I hoped. Tomorrow we will spend the day in bed
so I may prove it to you.” It’s a joke between us. Several times
we’ve had that intention. My bride enjoys our bedroom play but she
becomes antsy after a few hours and we always end up flying or
training.
“ You truly like
it?”
I have no idea where this shyness
comes from. “You are radiant. I have something else for
you.”
Her smile lights up her face. “What is
it?”
I’ve brought my saddle bags so I can
stow clothes to change into. They also hold her surprise. I pull
out another sheath for the halberd in the same fine white as her
outfit. I want my brother dragons to see my warrior bride and know
she is no one to trifle with.
“ Oh, Laryn,” she breathes
huskily.
She’s never spoken my given name
aloud. It hurts to hear it pass her lips because I want to hear it
endlessly and not just during her human lifespan. I rein in my
emotions because they have no place in our future.
“ Turn around and I will help
you put it on.” We’ve all but given up on plain sword training. My
bride is a halberd girl. She’s good with it—deadly, in
fact.
The sheath fits perfectly. I drop the
handle through the leather and adjust everything so it’s tight and
the weapon readily available. I hastily remove my clothing and fold
it for the saddle bags. I heft the large bags over my shoulder and
head for the door.
“ I’m not happy about a
saddle.”
A burst of laughter escapes me and I
wink at her. “Tomorrow I shall examine your inner thighs to see
what it is that makes you love wrapping them around my dragon form
so much.” I’ve never seen the shade of red that settles on her
cheeks and my laughter explodes. She punches my arm and laughs too.
We still need to work on making her comfortable with her body, but
it’s a job I look forward to.
We’re halfway to Bastian’s when I
bring up Sarn. “He’s the one I’m worried about. Stay close to me
and if for some reason we are separated and he tries anything,
don’t hesitate. Kill him.”
She’s shocked. “You want me killing
your friend?”
“ I’ve never seen him grieve
as he has with his last bride, Calista. The fool loved her deeply.
Too deeply. When Acasia transcended, Calista was still alive. He
begged the Gods and Goddesses for her life. It’s harder now that we
know turning a bride into a dragon is truly possible. I’m a
realist, though. It took thousands of years for one of us to break
the curse. It will be thousands more before it happens again. Sarn
is angry and lonely. I can tell you from experience that it’s a
lethal combination. Yes, if you have no choice, kill
him.”
My bride is quiet after this speech.
This needed to be said, though I’m sorry it has upset her. We
finally arrive. “Are you ready?”
“ Yes, quite
ready.”
I’m glad to hear excitement in her
voice.
After I’m clothed, we enter the front
door, which is rarely used. A servant lets us inside. I’ve seen him
before. As with so many of them, I have no idea of his name or
where he’s from. My bride seems a little taken aback when she
greets him and he doesn’t speak or look at her. The silent humans
are hard on the brides and I haven’t covered why they are as they
are. I will broach the subject another time in the near future. Not
tonight. This evening is for merriment and winning back gold I’ve
lost in previous games.
We are the last to arrive and everyone
stands when we enter the large den. I’m surprised when Ash runs
past me and launches himself into the arms of my bride. She laughs
as he fills the room with his child’s voice. “Mother and Father
would not allow me to visit. I had to swear on my new collection of
gems that I would not travel to Uncle Laryn’s. Is he being nice to
you or is he still a mean old ogre? Do you wish to see my gems? I
stole them myself.”
I pry his arms from my bride and toss
him into the air and catch him. “You must allow her to make the
acquaintance of the others,
so I may prove it to you.” It’s a joke between us. Several times
we’ve had that intention. My bride enjoys our bedroom play but she
becomes antsy after a few hours and we always end up flying or
training.
“ You truly like
it?”
I have no idea where this shyness
comes from. “You are radiant. I have something else for
you.”
Her smile lights up her face. “What is
it?”
I’ve brought my saddle bags so I can
stow clothes to change into. They also hold her surprise. I pull
out another sheath for the halberd in the same fine white as her
outfit. I want my brother dragons to see my warrior bride and know
she is no one to trifle with.
“ Oh, Laryn,” she breathes
huskily.
She’s never spoken my given name
aloud. It hurts to hear it pass her lips because I want to hear it
endlessly and not just during her human lifespan. I rein in my
emotions because they have no place in our future.
“ Turn around and I will help
you put it on.” We’ve all but given up on plain sword training. My
bride is a halberd girl. She’s good with it—deadly, in
fact.
The sheath fits perfectly. I drop the
handle through the leather and adjust everything so it’s tight and
the weapon readily available. I hastily remove my clothing and fold
it for the saddle bags. I heft the large bags over my shoulder and
head for the door.
“ I’m not happy about a
saddle.”
A burst of laughter escapes me and I
wink at her. “Tomorrow I shall examine your inner thighs to see
what it is that makes you love wrapping them around my dragon form
so much.” I’ve never seen the shade of red that settles on her
cheeks and my laughter explodes. She punches my arm and laughs too.
We still need to work on making her comfortable with her body, but
it’s a job I look forward to.
We’re halfway to Bastian’s when I
bring up Sarn. “He’s the one I’m worried about. Stay close to me
and if for some reason we are separated and he tries anything,
don’t hesitate. Kill him.”
She’s shocked. “You want me killing
your friend?”
“ I’ve never seen him grieve
as he has with his last bride, Calista. The fool loved her deeply.
Too deeply. When Acasia transcended, Calista was still alive. He
begged the Gods and Goddesses for her life. It’s harder now that we
know turning a bride into a dragon is truly possible. I’m a
realist, though. It took thousands of years for one of us to break
the curse. It will be thousands more before it happens again. Sarn
is angry and lonely. I can tell you from experience that it’s a
lethal combination. Yes, if you have no choice, kill
him.”
My bride is quiet after this speech.
This needed to be said, though I’m sorry it has upset her. We
finally arrive. “Are you ready?”
“ Yes, quite
ready.”
I’m glad to hear excitement in her
voice.
After I’m clothed, we enter the front
door, which is rarely used. A servant lets us inside. I’ve seen him
before. As with so many of them, I have no idea of his name or
where he’s from. My bride seems a little taken aback when she
greets him and he doesn’t speak or look at her. The silent humans
are hard on the brides and I haven’t covered why they are as they
are. I will broach the subject another time in the near future. Not
tonight. This evening is for merriment and winning back gold I’ve
lost in previous games.
We are the last to arrive and everyone
stands when we enter the large den. I’m surprised when Ash runs
past me and launches himself into the arms of my bride. She laughs
as he fills the room with his child’s voice. “Mother and Father
would not allow me to visit. I had to swear on my new collection of
gems that I would not travel to Uncle Laryn’s. Is he being nice to
you or is he still a mean old ogre? Do you wish to see my gems? I
stole them myself.”
I pry his arms from my bride and toss
him into the air and catch him. “You must allow her to make the
acquaintance of the others,
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