Dragons Don't Cry (14 page)

I couldn’t speak. The anger clenched inside
of me, but my heart swelled. If any bride was capable of being my
mate, it was Acasia. To think I would lose her in fifty years was
unbearable. I didn’t know if I could keep my hands off Laryn. I
actually knew it impossible.

“You promise?”

“I do, Bastian.”

Our food arrived. “Do not move. We shall eat
here.”

She drank water first and asked for more. I
knew she had also denied herself liquid. I watched her eat slowly
and her eyelids grow heavier. “Two more bites and I’m taking you to
bed.”

“I thought I was no longer hungry, but for
that I will gladly eat another two bites.” Desire showed in her
eyes.

“Silly female, you need your sleep.”

Her eyes twinkled and a soft smile played on
her lips. “Silly dragon, I need you.”

I carried her to bed and pulled back the
covers. I removed her robe and lay her down memorizing each detail
of her perfect body. Her arms lifted, but I pushed them down to her
sides.

“I wish to look.”

She blushed.

I leaned in and ran my finger across the
bruise on her face.

Her words were so soft. “It doesn’t
hurt.”

“It hurts me.”

“Make love to me, dragon, so I may forget
that I was stupid and almost lost you.”

I pulled back. “I would have found you.” I
kissed her, learning her mouth again, cherishing her taste.
Thrilling at each sigh she gifted to me. I moved over her, my body
covering hers. Her softness and warmth drawing me in. She wrapped
her legs around my hips while lifting hers.

“Take me, dragon.”

I tried to enter her passage slowly, but her
arms settled on my back, her fingernails digging into my flesh. “I
wish to be gentle,” I groaned out between my teeth.

“No. I want everything you can give to me.
Now.”

And like so many times before, I couldn’t
deny her request. I pulled almost out before thrusting back in,
over and over. Her sighs turned to moans, her moans to a cry as she
let go. Two more strokes and my body released. I was home; she was
my lair.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Acasia

I loved him before, but somehow that love
grew. Buried deep in the back of my mind was the longing for my
family and friends, but it was a small spark. Bastian was my family
and my best friend. Our lives had changed. He talked to me about
dragon business, or dragon theft as it truly was.

He explained about the magic from my old
realm and how it was misused, so the dragons took it. I had no
reason to doubt him, knowing the goodness in his heart. We spoke
for hours and slowly made our way through his bride illustration
book. I was never jealous and loved hearing him laugh. He told me
stories about all the legend brides from my old realm. I made him
promise that when I was gone, he would speak of me and remember me.
I noticed his anger, but he eventually made the promise.

He told me he wished to go on a treasure
hunt with Tahr. And if I was willing, I could stay with Sarn, his
bride, and Tahr’s bride, who would also stay with Sarn.

Before I could answer, he placed his finger
on my lips. “The other choice is that I not go. It is your decision
and I will honor it.”

I felt truly loved and part of him now. “I’m
sure I can pull Calista and Megan into some type of trouble without
you around to guide me.”

“Imp. I see you as my guide.” He pinched my
nose.

“I would love some time talking to other
women, but I shall miss you.”

“Fly with me today, and we will leave for
Sarn’s lair tomorrow.”

He took to me to our glade knowing it was my
favorite spot. I quickly undressed while he watched. When my last
piece of clothing hit the tall grass, I turned and ran. He waited
until I was a ways away before giving chase. He loved this game. I
tried hiding, but it did no good because I couldn’t stop
giggling.

“Got you.”

I squealed in pretend fright, though a few
minutes later the noises I made were from his mouth at the juncture
of my thighs. He continued a slow steady assault on my body.

“Bastian, please take me.”

“I don’t want you forgetting me, Acasia. Let
go so I can start over again.”

He was killing me, but it was a death I
gladly accepted. He brought me to fulfilment again and again before
the glade lit up with the red burst of dragon light as he gave me
what he had taken. It was a glorious afternoon and one I would
never forget. Curled tightly in his arms that night, I thanked the
gods for the gift of my dragon.

We left early the following day, and for
once, my excitement had me ready to leave before Bastian was.

