Dragons Don't Cry (2 page)

Click. Click. Click.

What the hell? The noise rang through my
aching head. I made it to my knees and forearms. Maybe I could
avoid some of my vomit. My stomach rumbled, intestines rebelling. I
spewed. Oh god, the smell of putrid wine mixed with the odor of
death landed between my hands, splattering my skin and the white
gown that hung from my body sweeping the floor.

Click. Click. Click.

“Oh, gods, stop that infernal noise.” Did I
speak aloud?

Click. Click. Click.

Whatever it was, when my guts finished
decorating the floor, I would personally see it stopped. I pushed
off, rolling sideways, missing some of my puke. Okay, not all of
it. The warm wetness slid against my skin soaking through the
dress.

I opened my eyes.

The beast stood over me. I moved my head a
fraction and saw his hulking claws on either side of my body.

Click. Click. Click.

The middle talon hit the stone floor… in
what, impatience? Did he need his food alive in order to enjoy
it?

“Please kill me and get it over with. I
cannot take the smell or that sound any longer.” Even my voice was
defeated. This had to end now. I just prayed he’d eat me headfirst
so my nose and ears no longer worked. I waited.

Click. Click…

“Oh, fuck no.” I somehow managed to launch
myself at the offending nail. It was bigger than the upper portion
of my body, but I landed on it with one goal… make that infernal
racket stop.

I felt his leg shift beneath me, but the
claw I held didn’t move. A talon from his opposite appendage
pushed, rolling me sideways, but I held tight. He lowered his head
and one red eye gazed directly into mine.

“Stupid human female named Acasia. Beg for
your life.” The gruff voice sounded in my head.

My stomach rolled again, but I managed to
speak. “Why should I beg when I can no longer take the smell? Dying
would be a blessing.” A low groan left my mouth.

“Humph.” The sound thundered through the
room.

A dragon humphed me, the ass.

“What about the smell do you find
displeasing?” he demanded, his voice rupturing every brain cell I
possessed.

Was he serious? I couldn’t release his claw
because he might continue the racket that drove me crazy. More than
anything, I wanted to plug my nose. I looked away from his gaze,
twisting so I could see what caused the repulsive odor. I also
didn’t release his claw, because, for some strange reason, touching
him calmed me.

What I saw turned my stomach upside down
again and I swallowed back the bile in my throat. Partially
devoured carcasses littered the floor—a leg here, thigh there—all
in various stages of decay. Oh my gods, I was losing it again. I
tried pushing away, but didn’t make it. More chunky vomit spewed
from my stomach and landed on his talon and foot, or arm, whatever
the hell it was.

When the heaving stopped, I finally
answered, “Death, I smell death.”

“Humph. You smell of vomit and fermented
drink. I don’t believe you are one to speak.”

“Gods, do it. Just do it, you hulking
jerk.”

“Do what, human female named Acasia?”

“Kill me, please.” It came out on a
shriek.

“You humans are strange.” This time, his
other talon shoved me farther away, moving me from his barf-covered
claw.

A deer hoof attached to a partial leg rested
two inches in front of my face. I managed to scramble to my feet. I
saw the dragon lift his middle claw.

Oh, no he wouldn’t. “If you do that, I’ll
puke on your other foot.”

His face changed, his broad mouth widened,
and I almost expected to see a dragon laugh. Of course, that’s not
what happened. His long neck lifted, his head went back, and fire
ejected from his mouth on a roar that made me cover my ears.

I looked up. The tower was taller than
anything I’d ever seen with blue skies peeking between great
columns toward the top. The dragon fire rose and shot out the
openings. Black soot covered the ceiling of the tower, and I
realized his releasing fire was a common occurrence. I lowered my
head and looked into his red eyes again. Smoke came from his
nostrils, and for a few moments, the smell of death receded,
replaced with lingering smolder. It was an improvement.

“You have one last chance to beg for your
life.” His jaw didn’t move, but his grumbling voice threaded
through my mind. Now, it was deep and husky like when he called my
name while I waited with my claiming sisters.

Where my bravado came from, I don’t know. “I
will not beg. Eat me.”

