She passed out, which was usual for the first time. I should have warned her, but I was too impatient to make her mine. I stood up and moved away, shifting to dragon so I could fly her back to my lair. I lifted her, snagging her dress in a talon and taking off. She stirred as I entered the tower.
"You cleaned it," she said in a dreamy voice.
"I did. It was time. The smell repelled me."
I loved her laugh. So full, so perfect. I released her on the perch at the top of the stairs and shifted to my human form. "Are you hungry?"
"Starving."
"I shall eat with you."
She gave me a quizzical look. "You can eat human food?"
I laughed at her funny face. "Yes. I like to hunt as dragon, but I like the finer foods also."
"Do you cook?"
I shrugged. "No, I have servants for that."
"You mean there are other dragons here?"
"No." I removed a piece of grass from her hair. "They are human."
"Human. You have humans here?"
She wouldn't like this. Most of the brides did not. "They serve me and now you, but they do not speak. They give up their voice to live in this realm."
"I don't understand."
I took her hand and pulled her along the hallway into the library. "They come from a realm called earth. Their families give them over when they are sick and dying. They live here without illness, but it comes with the cost of their voice."
"But I keep my voice?"
"Yes."
"Okay," she said softly, though I knew she didn't truly understand.
***
Acasia
He unlocked the door at the end of the hallway, explaining he spoke telepathically to his servants, though even in this they were unable to speak back the same way. The other side of the door housed a different world. A human world.
Men and women moved quickly, going about the business of serving a dragon. I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but I'd learn more before giving my opinion. The people smiled at me with curiosity.
Men and women walked the corridors; some old, some in their twenties. I saw a few who were pretty, and jealously ate at me. Did Bastian have sex with these women? He squeezed my hand and I remembered that he might be able to gather my thoughts. Heat rushed to my cheeks.
He stopped in a large dining hall. Two perfectly laid out table settings awaited us at the end of the long table. Bastian pulled out my chair and nodded his head at a servant. The man poured red wine into my goblet. I felt uncomfortable; no one had ever waited on me in my life. Next, he filled Bastian's.
My dragon raised his glass. "To you, my lady, may you be happy by my side and bring joy to my life."
I clicked my glass against his and took a small sip of the sweet wine.
"Smile for me, Acasia."
I had no idea why my smile was so important to him; I couldn't hold it back. His world was strange, but for the first time since arriving, I was curious to find out more and less inclined to return home.
"Tell me about dragons, Bastian."
He returned my smile. "Gladly," he said as a man placed the first course in front of us. "Dragons collect treasures. We hoard them, it's in our blood."
I kind of knew this. "Our rooms, those hold your treasures?"
His dark eyes sparkled. "Those are a very small part. Far below my lair, I have rooms filled with gems, gold, and silver. You may look and choose what you wish. The servants will move them for you. The same with what is in your room and mine. Make them your own. Decorate, change furniture. There is much unused below."
"What about your tower? Will you continue using it to drop your food?"
His hand covered mine. "Not if it bothers you. I can just as easily eat where I catch my prey. What would you have done with the tower?"
"I don't know. I will think on it." I took a bite of some type of spiced grain and chewed slowly. "The food is wonderful," I said after swallowing.
"You may also decide on meals. I must have a meat diet with only a few grains thrown in, but I want you to eat what you wish. The servants know what I like and will feed my needs if yours do not match."
I couldn't help asking, "Are they slaves, Bastian?"
He didn't hesitate before saying, "In a manner of speaking."
"But they don't speak."
"They live. Their families want to know they live."
"What do their families receive to assure themselves their loved ones are well cared for?"
"The humans see their families every ten years for one week. They visit their realm and return to me at the end of that time."
"Do they always return?"
His face grew closed and made me wonder what he was hiding.
"Always."
"So sad." I couldn't help thinking of my own family. I would not see them every ten years. I would never see them again.
"Eat, silly female."
I didn't feel silly; melancholy clouded my thoughts, but I ate my food, drank my wine, and listened to dragon tales.
