It would have been a better trip if I hadn't worried about the trouble I knew Acasia was capable of finding. Tahr teased me endlessly because I moaned and groaned about how long we waited before sneaking into the castle we'd planned to steal from.
We'd stolen from King Sturpas before. I'd had my eye and thoughts on one of the crown sets I hadn't managed to steal before. Our patience paid off and I had what I needed for Acasia's one-year bride anniversary. Tahr also gathered some items to make his journey worthwhile.
I worried about Acasia until I wrapped my arms around her the afternoon of the third day. We said our goodbyes to the others and left so I could get her home and into my bed. Three days was too long, and I needed her. I flew as quickly as I could.
"Bastian?"
I didn't like her tentative tone. "Yes, female." I knew using the word female would bother her.
Just a touch of the angst I'd grown to appreciate entered her voice. "Laryn came to Sarn's lair."
Rage exploded within me. Fire roared from my throat. I would kill him, should have done it already.
"Please, Bastian, listen to me."
She rubbed my neck, but it took several minutes for her touch to penetrate my fury.
"Bastian, please."
"What did he want?" My voice was too loud, but I couldn't control it.
"To assure himself I was well."
"It is no concern of his. I should have killed him weeks ago."
Her voice was no longer comforting. "He is lonely. He is also your friend and he returned me without harm."
"No, he did not," I bellowed. "He struck you, bruised your face. He needs to die." I discharged more fire. "What are you doing?" Acasia was now standing in the saddle.
"I do not like your attitude. I stabbed him, his strike was reflex. You suffer just as greatly when your brides die. The four of you should be helping each other instead of allowing your protectiveness of your women to harm your friends."
With that, she jumped. I should allow her to fall and only catch her inches from death, the stupid female. I didn't, though. I had her in my talons within a second. She stubbornly refused to say a word and continued our journey in discomfort. She truly drove me mad.
I released her on my bedroom perch, dropped my treasure bag, and flew around my lair a few times to calm down. When that didn't work, I flew into my eating tower and roared because the sound echoed and made me feel better.
When my rage dissipated somewhat, I made my way back to my room perch, shifted, and entered. I could hear water in the bath. I needed to wash too, and my bride would not deny me what I needed even more than a bath. I stormed in, angry all over again, and stopped at the sight of her nakedness.
She looked at me with needy eyes. "I do not wish to fight, dragon. You've wasted time in your tantrum when you could be deep within my body making me scream."
The anger left, completely replaced by desire so intense it hurt my cock.
She raised an arm from the water and splashed me. I was in the tub with her pulled on top of me in seconds. Over the next hour, I completely forgot what upset me so though my sleep that night was restless. Eventually, I needed to take care of Laryn so he never endangered my bride again.
***
Acasia
The next two days were blissful. I wish we hadn't argued, but Bastian seemed to forget about Laryn and that was good. He didn't mention our anniversary, and I had nothing to give him, so decided to keep it to myself.
I woke up feeling poorly. This hadn't happened to me since I was young and ate undercooked meat, which made several people ill for a few days. My bones ached, but I refused to dwell on it.
"Picnic with me today, Acasia," Bastian whispered in my ear.
"That sounds lovely. When are we leaving?"
"I will have food prepared and we can leave after breakfast if you wish."
"Perfect."
The day was beautiful. We swam in the cool waters of the lake before eating our lunch. Not bothering to dress, I stuffed my stomach and felt sleepy. My aches from the morning were still there, but I wouldn't allow it to ruin such a grand day. We lay back on the blanket and gazed at the clouds. Bastian moved from beside me and rummaged through the food basket. I thought he sought water.
His shadow came over me and the coolness of a gold necklace with a large ruby landed on my belly.
"For our claiming anniversary."
He'd remembered. "Oh, Bastian."
"There's more. Sit up." Now I heard the excitement in his voice.
He pulled me up and first clasped the necklace at my throat. Next, he pulled a crown, with similar rubies studded throughout the gold, and arranged it on my head. The look in his eyes had me clenching my thighs. I wanted him and he never failed to make me feel beautiful.
"This belonged to a king?" I asked with reverence.
"No, it belongs to my queen. I found it for you."
My laughter bubbled up. "You stole it for me."
"Yes, human female named Acasia. I would steal the world for you."
I was so happy. His fingers ran gently across my jaw before he kissed me. Slowly, he lay me back against the blanket and in our own special glade we made love. The crown fell from my head, but we didn't care. Afterward, I fell asleep on Bastian's chest, his arms tightly around me, his breath ruffling my hair.
Stomach cramps woke me up. I couldn't stop from crying out. Bastian released me as he rolled to the side, and I curled into a ball.
"What is it, Acasia?"
The pain was so intense I couldn't answer.
"What can I do?" I heard his fear.
The pain began easing and I managed to whisper, "This happened when I was a child. It was tainted food. I shall be okay in a while."
He moved my hair from my face, concern showing in his eyes. "There has never been tainted food in this realm. What hurts?"
I took a few deep breaths so I could speak again, and also to think about where the pain centered. "Everything. I hurt on the inside."
"Define everything, bride." Worry sounded in his voice.
"Please give me a moment."
He waited, his hands running through my hair. It was the only thing on me not in pain. Eventually the hurt lessened. Finally, I could breathe normally, but I was exhausted.
Bastian gathered our belongings, shifted, and carried me back to his lair in his talons. I hated traveling this way, but I also didn't want the pain to return while in the saddle. He placed me in his bed. I fell asleep shortly after our return only to wake up a few hours later in worse pain. I tried not to cry out, but whimpers escaped my throat.
"This is not right. Something is wrong." He stopped pacing and ran his hand across my forehead. "You are burning up."
I didn't feel the heat; I was freezing, and my teeth chattered. Bastian gathered me in his arms putting off heat, which helped. I drifted off again.
Two days later, I hadn't improved. Bastian placed me in a bath to cool my body even when I cried that it was too cold. The pain didn't leave as often and I was no longer able to sleep. I lay suffering trying to keep Bastian from knowing how bad it was.
He wasn't fooled. "I've contacted Dmitri and there is a doctor in the earth's realm who treats shifters. We do not know if your internal organs and blood chemistry are different from earth's humans. It's our best chance to discover what's wrong."
The thought of moving was terrifying, but I also knew whatever was wrong was serious. "Please, Bastian." I had no idea what I was asking because the pain intensified again.
"Sleep, Acasia."