Months passed and we settled into our life. Acasia was my blessing and I cherished our time. It hurt me when I felt her sadness. She would offer a smile, but I knew the sadness was there. Often, making love would take the feeling away, but sometimes she went into a melancholy that lasted days. It frustrated me because my other brides rarely did this once they settled. Acasia was different. She loved deeper than any human I'd ever met.
I flew to my bedroom perch and shifted to human form. I could hear her in the library, her soft breathing an ever present part of me. I showered and changed into jeans and a t-shirt because I liked the look in her eyes when she saw me thus.
I needed to speak to her about a raid I had planned with Laryn. The dragon's foul moods were too much for me, and I wanted to take his mind elsewhere. I could not bring Acasia with me, and dreaded her being alone. This was not a conversation I looked forward to.
She sat at the end of the table at the back of the library engrossed in a book. I walked closer, and my heart stopped beating. It was my book of sketches. I noticed the ladder from the corner of my eye and its placement at the space where my book should reside.
Acasia looked up. "These are your brides?"
I could garner nothing from the look on her face and it worried me. My brides did not like speaking of those who came before them and neither did I.
"Yes."
"You drew these?" She flipped the pages gently.
"Yes."
"Why have you never shown me?"
This was not what I expected from her, but that was what I loved so much about Acasia. She was different.
"It hurts to look at them. I draw a sketch, but never look back. I did not think it something you would like."
"That's so sad, Bastian. They are beautiful and deserve your memories. I saw my picture and someday there will be another ahead of me."
Anger began to simmer deep within me. "Do not say that," I replied harshly.
"Why? Maybe I'm selfish, but I want you to remember me. I know you'll love again, but I still wish you to carry a small part of me with you. I think you owe it to all your brides."
I could not take her mentioning the time after her death. I exploded and swiped the book from in front of her, sending it flying across the room.
Anger sparked in her eyes, but her voice was calm. "Do you feel better, dragon?"
Smoke came from my human nostrils; I had very little control at this moment and could feel the fire build in my chest. I turned away.
"Bastian, even death is not stronger than my love for you."
She said it so quietly, I almost kept walking, but I turned back toward her. Tears rolled down her cheeks. My fury deflated. "Talking of this hurts, Acasia. Thinking of you dead is more than I can stand. With all my posturing and ego, I am but a man with a human's heart. Losing you will break me completely."
She stood up, but instead of coming to me, she walked over and picked up my sketchbook. She carried it to the couch we usually shared and sat down. Her eyes met mine. "Sit with me, Bastian, and tell me of your brides. We don't need to travel all the pages in one afternoon, but you need to talk about them. Remember them. I know they loved you as I do."
What could I do? I could refuse her nothing. I walked over and sat down. She turned to the first page of the book and ran her finger over the sleeping face of my first bride.
"That is Tarita."
"Tell me something about her. What was her favorite food?"
The thought of her favorite food broke something open in my chest where I'd buried her memory. "She loved apples. Green only. I had to look far away to find a green apple tree to plant here."
Acasia turned the page. It was Tarita naked, lying back on the bed looking at me with hungry eyes.
"Did she know you drew this?"
"No. She would have hit me upside the head with a great log."
Acasia laughed, and against my will, I could feel my lips tilting up. "She had an awful temper."
"You drove her to tantrums, I'm sure."
Other memories came forward. We spoke of my first three brides before I finally asked to stop.
Acasia laid her head on my shoulder. "Thank you, Bastian. We will talk of the others another time. We have many years."
I lifted her from the couch and carried her to our room, the book forgotten. Slowly, I released her as her body slid down mine. I removed each item of her clothing, kissing every inch of her body until she was standing on tiptoes and clutching my shoulders.
"You are torturing me, Bastian."
I kissed her thigh and looked up. "I've only begun, bride."
"I cannot take any more."
I stood, lifting her at the same time. "Wrap your legs around me." I carried her through the double doors, outside to my perch.
"We cannot do this out here." She giggled, and I knew she would do it anywhere I took her.
"Hold on." I impaled her on my cock, supporting her back while rocking my hips. She was wet, tight, and perfect. I loved when she raked my back with her human claws, and she never disappointed in giving me what I wanted. The fire grew inside me, the energy building as I felt her body quake. She threw her head back, screaming her ecstasy so even the gods could hear. I roared, fire exploding from my human mouth, the red glow bursting from both of us.
"I love you, Acasia. Thank you for being my greatest treasure." I held her tightly to me, my cock still within her warmth, my fingers threading through her hair.
"I didn't know you could breathe fire in human form."
"It doesn't happen often."
"Will you take me for a ride, dragon?" She smiled mischievously because she knew she'd just ridden her dragon.
I made her fetch clothes and we rode until the sun went down, watching the different colors spread across the horizon. I loved this woman. Knew I loved her more than any previous bride. Acasia had my entire heart.