"Drakon was the first. He upset the gods by killing Hera's daughter. Hera cursed us."
"What happened to Drakon?"
"He disappeared. Many say Hades took him to the underworld as punishment."
"Why did Drakon kill Hera's daughter?"
Bastian stared at me for a long moment. "He loved her, but when he bedded her she was not a virgin. In his rage, he killed her."
"I do not understand why virginity is so important to dragons."
His eyes pierced me. "It is a treasure, and we collect treasures. Only a pure female has a chance of becoming a Dragon's true mate. Eileithyia, Hera's daughter, took that possibility away. Drakon loved her, but killed her out of jealousy and rage that she could never become dragon."
The story depressed me even more, but I figured I'd better learn it all so we would have no need to speak of it again. "Tell me of the curse."
Bastian looked away, his voice low, "One hundred thousand years. We choose a bride every one hundred years. Love her, cherish her, and lose her. I do not wish to speak of the curse. I have many years with you. We shall enjoy each one." He turned back and I saw the sorrow he tried to hide.
"Tell me of the other dragons."
His facial muscles tightened as anger replaced sadness. "You will avoid them, especially Laryn." I could hear jealousy in his voice.
It didn't stop me from asking, "Why Laryn?"
Red sparked in Bastian's dark eyes. "He just lost his mate. He is sad and lonely... desperate. He is my friend, but I will kill him if he touches you."
My heart went out to Laryn. "Are you sad when your claiming bride dies?"
He came to his feet and faced me. Thousands of years of sorrow shown in each line on his face. "My life ceases to exist. I die a little more each time. Someday I may finally die a real death and find peace."
I stood moving closer until I felt the warmth of his body. I don't know what came over me or why I spoke my next words, "Not while I live, Bastian. I will make you happy and go with peace after our years together. You will find happiness again and I pray to live a long life so you do not wait too long."
His voice went husky, "Are you finished eating?"
Heat burned between my thighs. "I have need of dessert. A fierce but sweet dragon to be exact."
We left the dining area. He stopped in different alcoves, pushing me against the walls, kissing me. Teasing me and driving me wild. I giggled and kissed him back. When the need between my thighs became unbearable, he moved us on. He was driving me crazy, but in a good way.
"You will sleep with me each night," he demanded once I was naked and spread out on his bed.
I looked at his powerful body, excited that it would soon be a part of mine. "Make me."
"You play with fire, Acasia."
I needed him desperately. "Burn me, Bastian, burn your will into mine. Take away thoughts of home and replace them with thoughts of you."
He covered me, then rolled so I lay over him. "Move your knees to either side of my hips and sit astride."
I smiled and did as told.
"Lift your ass and take my cock into your body. Slowly. You are sore and should rest, but I need you again."
I moved up, wiggled, and slowly sheathed my dragon. His eyes went half-hooded, but still the red sparks scorched my flesh. I was sore, but able to take him deep with only a little discomfort. He palmed my breasts, molding them to his hands. I wrapped my fingers around his forearms, digging my nails into his skin.
"You are beautiful, Acasia. Your hair covering part of your face your pouty lips separated and your breathing heavy. Now it's time to ride a dragon."
I lifted my bottom, then pushed back down feeling him so deep within me. He released my breasts and grasped my hips.
"Hold on." His guttural words were barely controlled.
He started a new pace, a faster one. I turned to liquid in his hands, flowing over him, loving his control. The burn built in my center. I tried to keep my eyes open to watch him, but finally threw my head back in ecstasy. The heat built and he was right, he seared me from within. His body emitted a glow, soft at first but gaining brightness. I could actually see it behind my closed lids. At the same time my body exploded, I opened my eyes. Red streaks of light burst from our bodies. I'd felt it the last time but hadn't seen the beauty. We lit up the room, making the gold around us sparkle. I'd planned to get rid of much of it, take it down to his treasure rooms, but now I couldn't. The pieces magnified the exquisiteness of our release. I managed to stay conscious but dreamy. He watched me. The red light continued to shine.
I smiled and started laughing.
My dragon was full of surprises.