He reared up on his hind legs, his wings
spreading out. I didn’t move, waiting for death—embracing it. The
air moved when his wings flapped. For ten seconds he hovered and
then he rose until he rested on a ledge hundreds of feet up.

He peered over his shoulder and said, “I
will eat you tomorrow.” With a last look at where I stood, he went
over the side, out of my view. His roar thundered through the air
and he was gone.

Chapter Three

Acasia

I stood there for quite some time wondering
what the hell just happened. It took me a while to examine my
surroundings because I kept thinking he would return. Stone spiral
stairs circled inside the tower walls and stopped at an arched exit
I could barely see. The tower rose higher still, but to access the
columns, wings were required. I walked around the carcasses.
Breathing deeply made me nauseous again so I tried using shallow
breaths. I took the first steps of hundreds of stairs and began
climbing.

Soon, my breath was coming in heavy gasps. I
stopped to rest and looked over the side. The bottom of the tower
was nothing but a large circle littered with bones of partially
eaten animals. Nothing looked human, which I was thankful for. I
may have thrown myself over the side if something other than dead
animals were below. Maybe he swallowed humans whole.

I began my climb again and reached the arch
about twenty minutes later. A giant platform hung over the tower
past the stairs. I assumed it was so the dragon could land, but I
didn’t see how he could fit through the door’s arch. A long hallway
stretched past the opening, and I followed it. The rotting death
smell deteriorated, but my own unpleasant scent increased. The
hallway opened to a monstrous combination library and sitting room.
I could see three doors at one end and another arch and hallway at
the other. Bookcases lined the tall walls, with ladders attached to
rails resting to the sides so a person could reach all the books.
I’d never seen the like. I had to be dreaming, but not even my
imagination could visualize something so incredible.

Slowly, I walked across the room and opened
one of the far doors. It was a bedroom with a huge bed taking up
the majority of the space. Gold objects from urns to figurines
covered every surface. They gleamed in the soft light cast from
large open double doors. From the sunlight streaming in, I guessed
it led outside. I wanted so badly to investigate but suppressed my
curiosity, closed the door, and walked to the next.

This one was decidedly feminine. The bed
wasn’t as large and had a princess canopy with soft flowing white
gauze draping down from four tall posters. More gold decorated the
room with jewels laying here and there—red, blue, yellow, and clear
stones, shining and gleaming. It was hard to accept them as real,
but I was betting they were.

I was in a dragon’s lair and this was his
treasure.

I backed out and opened the third door.

No bed, this room was his hoard. Piles of
gold, jewelry, and gemstones covered every inch of space, some
stacks higher than I was tall.

Holy Hades.

I couldn’t get out quickly enough. I
practically ran through the arch, away from the rooms. I reached a
closed door at the end of the hallway. It was locked. I beat
against it, but the solid wood only gave a soft thud. Backing away,
I returned to the library. Of the three doors, I chose the least
intimidating and entered the feminine room again. To the side, I
noticed a door and walked through. It held a bathing room unlike
anything I’d ever seen. A soft, luxurious bathrobe made of an
unknown cloth hung from the back of the door. I looked down at my
soiled gown and back at the largest bathing tub I’d ever
encountered. I walked to the gold handles and spout checking for
water. It spurted out—crystal clear, warm water. It took only
seconds to shed my gown and walk down the steps into the tub.
Bottles of thick liquid with sweet-smelling soap rested on a shelf.
I scented them all and decided on roses.

Though I wanted to, I didn’t linger in the
warm water. This place didn’t belong to me and someone might come
in at any moment. The door didn’t lock, and there was no covering
over the bath. I grabbed a soft white cloth from a folded stack
resting on a side table, dried myself and put on the bathing robe.
It smelled fresh and clean, though anything would in comparison
with the white sheath sprayed with vomit.

