Alexa's Dragon (Dragon mates Book 1) (8 page)

She looked at him weighing his words. If his shadow was indication of his dragon’s size, it was large. That was something she didn’t want coming after her. There was a niggle of warning in the back of her mind. How could she fight Syn off in dragon form? Fortunately, some small part of her trusted Syn. He would never allow his dragon to hurt her. She couldn’t justify the trust after only two days, but it was there.

“Ok change.”

“Are you sure?”

She smiled at him. “I trust you to keep me safe from your dragon.”

He gave her a look that made her feel soft all over before backing up to change. She waited as he kept putting space between them until it looked like he was a football field away.

There was a shimmer over the outline of his body and then he was gone. In his place stood a dragon that seemed to be at least fifty feet long. Her mouth dropped in awe. He was magnificent. His body was gold with scales that shimmered red in the sun.

Carefully she approached him. There were long feathers on his wings covering the scales. She stopped not wanting to get too close. He lowered his head and then lowered his front legs. Taking it as a signal to get closer, she moved talking softly not knowing if he could still understand her or not. She should have asked.

The wonder of this moment made her rethink her life. She spent so much time blending in instead of celebrating her uniqueness. Syn never blended in, not even when he went to Nadia’s restaurant. He was simply who he was. He practically shouted he was different and allowed everyone else to come to their own conclusions.

She came closer and hesitated before she reached her hand out and touched him. He was warm and soft. A smile brightened her face. This was a perfect moment. The colors around her were bright only heightening the beauty of the dragon before her. There was a soft wind that rustled her hair. Placing both hands on him, she enjoyed his heat and the feather touch of his body.

“You approve?”

She jumped back almost falling. “You can talk?”

“I can.”

“How? I mean how can you talk and still spit fire? Do you spit fire?”

“Stand behind me.”

She moved making sure she was well behind his wings. He stood and turned his head straight ahead. He opened his mouth and fire burst forth singeing the top of the grass.

“I can spit fire. I can talk, what I can’t do is kiss you, but I want to.”

“If you do that you will kill me and then we will never see if we could mate.”

“We will mate. You will howl with pleasure as I take you, stretching you wide to accommodate me.”

“You’re sure of yourself.”

“I smell your desire. We belong together, and you know it.”

“Will you…”

“You know I will not. The male has already told you this and you told him you trusted him. Remember mate, the male was first and always will be.”

He lowered his body once again. “Climb on, we don’t have much time.”

She tucked his words away and began the journey of climbing onto his wide back that stood several feet above the ground. He patiently waited instructing her what to do and how to hold on once she was seated.

“Don’t let go.” That was the only warning before he stood and his wings gave a heavy flap and air replaced the ground beneath his feet.

Her grip tightened as she chanted ‘please don’t fall’ over again. The further up they flew the looser her grip became. There were no bumps or unexpected dips. His pace was steady and the ride was easy. She loved the feel of the warmth seeping into her body from his.

“How is your first ride?”

“I love it.” She felt like a queen riding the back of her winged steed. The one who would turn into a wickedly handsome man and ravish her later in the woods.
To many fairy tales for me
. She laughed at her thoughts.

Her body shook. “What’s happening?”

“The attack on the plane has increased. Mutufa must have realized we are bringing the fight to him. Hold on tighter.”

He rose higher moving swiftly. His wings caught the current that seemed to be moving faster as his urgency mounted. Alexa lowered her body until she was laying on him, her breasts pressed against the warmth of his back. Syn gave a laugh of pure joy as they flew through the air. The bright colors began to recede as more gray took over the sky.

“Syn, are we almost there?”

“Just a few more minutes”

The shadows in the land grew more menacing as they moved along. The air grew colder. Alexa took a breath and choked as the air hit her lungs making it hard to breathe.

“Hold on, Alexa.”

They went through a barrier. She could feel the cold hands reaching, leaching the warmth from her skin, begging for her death. The penalty, they whispered for crossing into a place she didn’t belong. They pulled on her calling her name, laughing with a frenzy. A hand caught her hair yanking it. She lost her grip on Syn and fell.

