“I couldn’t help you becauseIwas afraidI’dhurt you,” he blurts out.
For a moment,Ican’t speak.
“I’m hurting already,”Iwhisper at last.
Because it’s the truth.Thecurse burns through me, relentless and merciless, but it’s not the only thing causing me pain.Italso hurts to know he doesn’t want me anymore.
His jaw tightens and he drags a hand through his hair, looking frustrated.
“Fuck—Iknow you are,” he growls.“ButIwas afraidI’dchange the color of your eyes and get you pregnant.Afraidthat onceIstarted with you,Iwouldn’t be able to stop.MyDrake…”Hebreaks off, shaking his head.
“What about yourDrake?”Iask.
“I told you—he wants you.Asmuch asIdo,” he says in a low voice.“Hisdesires, mixed with my own are so strong thatI…fuck,Ijust can’t trust myself anymore, baby.”
“I understand,”Isay softly—andIdo.Eventhough my body aches for him—even though every part of me is screaming for his touch—Iunderstand why he’s afraid to help me.
That doesn’t make his rejection hurt any less, though.
For a moment, we just stand there, looking at each other.Soclose…and yet so impossibly far apart.
Then, without another word, he steps back and begins toShift.
The change ripples through him in a way that still takes my breath away—bones stretching…muscles reshaping…skin hardening into gleaming tarnished silver scales.Theair around him seems to shimmer with heat as hisDrakeemerges, massive and powerful and utterly breathtaking.
TheDrakelowers his great head with a low, mournful sound that vibrates through the ground beneath my feet.
BeforeIcan react, he presses his great head gently against my chest.
I gasp softly as a wave of emotion crashes over me—not mine—his.Ifeel longing…need…and a deep, aching desire to be close to me in a wayIdon’t fully understand.
Theron keeps saying that hisDrake“wants” me.Butfrom the emotionsI’mpicking up from the huge creature, it almost feels like helovesme and fears that his love can never be reciprocated.
“Oh…”Iwhisper, my hands lifting instinctively to rest against the warm, smooth scales of his face.“Oh,I’mso sorry.”
I don’t know whyI’mapologizing—Idon’t know why he feels this way.Ican love him back—he’s very loveable.
I stroke the side of his massive face, my hands sweeping over his silver scales.Igive him scratches behind his eye ridges, just the way he likes but the feelingsI’mgetting from him are still sad.
TheDrakerumbles softly andIfeel his renewed longing and the certainty that hewantsme—wants to own and possess me like a treasure.Hewants to hoard me like all dragons love to hoard gold.
But there’s something else he wants—something he needs, butIcan’t quite understand what it is.Iwish we could talk in more than just feelings, thoughIguess the fact thatIcan feel the huge creature’s emotions is pretty magical.Ishouldn’t be greedy.
What is it he wants?Whatis it he needs?Idon’t know but the idea sends a strange shiver through me—not fear exactly, but something deeper.Somethingmore complicated.
“I’m here,”Imurmur softly, thoughI’mnot sure ifI’mspeaking toTheronor hisDrake—maybe both.“I’mhere for you.”
That will have to be enough sinceIdon’t really understand what he’s asking me.
After a moment, he snorts and lowers himself, bending his foreleg to allow me to climb onto his back.
I gather my skirts and do as he silently asks, settling carefully between the familiar ridges of his spine.Then, with a powerful beat of his wings, theDrakelaunches us into the air.
I wonder ifI’llever find out what he wants?
47
ELOWEN
