“We should head back.” He flung the carcass into the trees, and shadows shifted. Wolves, felines, and whatever else prowled these ridges. None dared come too close—none foolish enough to challenge a dragon.
The trek to the cave passed in tense silence. Ash kept her distance, her arms wrapped around her waist. And he wanted to drag her closer.
By those useless gods!The pull toward her was wreaking havoc on him, choking him with a desire he thought long dead. He ground down on his teeth and put more space between them.
Like that will work,his dragon retorted.
Shut up.
He scanned the dark stillness around him. While dawn broke in Caelvyrn, here, in the western reaches of the realm, night lingered.
Back in the cave, the temperature had plummeted further, midnight chill seeping through the stone walls. Ash sank on the ground against the far wall, her knees drawn up with her arms around them, shivering despite her obvious attempt to hide it.
He could start a fire, but the smoke would be a signal to every dragon in the vicinity. And he still reeked of blood. He usually ate his food cooked somewhat while in human form, but his dragon side demanded a live kill.
It was better she knew his savage nature upfront.
“I won’t be long.” He stalked deeper into the cave’s labyrinth, toward the sounds of rustling water, stopping at another cavern. The underground spring ran clear, cascading over worn stone into deep, glassy pools.
He dove into the deepest one, pants and all, the chilly waters a welcome relief to the burn of lust within him as he swam the perimeter…
A short while later, he hefted out of the pool and mentally dried off, his pants fresh again. He paused, scanning the area.The previous occupants had probably used this spot for bathing and other activities, judging by jagged pieces of clay sticking out from the packed ground near the wall.
He toed the dirt, revealing several broken dishes, most crumbling to dust. There should be what he wanted beneath the rubble.
With a wave of his hand, he pushed the gravel aside and dug out an earthen jug with a broken top. Yeah, this would work. He scorched it with a breath of fire, rinsed out the inside, then scooped fresh water from farther up before heading to the front.
The sound of teeth clattering reached him first. Ash remained huddled against the wall, her face tucked into her knees. Only her striking eyes were visible, wide and watchful.
Warm her,his dragon rumbled.
Calm down, I plan to.
There was only one safe way to do that, for both of them.
He set the broken jug near her, but she eyed it warily. “Water,” he said.
She grabbed the earthenware and gulped some, liquid dripping down her chin. He averted his gaze from the tempting sight she made, crossed to the opposite wall, and removed his pants?—
“Wh-what are you doing?” She jerked to her feet, eyes wide, knuckles bone-white around the jug. It slipped from her hand and shattered.
“Don’t run,” he ordered, then shifted. Bones creaked and stretched, scales replacing skin in a blink as his dragon form emerged.
She shrank back against the stone wall, her fear-scent spiking. So small. So breakable. From his full draconic height, she barely reached his ankle.
You need warmth.Race projected his thoughts into her mind.Come, vixen, curl up against me.
Her head tipped back, and she pressed into the rough surface of the wall as if she could sink right through it and disappear. “I-I’m fine.”
Stubborn female.
He chuffed and settled his massive body along the opposite wall, curling there, his enormous tail stretched across the open entrance as a barrier—and slid close to her. She remained utterly still, even as her teeth knocked together.
Race settled his head onto his forelimbs and closed his eyes. In this form, he felt more, felt her as she lay down again. Her scent of summer rains wrapped around him, and each flutter of her heartbeat sank into his chest. There were no walls between instinct and need.
Eventually, her shivering subsided. As sleep claimed her, she moved closer, nestling against the warmth of his tail. He flattened his spines and spiked tip, careful with her fragile form.
Too damn breakable. Not meant for this world.