Death rushed up to meet her, paralyzing her body as she tumbled towards the ground. Her life didn’t flash before her eyes. Yet every regret and every road not taken seemed to visit her in the precious minutes she had left. If she could do it again she promised herself she would take the road less traveled, she would be the heroine of her own story if only she could do it again. Goodbye Syn, Nadia and my parents.

She hit the ground the air exploding out her lungs. Her lungs worked? She was alive? Her hands patted her body. Her eyes opened, she was on the back of her dragon.

“You didn’t think I would let you go that easily.”

Throwing her arm open wide, she hugged Syn and placed small kisses on the back of his neck. Dragon or not she was happy to see him and even happier to be alive.

“You saved me.”

“Of course I did. You’re my mate; no one else can have you.”

He lowered until he was standing on the ground. She slid of his back onto shaky legs.

“What now?” she whispered not wanting to bring attention to them.

“We defeat them.”

‘Them’ were two tall black shadows. They stood around eleven feet tall with long knives in their hands.

“How does a shadow hold a knife?”

Syn took a look at them before stating, “with extreme proficiency.” He backed up and in a fluid movement his shape changed.

“A kiss for luck?”

She shook her head. “A kiss after we defeat them.” Her heart thundered as she looked at them. More shadows like what chased her in her nightmares.

“I’m holding you to your word.” He sat down and yawned.

“What are you doing?” How could he be yawning when all she wanted to do was run?

“Taking a small rest. Flying around can be hard work.”

He closed his eyes and leaned back on his hands while letting out another long yawn. A shadow rushed him while he was relaxing. Without opening his eyes, he rolled backwards using his arms to push him up and landed on his feet.

“Un-sportsman like conduct. I wonder if that was what put you here in the first place.” He kicked out catching the shadow firmly with his foot and knocking him backwards.

He drew a long staff out of the air, countering slashes of the knife in the second shadows hand.

“A little help would be nice.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Tap into a little of your magic and blast a hole into the shadows.”

“Right, because I know how to do that.”

She moved back further behind him and began trying to explore her power. She went deep and found her lump of coal. It seemed smaller somehow. Taking it in her hand again she called forth white power and waited.

“Alexa,” he called, letting her know it was a nice try.

“I’m almost there.” She was clueless, but he didn’t have to know that.

She opened her eyes to see his movements slowing down. Closing them tight again, she focused her mind. Syn didn’t have much time left. ‘Heroine of my own story’ she chanted. Power hummed through her hand as colors once again assaulted her. Quickly she sorted through them and grabbed the white thread. Pulling it to her eyes, she opened them and shot two beams of white light cutting into the two shadows attacking Syn. They fell on the ground before they withered away.

Her body crumpled.

“You can’t pretend to be asleep forever.”

Noise pounded inside her brain disturbing her peace and quiet. She turned her head slightly away from it. With a sigh, she stole deeper into her world.

“Really is the thought of kissing me again that bad?”

Heat invaded her world as thoughts of hot kisses called to her. Once again, she shook it off and stole deeper into her world. Warmth flew over her cheek bringing a smile to her lips before she escaped it. Someone shook her gently. Let me sleep she tried to say, unable to move her lips. She didn’t want to wake up. The thought scared her enough to try and open her eyes. She was lost. A maze of options stood before her, taunting her with her inability to figure it out. She would wander it forever.

Sleep called her like a lover causing her to turn away from any chance of rescue.

“Come back to me, sleeping beauty.”

Lips, firm and hot touched hers, blinding her with desire. “Follow me,” they whispered to her seductively against her ear.

Need swamped her hot and silky as it curled in her belly. She walked towards the sound of that voice and the feel of those lips until hot light burned behind her eyelids, and still she walked. A barrier blocked her, making her press against it. She shoved kicking and pounding when it wouldn’t give. It gave way to her fist and she stumbled through it.

