dragon archives 05 - forever a dragon (35 page)

It was much later when Lleland finally found himself alone with Lydia. They had left the hall and were seated in the solar. Lleland glanced around the room with remorse. “I said some cruel things to you here,” he said.

“You were shocked and angry,” Lydia said. “I cannot blame you.”

“You’re too generous,” he said.

She smiled and walked over to the window. Large flakes of snow tumbled gently through the sky to land softly on the trees. “Why did you come here, Lleland? You said you didn’t know if you loved me. You said I was a monster.”

“I was wrong,” he said. “You’re not a monster. You’re a beautiful, incredible creature! I never stopped loving you. But I needed to love what I’d become before I could admit it.”

“And do you? Love what you’ve become?”

“I’ve accepted what I am. A dragon.” He walked over to the window and leaned against the frame so he could look at her. “I’m a fire-breathing, winged beast – a predator that needs the blood of other animals to survive. But I’m not a monster. And nor are you.”

“Do you really mean that?”

He smiled. “I do. I’ve been fighting myself and fighting you. But I’m tired of fighting. I want to be a dragon. And I want to be with you.” He slipped a hand around her waist. “I love you,” he said. He brought his lips to hers and her mouth fell open. He groaned when his tongue slid along hers, and he wrapped his hand into her hair, holding her tight. He kissed her deeply, savoring her taste. When they broke apart, he moved his lips to her ear. “Marry me,” he whispered.

She kissed his neck. “You’ll have to drink my blood,” she said.

“Gladly,” he growled.

“And I’ll have to drink yours.”

“You can have it all.”

“You’ll be bound to me until you die,” she said.

He pulled back and looked into her eyes. They were blazing, and he could feel the flames leaping in his own. “I’m a dragon,” he said, “and I want you to be my mate. I want to feel the cords that tie us together, and know you are mine alone. I want to chase you through the skies, and be burned by your flames. I want your huge, heaving body beneath mine as I mount you like the beast I am. We’ll blacken the walls of some abandoned cave, and smash the ground with our passion. I want to be wild and primal with you, Lydia. I want to be a dragon.”

The blaze in her eyes grew brighter as he spoke, and when he stopped, she smiled. “I want to be yours,” she said. “Your wife, your lover and your mate.” She pulled his head back to hers, and kissed him as she wrapped her hands around his neck. He slipped his hands down her back, feeling the ridges of her wings, and she moaned slightly, pressing herself tighter against him. He breathed her name into her mouth, and the flames of their breath sparked and blazed between them as his hands roamed across the ridges of her wings, pulling her closer.

He broke the kiss and trailed his lips down to her shoulder.

“There’s something you have to do first,” she said. She was panting slightly.

“Anything,” he groaned.

She pulled back slightly to look into his eyes, and Lleland felt his heart stutter as he saw how they danced with flame. “You have to become a member of the clan,” she said. “I can’t marry a rogue. You must give your oath, otherwise I’ll be thrown out.”

He nodded. “I’ll take the oath. The moment your father returns, I’ll offer him my loyalty.”

“He won’t be long. And as soon as it’s done, we can be married.”

His hands tightened around her waist. “It cannot be soon enough.” They stared at each other as he lifted a hand and ran his thumb over her lower lip. She drew in a ragged breath.

“I’m going,” she said. She pulled him closer and kissed him on the lips, then pulled herself free of his grasp. “I’ll see you in the morning.” His breath was uneven as he watched her walk to the door. She turned to smile at him, and he forgot to breathe at all for an instant, and then she was gone.

Chapter 39

As Lydia disappeared around the corner, Lleland slowly breathed out a long stream of flame. He crossed over to the window and stared into the darkness. The snow was gathering on the trees, wet and heavy, shining in the moonlight. He stripped off his clothes and jumped onto the sill. Stretching his arms, he threw himself into the black night, unfurling his wings behind him. The cold air caressed his skin as he soared into the darkness, his arms and wings spread wide as he spiraled through the air. He fell back against his wings and drifted, his mind lost in the memory of Lydia in his arms. He rolled over onto his stomach, and saw fresh prints through the snow on the ground. He sniffed the cold air and caught the waft of a deer.

