Xilon pinned the human woman against a boulder, his teeth barred. Still couldn't decipher whose blood was on her, but he knew without a doubt that it was Renjerian. So she had lied. He couldn't trust anything she had said and she was probably a sorceress trying to trick him. The only reason he didn't burn her to cinders was because of her bravery.

Most human women he'd encountered would have screamed or fainted by now. This one lifted her chin, raised her sword toward him as though she would cut him if he tried anything.

He recognized a warrior's stance in her posture. And her sword, Renjerian didn't have tiny weapons like that. How had she come here and did she truly kill all these Tryns with that puny blade? She could've used magic to blast the enemy, but there would be more damage instead of slash marks and wounds that correlated to a sword. Unless this was an elaborate trick. One that caused her magic to slash like a blade would.

His roar rumbled in his chest. But instead of backing up at his warning, she poked the tip of her sword at his nostril.

“Back off, Godzilla.”

What did she call me? Is that an insult? Didn't matter.

“Answer my question,” he grated into her mind, “why do you smell like a Renjerian? Speak before I fry you.”

“And I told you to back off.” She strode forward.

“Last chance, human,” he mindspoke to her. Thankfully, he’d visited Earth many times in the ancient past and still remembered their primitive language.

“You wouldn't believe me if I told you.” She rolled her shoulders back, but kept her weapon raised. “Hell, I grew up listening to the stories and thought they were fantasies until you showed up.”

“Explain.” Did she think Renjerians were mere fables? What were humans teaching their young about the dark ages? Renjerians had helped humans against the Tryns. Soon after though, humans called the Renjerians devils and blamed them for the Tryns. Now that centuries had passed, what wild tales did humans spout about his kind?

“My Grams told me one of our ancestors was a dragon. At first, when I was little, I believed her. Even collected dragons and told everyone I could about our supposed heritage.” She held up a hand and open and curled two fingers on one hand at the last words. “Got picked on at school and beat up because of it. Once I hit middle school, I finally learned my lesson and dropped the whole dragon talk. Then I discovered monsters were real and I've trained since then to fight and kill demons.”

A Renjerian mated with a human and this woman was their descent? Not impossible, but why would a Renjerian leave them behind when their race fled Earth and persecution? Unless it never left the planet or died.

He leaned back on his haunches, not letting the woman out of his sight. Darkness was falling and he wasn't going to leave her alone until he found out the truth. But he wasn't going to take her to his home either until he was certain he could trust her.

“Even if that is the case,” he held up a talon, “that doesn't explain why you smell of Renjerian blood. You've got two vaoors to tell me why or I will turn you into your namesake.”

“I was in an accident after chasing a demon.” She never took her eyes from him as though waiting for him to attack and she'd counter. “Grams said I died and gave me the last of her magic ancestor dragon blood. How was I to know it was real or that you'd smell it after so many hours?”

“How do I know you speak the truth?” he growled, thinking to intimidate her, but she didn't flinch. “That you're not some blood-sucker who is here to replenish her stock.”

She made a face like she'd eaten sour berries. “No offense, but your kind’s blood tastes like Castor oil.”

A whistle sounded overhead. The other Tryns would be hunting for their meal now. It was too dangerous even in the dark to fly, but it concealed them from the Tryns better. The bastards would discover their fallen soon and bring reinforcements to attack. He couldn't leave the human here as she looked like she'd pass out if she had to fight more than a few Tryns.

Besides, he still didn't believe her story entirely. How could a mere human…a woman kill this many?

For now, he had to get the human to safety and find out the truth. If humans had a new weapon, a magical one to teleport here, he needed to know. But he wasn't going to endanger his family and people either by bringing her to their hideout.

“Come with me.” He turned away from her. “I will provide food and shelter for you until we can send you back home.”

“So you believe me?” She trailed beside him.

“I didn't say that.”

“Well, at least it's progress and you're not considering eating me any longer.”

He huffed. “I didn't say that either.”

Normally, Renjerians didn't eat humans unless there was a famine and no other choice. Even then, many would load up on berries and other fruits before resorting to the puny humans. He, himself, never cared for the selfish mortals.

Except if what this female said was true, then she was superior to any other he'd met. At that thought, he let out a stream of smoke. It had to be her so-called dragon ancestry that made her so. Yes! If a Renjerian did mate with a human then any offspring for countless generations would have some advantage over mere humans.

“What are you thinking?” she asked, taking quick steps to keep up with him.

“Nothing.” He stopped at the edge of the forest.

“Really?” She crossed her arms, her sword was tucked through a loop on her pants. The movement caused her shirt to ride up, exposing her dark, flat stomach. “Cause you smirked like a cat that ate a mouse.”

Was that a good or bad thing? Cats, mouse…which one was better? He wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of asking and letting her know he'd forgotten Earth's animals…or at least those two. And she'd mentioned Godzilla earlier and he couldn't for the life of him remember what animal that was. One with the bushy tail and orange fur or one of the small flying mammals?

“Get on.” He lowered his body down so she could climb up his side to his back. They'd make better time in the skies and it was safer than the ground. His bulk was too big to travel through the woods. He'd knock down trees and alert any Tryns to their presence. An old shelter of his lay a few miles from here. He'd drop her off there and then return home. His father, the king, would want to know about the human and decide what to do with her. A tinge of guilt swamped his gut. What if his father ordered her death for partaking in Renjerian blood? It was forbidden to humans, regardless if the dragon in question was related to her or not.

When she didn't climb onto his back, he glanced over his lowered wing at her. “Well?”

“First tell me where we are going. I don't accept rides from dragons so easily.”

Smart. “I'm taking you somewhere safe for the night.”

She arched an eyebrow, but didn't move any closer. Stubbornness. Good to see she had one human trait he remembered.

“Fine. Stay here and keep fighting for your life or let me fly you somewhere safe were you may rest and eat.”

“And then what?”

“We'll decide that in the morning.”

She gave a curt nod. “You drop me or go back on your promise and I'll run my sword through you while you sleep.”

His laugh rumbled in his chest before he could stop it. He felt light-headed at the emotion. How long had it been since he'd bickered and laughed with someone?

“Your tiny blade can't penetrate my scales.” He grinned.

“I've my ways. Besides, there are some parts of you without much protection.”

Observant and in the little suns’ light we’d had earlier. She'd already sized me up to know the best places to attack him and do the most damage. His assessment of her gained another notch.

“Shit.” She spun and removed her sword in one smooth motion. “We've got company coming from the forest. Friends of yours, I hope?”

He moved toward the sound too late. A Tryn’s spear struck him in his flank. His body crumpled as the acidic poison on the tip flooded his veins. His vision darkened. He tried to push up, but his body wasn't cooperating. Terror hit his chest.