Alexa took a deep breath and her body jerked awake.

“Syn,” she choked out, taking deep breathes in, “what happened?”

“It’s relatively easy to get into the spirit world, not so easy to get out. The world liked you and wanted to keep you.”

“You led me out.”

“Always.”

“We won?”

“You did it.”

“What did I do?”

“Mutufa sent two of his lower body guards. I figured out quickly that he was testing you. I could have defeated them but this was a chance for you to exercise the gift you have been given. If I defeated the guards, he would simply send more, but if you defeated them he would fall back not expecting that. At the time, defeating them quickly and assuring the safety of the plane was our best course of action.”

She nodded thinking everything through. Somethings still didn’t make sense like how she was able to do any of that. To some degree, it felt like her power, for lack of a better word, was telling her or showing her how to use it.

“Don’t you owe me a kiss?” She turned her mind to things she could focus on.

“I’m pretty sure it’s you who owes me a kiss, sleeping beauty.” He rolled over and pulled her into his arms.

His fingers stroked her cheek. “So beautiful.”

His head lowered capturing her lips in a gentle kiss. He nipped at her lower lip until she opened, allowing him in.

“Syn,” she murmured against his lips before her tongue dueled with his rubbing against it. She took in his taste feeling her body soften around him.

She wrapped her arms around him. Her nipples hardened as her heart raced in her chest. She nipped at his tongue encouraging him to devour her. He pulled back a little and gave her a deep lingering kiss. The promise of what was to come was blatantly placed against her lips. Stopping, the regret on his face was plain to see.

“We need to check on George and make sure this aircraft is fine.”

She nodded forcing herself to rise and slip on her shoes that were still standing next to his. They walked out the cabin to find that anything not anchored down and been tossed from side to side.

“Nothing a little elbow grease can’t fix.” She reassured him as they strolled through the cabin until they reached the cockpit. They walked in to see George flying the plane.

“Congratulations, you saved the day. There’s nothing like being the hero of your own story.” He winked at Alexa and turned back around.

“How soon to refueling?” Syn asked as he looked over the controls.

“Already done. You’ve been out for some time. Less than an hour until we land. It was easier flying once the two of you left to take care of our problem. Whatever was after us followed you. Now get out of my cockpit.”

Alexa laughed and grabbed Syn’s arm. “Come feed me.”

“I can see you’re going to be a hungry mate, always in need of food.” He followed her out.

They quickly straightened up the cabin before Syn pulled out something for her to eat.

“What should I expect when we get to your mountain?”

“Surprises. I have a feeling that life with you will never be boring.”

They ate and were talking when George announced it was time to buckle up. Syn took her hand again as they began to descend.

An adventure was beginning. Joy bubbled up on the inside of her. Too many days of watching life go by without participating almost did her in. Now she felt alive, vibrant, happy to be who she was even with her white hair and funky blue eyes. She rode a dragon, who would believe her? She couldn’t wait to tell Nadia. A memory of her parents crossed her mind, but the joy she felt refused to allow her to feel sad. She mourned them and always would, but she loved them and was a good daughter to them. She knew wherever they were they would want her to be happy.

Happy, an elusive feeling that was fluid, ever changing. Today she didn’t care if this was a brief moment as she watched through the window. The plane descended showing her the majesty of a new land. She would grab what she could and deal with the rest later.

The plane hit the tarmac and taxied to a stop. George gave them the all clear sign and opened the door. Syn stood and took Alexa’s hand leading her out the plane. As she stepped on the ground, he spoke.

“Welcome to my land, Alexa.

His land was dizzying; it was a tropical paradise. There were wild flowers around the tarmac she’d never laid eyes on before. They stood tall with large multicolored petals. It was like no airport she had ever seen. It was more open even though there was a hangar for the plane. The beauty made her breath catch.

The mountains ascended in the distance, so high they looked like they touched the heavens. Lush green foliage was everywhere; she imagined this was what the earth looked like before man settled it.