His stomach rumbled as he dropped silently to the treeline. He saw the creature between the trees, and could hear the sound of its beating heart. He pushed out the heat in his belly and exploded into his dragon form, then turned back to watch the deer. There were too many trees for him to be able to attack, and he waited as the animal slowly moved forward into a small clearing. Lleland dived between the trees and grabbed the creature around the neck. Hot blood spilled into his mouth, and he swallowed with pleasure. As the blood filled his veins and the flesh filled his belly, he could feel his strength expanding. By the time he finally returned to his chambers, it was nearly dawn. He collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep within minutes.

The sun was already high above the horizon when Lleland awoke. He lay on the bed for a moment, smiling at the promises of the night before. Lydia was the most glorious creature he had ever seen, a magnificent beast. That she would be his was almost more than he could believe. He could feel the power pulsing through him after his meal the previous night, and he blew out a stream of flame, watching as it curled through the air and burned out before it reached the blackened rafters. He rolled from the bed and dropped his feet to the floor. In a pile near the door were the clothes he had left in the parlor the night before. He picked up the tunic, and Lydia’s scent rose from the fabric. He dressed quickly and went in search of her.

He found her in the hall, along with Elliott and Scott. Thomas sat across from them, tearing a hunk of bread. Lleland paused when he saw Lydia, drinking in the sight of her from behind. He could tell from the subtle change in her scent that she was aware of his presence, but she didn’t glance his way. He walked over to the table and nodded at the men before taking a seat next to Thomas.

“Sleeping in again, Master Lleland?” Lydia said. Her golden eyes caught his, and for a moment he forgot to breathe. She smiled and turned to the two men. “Master Scott and Master Elliott are almost ready to leave,” she said.

Lleland glanced at the men, and saw Scott watching him in amusement. “Has Master Elliott agreed to desist hunting dragons?” Lleland said.

“I won’t hunt on the mountains. But come now, Seaton, you can’t expect me to allow the monsters free rein around our kingdom. We were commissioned by the king to remove the threat of dragons.”

Lleland nodded. “I agree.” He felt Lydia’s flare of surprise and disappointment. “But there are no dragons threatening the kingdom, are there?” he continued. “If a dragon ever threatens the people again, I would expect you, and all the other hunters, to be leading the charge against it; but until that time, there’s no need to hunt creatures that haven’t threatened you.”

Elliott sighed. “This will have to be discussed by the League, as I’m sure you’re aware. But for now, I won’t hunt the dragons in these mountains.”

“Thank you, Master Elliott,” Lydia said with a smile.

“By the way,” Elliott said, “what did you do with the wolfsbane?”

“I burned it,” Lleland replied. “It seemed the safest thing to do.”

Elliott gave a dry laugh. “Hobbes paid a year’s worth of wages for that. He won’t be a happy man.”

“I think that’ll be the least of his worries once Aaron Drake returns home,” Lleland said. He glanced at Scott. “When are you leaving?”

“Right away,” Scott said. “I don’t suppose you can find a dragon to give us a ride?”

Lleland snorted. “No. You’ll have to travel the hard way. But I’m coming too.” He glanced at Lydia, who was frowning at him.

“I thought you wanted to see my father,” she said.

“I do.” He leaned forward across the table. “I think it’s best that I await his return in the village.” Next to him, Thomas nodded, smiling slightly. Lydia looked away as Lleland rose to his feet. “I’m ready to go whenever you are,” he said to Scott and Elliott.

“But you haven’t eaten,” Scott said.

“I ate earlier,” Lleland said. He saw Scott smirk and sighed. “Wait for me in the courtyard.” He watched as the two men left the hall, then turned to Lydia and took her by the hand. “I don’t want to go,” he said softly as he led her to the passage.

“Then why are you?” she said.

Lleland moved his hands to her waist. “You’re so beautiful,” he said. “Your scent fills my mind, and I can’t get enough of you.” He trailed his fingers over her cheek and across her lips. “Just seeing you fills me with desire. If I remain here, I may not be able to restrain myself from taking you.”

“You desire me?”

“More than anything.” He leaned forward and brushed his lips over hers. “How could you even question it?”

“I’m a monster,” she said.