“I would think you are looking forward to
being away from me.”

“Silly dragon, I shall cry myself to sleep
each night and be a poor friend to the women. They will want your
return almost as badly as I.” I could see he didn’t believe a word
I said, but I would miss him.

We arrived at Sarn’s lair, and it was hard
to tamp down on my excitement, though saying goodbye to Bastian was
difficult. I wiped my tears as I watched him fly away. Calista and
Megan held my hands. They were older, and they told me they rarely
had this opportunity to share openly with other brides. In just a
short time, we began driving Sarn crazy with our giggles.

“May we cook for you, my lord?” Calista
asked.

“Yes, be gone so I may find peace, but do
not over tire yourself.”

I could not imagine calling Bastian my lord;
the thought made me chuckle. Calista showed us the way to the
kitchens. The humans we passed smiled at us, behaving much
differently than Bastian’s.

“Why did you giggle?” Megan asked me once we
entered another long hallway with no one around.

“I do not call Bastian ‘my lord’ and thought
it funny that Calista referred to Sarn as such.”

“Oh.”

Calista spoke up. “I am much older and
things are changing. I argued with Sarn for years to allow me time
in the kitchens. I use the term ‘my lord’ when it’s something I
want badly. He’s grown to understand.”

“I like it,” I said. “Your humans are
friendly with you.”

I could hear her breathing grow ragged and
we slowed to allow her time to catch her breath.

“It took years. They have separate lives,
and at first when I was around it interrupted their joy. They don’t
mind me now.”

I had to ask, “Have you been to the earth
realm for children?”

Sadness passed over her features. “Yes. It
helps the transition in bringing them here, though I no longer
attend. The pain from crossing has grown since I’ve aged. My last
time was five years ago, and I spent days in bed afterward.”

“I’m sorry.” I looked at Megan. “Do you
attend?”

She also looked sad. “I cry for days
afterward, but Tahr continues to take me. It is the hardest thing
we do.”

“I’ve been on the human side of Bastian’s
lair, but have seen no children. Do either of you know if they’re
cared for properly?”

Calista stopped walking. “If we turn left up
ahead, it takes us to the children’s wing. If it worries you, it
might help to see them.”

“Oh, could I? Bastian wishes me to stay out
of his humans’ lives and I haven’t pushed it.”

We turned left. The rooms we entered were
quiet, and I saw toys on the floor before I noticed a large table
where five children sat coloring. I walked closer and one looked up
and smiled. She drew a tree with a bird flying above. The picture
startled me when I realized it was a purple dragon like Sarn, not a
bird at all. I smiled at her.

A young woman across the room rocked a baby
in her arms. I felt better. The silence was difficult, but the
children were well cared for and seemed happy.

We went to the kitchen. I hadn’t cooked in
almost a year now. In three days it would be the first anniversary
of my claiming. I wondered if Bastian remembered.

We laughed and talked while preparing the
meal. Calista and Megan kept me too occupied to miss Bastian. But
that night, as I shared a bed with Megan, I longed for him. I
didn’t cry, because I didn’t wish to wake my bedmate, but it was a
long night filled with little sleep.

The following day, we were playing cards
when Sarn bellowed from the other room. Calista rolled her eyes and
we waited.

Sarn marched in clearly agitated. “Laryn
enters my territory. I have a feeling he knows Tahr and Bastian
left their brides with me. Bastian needs to kill him or I
might.”

Sarn’s anger scared me even though I’d
become accustomed to Bastian’s. “My lord,” I said, “Laryn is lonely
and he did not harm me while I was in his care.” It was only a
small lie.

“I will see what he wants. Stay in this room
until I return.” Sarn kissed Calista’s weathered cheek and strode
away.

“I worry about Laryn.” The women looked at
me strangely, so I continued, “I fear for the time I am gone and
Bastian is alone.”

I could see they understood, and Calista
spoke in her gentle way, “I always resented the claiming until I
understood the price the dragons pay. To live forever and lose Sarn
would be harder than dying first. I worry for him too, and it shall
not be much longer. If I am lucky, maybe five or ten years.”

