my back hits the wall. I tighten my arms around his neck and circle my legs around his waist. I squeeze his hips as his body aligns with mine. With one upward thrust, he impales me. I feel it all the way to my toes. The sizzling awareness of his dragon takes center stage and my eagle does the same. We don’t shift, but their power washes over us and combines. It’s enough to send me over the edge and we haven’t even begun. I cry out as pulsing waves of ecstasy fill me. He lifts me slightly and pulls me back down on him and groans. He goes wild after that and when he finally orgasms, I’m there with him again.

I’m prepared for the light this time and once again it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. It swirls around us, feathering across every inch of our bodies. It’s hot and tingly and at the same time sexual and comforting.

Minutes, hours, days later, we’re on the floor of the shower with my back to Ashrac’s chest and his arms curled around me while I sit in the V of his legs. I open my eyes slowly and glimpse over my shoulder. His head is back and his eyes closed. Even when he’s baby shit yellow, he’s gorgeous.

Everything is perfect in our world for all of two minutes. Then something strange happens. I inhale sharply as a stabbing pain hits my stomach. I don’t even realize I’ve cried out, when Ashrac’s hands tighten around me. “What’s wrong?” he asks.

Another pain hits and my stomach also turns nauseous. My entire body is tingling and it’s hard to get the words out but I finally manage.

“Oh hell,” Ashrac grumbles. He stands with me in his arms so fast another burst of nausea rolls through me.

“What are you doing?” I ask in obvious pain. He quickly carries me from the shower to the window of his bedroom that leads out to the balcony.

I’m holding his neck tightly. “Let go, Flora. There’s something I should have warned you about and I’m sorry I didn’t think of it.”

The pain grows worse and I’m afraid within seconds I’ll be crying like a baby. That’s when Ashrac tosses me over the side of the tower. The pain is so great it’s hard to even think much less say my power words. I manage, though, but nothing happens, and I continue falling. My eagle failed me for the first time in my life and I realize I’m going to die. It’s really okay because I can’t live with this pain.

Then it happens. Power wraps around me. It’s so overwhelming I can no longer breathe. This is what it’s like to die, I think as if I’m in a dream. The pain fades and another powerful burst of magic rolls through me. Then I explode into a million particles. I reform and mighty red wings keep me from hitting the ground. The power within me pulls the wings up. I still don’t feel right, which of course I shouldn’t. I’m fucking red. And, a dragon. I land unsteadily while trying to figure out what happened.

Ashrac lands beside me. “I forgot to mention that mating with me would turn you into a dragon,” he says cautiously into my mind.

My poor parents. They’ll never understand. “I will kill you,” I grind into his mind. “Losing my eagle should have been my choice. I would have done it, but it should have been my damn choice.”

His side bumps against mine. “You haven’t lost your eagle, or at least Sierra didn’t lose her wolf form. Give it a few minutes and try again.”

My large head slowly turns his way. “You’re serious?”

“Yes,” he says with a huge nod. His jaws open and the sides bend, displaying humongous teeth. I’m looking at a dragon smile.

I won’t lose my eagle. “Okay, dragonbreath, but you’re doomed to spend the rest of your life baby shit yellow. I, on the other hand, rather like my new red. Poor you.”

His head hangs down with the grin still in place. “Poor me,” he says in the saddest voice he can muster.

I say the words and pull in some of my power letting color overtake me. Ashrac’s rumbling laughter fills my head. I glance down at myself and now we match. Oh no, dragonbreath hasn’t earned the right to red but I’ll join him for a while.

“I love you, mate.” His words wrap around me and I pump my gangly wings and lift into the air.

“Then you better catch me,” I say with a laugh.

“Always.”

--§ § § §--

Jewel’s story will be out next year.

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading my work. The dragons have been quite the adventure for me and I only planned on 4 books. Yeah, then the emails poured in and I had to come up with another idea. Writing purely humor is something I love and this is where the dragons fit my imagination. When blood and guts become too much, dragons and laughter win the day.

I must thank my faithful readers who joined the naming contest and came up with the name for the twins. Sharon DeBruin, Bethany Titus, and Gemma Broadhead you saved me in a crunch when all I could think about was finishing the book. My “???” holder for the eventual names was going to be there when I sent it off to the editor. Love you ladies and can’t even express how grateful I am for your continued support.

Peace, love, and hope,

D’Elen