“Mmm.” He brought his mouth to her ear, and gently bit her earlobe. “You’re the most desirable monster I’ve ever seen,” he whispered. “We’ll be monsters together.” He felt her shiver, and slid his hand to her nape.

“You’re leaving me because you want me?”

“I’m leaving because I can’t resist you. But when your father returns, I’ll return with him and take you as my mate.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Maybe I’ll be the one doing the taking.”

He gave a throaty laugh. “Oh, Lydia, you can take me all.” He pressed her against the wall and kissed her. When he pulled away, her eyes were blazing. “I love you,” he said. “Like a fool, I tried to push you away, but I never stopped loving you.”

“Will you stay in the village?”

“Yes.”

“I often fly over it, especially at dawn,” she said.

“You’re trying to torment me, aren’t you?” he said, his voice low.

She smiled. “Am I succeeding?”

He drew in deeply and heat spread through him. “You know you are,” he whispered. He kissed her once more, then with a groan, pushed himself away. “I must go,” he said. “I’ll see you soon.”

Scott and Elliott were waiting near the gates when Lleland arrived. Their breath hung in the air as they slapped their arms in an effort to keep warm. Elliott cast a look at the prisoner’s tower as they walked by, but remained silent. They reached the village at dusk, after recovering the horses along the path, and made their way to the inn. Lleland was glad to have his satchel back, with his clothes and writing equipment. They walked into the common room to see Callaway seated at a table in a corner. He looked up as they entered.

“You’re still alive,” he said. “I was beginning to wonder.” The men sat down and Scott held up three fingers to the barman.

“Why wouldn’t we be?” Lleland said as three tankards were slammed onto the table.

Callaway shrugged. “You might have become a dragon’s dinner. Where’s Hobbes?”

“He was locked in a tower by the Drake woman,” Elliott said. He scowled at Lleland. “She’s the reason you started singing a different tune, isn’t she? Are you hoping to get between her legs?”

Lleland’s eyes narrowed as he stared back at Elliott. “Mistress Drake is my betrothed,” he said, “and if you mention her again, I’ll kill you.” He crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat. “As for the dragons, any fool can see they aren’t a threat.”

“It isn’t that long since you believed they were.”

Lleland shrugged. “I was a fool.”

“Where did you disappear to when the dragons appeared?” Callaway asked. “I didn’t see you again.”

“I went after the black dragon.”

“I spoke to it, you know. It looks just like the dragon that attacked Civitas.”

“It may look the same, but it’s not,” Lleland said.

Callaway grimaced. “The dragon said the same thing. But a dragon is a dragon.”

“You won’t stop hunting?”

Callaway clenched his jaw. “Never. Not until that monster is dead.”

There was enough room at the inn for Lleland to secure his own chamber, and the next morning he rose as soon as the sun touched the horizon. He passed quietly through the passages, hoping to leave undetected. The front door squeaked on its hinges, and he winced, but nothing stirred. It was silent in the courtyard where a light breeze was scattering the snow over the icy cobbles. There was a large, open field behind the churchyard, and this was Lleland’s destination. He was barefoot, and as he stepped through the snow it melted into puddles around his feet, then steamed into the air. The rising sun cast a pink glow on the snow, making the landscape rosy. Lleland turned towards the mountains and searched the sky for a sign of a dragon, but there were only a few wisps of pink cloud.

He lay down on the ground and placed his hands behind his head. The melting snow seeped into his clothes, but they would soon dry against his blazing heat. He blew flames as he lay on the ground, watching as they danced through the air before dissipating. A flash of gold a few minutes later caught his attention, and he watched as the dragon wended her way through the towering peaks.

With the rising sun glancing off her scales, she was more beautiful than anything he had ever seen, and his stomach clenched as he watched. He resisted the urge to leap into the sky after her, and followed her movements in exquisite agony as she came closer. Her tail swished slightly as she flew, and her horns glinted dangerously in the sun. A stream of flame escaped her mouth and he groaned. He wanted to feel those flames caressing him. She soared through the air, her wings open wide, until she was above him. She began to circle and when she swooped down low, her hot scent washed over him. Her tail brushed over his leg and he shivered.

“I love you,” he whispered as she swooped back into the sky and turned towards the peaks. “Soon, my love. Soon.”