What else was there?
Clutching his gift, Urian pushed himself to his feet so that he could peer into the shadows where he’d seen the movement earlier. “Are you a god?”
A soft, gentle laugh sounded in his head.You shouldn’t come any closer. Else you’ll be afraid.
Of what? “Why? Are you a monster?”
Indeed. Hence why I eat children who come into my domain.
More curious than ever, Urian glanced down at the soldier in his hand. Strange that a monster would give him a present while he’d been upset. It seemed incongruous and thoughtful for such a beast. “You must be a lonely monster, then.”
Pardon?
Wiping his nose on the back of his hand, he drew another ragged breath. “Just that you don’t seem scary, is all.” Rather, she was nice.
He felt the air around him stir again.
I assure you, if you saw me you’d be quite terrified.
Urian snorted at the challenge. “Bet I wouldn’t. Show yourself.”
At first, he didn’t think she’d meet his dare. Not until the brush in front of him began to shake.
And not just a little.
A lot.
An awful,awfullot. The ground beneath his feet shook so much that he was unbalanced by it. Just how big was this monster?
Urian wasn’t sure what he’d expected, given her warnings. But it definitely wasn’t the large, silvery-gold orange dragon in front of him.
“You’re beautiful.” Those words were out before he could stop them. After all, it might not be the smartest thing to call a dragon beautiful given that they liked to be thought of as fierce. Yet he couldn’t help it. She was.
For that insult alone, she might eat him.
He swallowed hard as he waited for her anger to manifest.
Instead of being offended, she pulled back in surprise.Beautiful? You think me pretty?
“Well … yes. Hasn’t anyone ever told you that?”
She shook her head.Are you not afraid of me?
“Not particularly. But that’s because my brother says that I don’t have enough sense to be afraid of anything.”
She laughed.What’s your name,pido?
“Urian. And yours?”
Sarraxyn.
It was as beautiful as she was, and it sent another hot wave over him. He moved closer and held his hand out toward her. “Nice to meet you, Sarraxyn.”
She reached out to brush against his skin.
Urian expected her scales to be cold and slimy. Yet they were surprisingly warm and soft. “You smell like lilies.”
You are a cheeky one, aren’t you?