I couldn’t keep my feelings to myself. “The
dragons are very selfish in not helping each other, though I know
Bastian tried. He could do more for Laryn. They could do more for
each other.”

Megan added her knowledge, “Tahr once told
me it is in a dragon’s blood to collect treasure. If someone does
not protect what’s theirs, the dragons have a compulsion to take
it. They fear each other and for good cause—Laryn kidnapped you.”
She gave me a hard look.

The women hadn’t asked about what happened
with Laryn but I felt compelled to defend him. “He wanted
companionship only. Wished for me to talk with him. When I
wouldn’t, he spoke to me and told me of his lost bride. I was angry
at him because I worried for Bastian, but I felt great sadness
too.”

Calista looked at Megan. “After I am gone,
you will be the age I am now. Do you think Tahr would allow you
supervised time to speak with Sarn? I would rest easier knowing he
had someone when things are at their worst.”

Megan gave a soft smile. “I will try, and
usually in the end, I get my way.”

We laughed. It was the same for all of
us.

A few minutes later, Sarn returned, his
agitation even stronger. He paced the length of the room before
turning and gazing steadily at me.

“He wished to know how you fared. He’s aware
Bastian and Tahr return tomorrow and he wished to speak with you. I
could not grant that for it is Bastian’s decision.”

I nodded. “You are correct, my lord. Bastian
would be displeased. I will discuss it with him upon his return.
Thank you.”

This seemed to calm Sarn. I turned to the
women, and Calista winked at me. If “my lord” worked for her, I had
no problem using it with the disgruntled dragon. We returned to our
card game and talked Sarn into playing with us. He finally handed
equal numbers of gold pieces to each of us. A few hours later, I’d
won them all.

“You are most definitely the cause of
Bastian’s luck,” Sarn spoke while shaking his head.

“No, we just make a good team.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Bastian

It would have been a better trip if I hadn’t
worried about the trouble I knew Acasia was capable of finding.
Tahr teased me endlessly because I moaned and groaned about how
long we waited before sneaking into the castle we’d planned to
steal from.

We’d stolen from King Sturpas before. I’d
had my eye and thoughts on one of the crown sets I hadn’t managed
to steal before. Our patience paid off and I had what I needed for
Acasia’s one-year bride anniversary. Tahr also gathered some items
to make his journey worthwhile.

I worried about Acasia until I wrapped my
arms around her the afternoon of the third day. We said our
goodbyes to the others and left so I could get her home and into my
bed. Three days was too long, and I needed her. I flew as quickly
as I could.

“Bastian?”

I didn’t like her tentative tone. “Yes,
female.” I knew using the word female would bother her.

Just a touch of the angst I’d grown to
appreciate entered her voice. “Laryn came to Sarn’s lair.”

Rage exploded within me. Fire roared from my
throat. I would kill him, should have done it already.

“Please, Bastian, listen to me.”

She rubbed my neck, but it took several
minutes for her touch to penetrate my fury.

“Bastian, please.”

“What did he want?” My voice was too loud,
but I couldn’t control it.

“To assure himself I was well.”

“It is no concern of his. I should have
killed him weeks ago.”

Her voice was no longer comforting. “He is
lonely. He is also your friend and he returned me without
harm.”

“No, he did not,” I bellowed. “He struck
you, bruised your face. He needs to die.” I discharged more fire.
“What are you doing?” Acasia was now standing in the saddle.

“I do not like your attitude. I stabbed him,
his strike was reflex. You suffer just as greatly when your brides
die. The four of you should be helping each other instead of
allowing your protectiveness of your women to harm your
friends.”

With that, she jumped. I should allow her to
fall and only catch her inches from death, the stupid female. I
didn’t, though. I had her in my talons within a second. She
stubbornly refused to say a word and continued our journey in
discomfort. She truly drove me mad.

I released her on my bedroom perch, dropped
my treasure bag, and flew around my lair a few times to calm down.
When that didn’t work, I flew into my eating tower and roared
because the sound echoed and made me feel better.