There was a side door on the bathroom that I
hadn’t checked. It held a large garment room. Unusual garments hung
from poles, and the shoes rested on shelves. They filled every nook
and cranny. Another door opened into the first room I’d seen. I
heard a slight noise, which sounded like a door closing. I left the
bathing room and re-entered the library. The smell hit me at the
same time my stomach growled. Food. I looked around and saw no one,
but there was a tray on a long table to the side of the room.
Walking over, a glass of clear liquid drew me first. I picked it up
and sniffed. Water. I took a long drink, downing most of the glass.
Uncovering the tray, my stomach growled once more when I saw the
fruits, vegetables, and meats. A small loaf of bread completed the
feast made for a king. Strike that, queen. Someone was taking care
of me, or possibly fattening me up.

Sitting down, I ate until my stomach could
hold no more. Was it stupid? Probably, but everything was delicious
and far tastier than anything I’d ever had. I rested my knife to
the side of my plate and glanced around at the books. Was all this
for me? It couldn’t possibly be.

Weariness overwhelmed me. I stood, swaying
slightly. I don’t think I’d slept well since I entered my name as a
claiming bride. I perused the books. I’d never seen any of the
titles or authors. I didn’t even know so many books existed in the
world.

That thought stopped me. I was no longer in
my world. I was in the dragon realm, far from my friends and
family. Would I ever see them again? None of the claimed brides had
ever returned. I put the book I held back in its place and headed
to the room with the canopied bed. Pulling the robe tightly around
me, I lay on the soft down, pulling the covers to my chin. I
couldn’t help the tears that rolled down my cheeks, and soon sleep
took me away.

Chapter Four

Bastian

She wasn’t like Bethanne. She didn’t cringe
from me or cry. My new bride was fearless, or maybe crazy. I’d
actually laughed when she threatened to puke on me again. She
didn’t know it was a laugh, which I was grateful for. But
nonetheless, I threw back my head, bellowing like a fool. I believe
it’s been hundreds of years since a bride entertained me so much on
the first day I’d claimed her.

This one was different, and if I didn’t
guard my heart, it would break again. I couldn’t live through that
pain. But, gods, I was lonely.

Acasia. I said the name in my mind. A
beautiful name for a beautiful woman. Her hair was so blonde it was
almost silver. Her tiny body reminded me of a pixie. Her face,
delicate with small features, made her blue eyes seem larger and
almost disproportioned. But it worked, making her even more
desirable. I’d felt her as I flew nearer to the claiming field. The
pull toward this one human woman. My mind zeroed in on hers. It was
always like that. One stood out… one chosen for me. I couldn’t stop
it any more than I could stop my heart from beating. Though I
tried. I swore I wouldn’t show at that field, wouldn’t claim my
bride.

But loneliness drew me there, to her. Gods,
she wasn’t my true mate, and I would mourn her someday like I
mourned the others who came before her. The thought was a crushing
weight. I flew through my kingdom high above the trees, mountains,
and lakes. I spotted a herd of bison. Their hide was tough, but
tongue, heart, and liver succulent. A gurgle of fire exploded with
my laugh. I didn’t know what the female would do when I brought one
of these hulking beasts into my eating tower, but I wanted to find
out.

***

Acasia

Warmth trailed along my skin. It almost
tickled. I knew I was dreaming because billowy clouds surrounded
me. A startled gasp escaped my lips when I saw the man. His brown
hair long, his dark eyes intense, the line of his jaw perfect with
a slight showing of scruff. He was huge, his shoulders massive with
defined muscles rippling as he moved. He slid his hand away,
leaving coolness behind.

“Who are you?” I asked the man.

“Your dream only,” he answered.

“Why are you here?” I realized the white
billowing gauze wasn’t the clouds. It was the material hanging from
the bed, but my thoughts were hazy and the dream effect
remained.

“You smell divine; your scent attracted
me.”

“Is he here?”

His eyes changed and anger lanced his words,
“Is who here?”

“The dragon.”

Momentarily, his gaze left me. “No,” he said
after he turned back.

I looked down at myself and realized the
partially open robe bared most of my breasts. The bedding was
pushed down to my waist, displaying my naked flesh. I looked back
up. His eyes were now on my breasts. He leaned over me, touching my
bare skin, breathing hotly against my breasts. This time his
fingers were hot, too hot, and I sucked in a breath.