With our faces so close, our breath mingled. I knew what he wanted, and I wondered if either of us could fight against it.
It both thrilled me and terrified me, even as I tugged at his armored clothing until I unbuckled his belt. Satisfaction swept through me when his eyes closed briefly, his dark lashes fluttering against his pale skin as I stroked him over the fabric of his pants.
But, we both wore so many layers that before either of us reached skin, the crackling radio stole Ashe's attention from me.
A man's voice came through spouting military jargon.
"They're calling me," Ashe whispered. Then without breaking my gaze, he lifted the communicator to his mouth and mumbled some kind of code.
"What did that even mean?" I laughed, tugging at his belt.
"I asked for time," he told me, his voice husky. Leaning forward, he captured my lips and kissed me once, then again.
Dropping the radio into his empty helmet next to us, my soldier pulled off his armored vest but then stopped.
I froze, watching him, afraid but excited. The bond was so undeniably strong.
This bond, whatever it was, whatever caused it or made it... it scared me.
I could feel Ashe's intense desire to have me there in the forest—to complete the bond. And I'll admit that a part of me wanted that too… But instead of rising excitement, I became more scared, whether it was because of my inexperience, my injuries, or maybe it was my age. But, my flight or fight instinct was saying fly.
My mind was a mess, I wanted Ashe severely, but the truth was I was afraid.
I lay on my back with him between my legs looking up at my would-be mate. But whatever Ashe saw in my eyes, it hit him like a bucket of ice water. His eyes went wide, and his hands went to his head, threading through his dark hair.
"Fuck... what am I doing." Shaking his head, his breath ragged, he looked at me before squeezing his eyes shut. "Fuck, I didn't mean to… I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
He gazed upward, gulping in breaths of fresh air.
I pulled my jacket together and zipped it back up. Reaching out to Ashe, my fingers barely missed contact by a hair width as he stood up outside my shelter.
He paced around the fire as he put himself back together, the bulge in his pants still prominent.
Eondian and Aaraeth stirred up the snow as they frolicked and screeched not too far away.
I watched Ashe, my would-be mate, as he wrestled with himself, or the bond, or our situation. My own body ached with need, which only served to make me angry.
I was frustrated at myself for being a coward and afraid, but Ashe could feel all those things through the bond, and it wasn't helping.
When my soldier stopped pacing, he held the radio to his mouth, spoke into it, and then strode back over to peer into my little shelter.
"Aaraeth seems fine to fly. Can you ride her, or do you need a helicopter?" He asked, now closed off to me—face stoic like the first day we'd met.
"I... I'm okay. My ankle…" I shrugged. "I'm not hiking anywhere."
Reaching toward me, Ashe held his hands out. I took them and allowed him to pull me out of my shelter.
"The blood?" He asked, making sure to avoid bodily contact with me.
I shrugged again. "Just a head wound. Nothing time and rest won't heal."
Nodding, his eyes scanned me for more injuries. "We need to talk about... what just happened." He swallowed, his gaze flicking away again. "It's only fair that you and I make the decision... not on a whim. Not by accident or chance but agree ahead of time."
Turning, he whistled to the dragons, which instantly brought them bounding through the trees toward us.
"I need to go home—to my dad," I told him.
My bare hand gripped his arm as I stumbled a bit. I could get lost in Ashe's pale blue eyes. They were so light that they seemed to glow in the shadow of the forest.
"I know you do, but he needs to be vetted, we need to find out why he's kept you away from the community. Something is going on here, he could be dangerous." He told me, raising his brows slightly and lowering his chin.
"What? My dad? Dangerous?" I sighed, and it came out almost like a laugh.
"Yeah. But not only him, but rumors have also now circulated that there's a new female Prime in North America. There are ruthless Dragonborn, Dragonborn that would do whatever it took to gain control of you. Do you understand?" His eyes flicked from my right eye to my left. "I will protect you—even if it's from myself."
I breathed out a laugh. "I'm not afraid of you. Wha…"
The intensity of his gaze stopped me mid-sentence. "You're afraid of the bond, and in all honesty, sometimes I am too."
He sucked in a deep breath.
I shook my head. "You're right, we need to talk some more."
"Yeah, but not here. You need to get your injuries looked at."
I crinkled my nose. "Where? I'm not… I'm not going back to the academy."
Ashe raised one eyebrow skeptically. "Not even for me? Not even to stay safe?"
I released a shaky breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding, but I didn't answer him.
Aaraeth bumped my thigh with her snout. Ashe turned toward my wayward beast and stroked the ridges around her eyes.
"I brought something for you, Aaraeth," he told my dragon before motioning to the large black Eondian.
The Harrow dragon lumbered over on its hind legs, wings pulled in as to not catch on the trees. When the two met, man and monster, I noticed that Eondian wore a type of harness with pouches for gear.
Ashe dug through one bag until he pulled out a thick army green strap. Without speaking, he called to my dragon, and she obeyed, prancing over to him like a pet. With deft movements, my soldier knotted the webbing into a harness of sorts and fitted it to Aaraeth.
She rolled her head before accepting the strap.
"You've made me reins?" I smiled and hobbled over to the two.
"Yeah. We need to get out of here. Do you have anything with you?"
"Uh... my backpack."
Wadding up the space blanket under my shelter, he stuffed it inside my pack. "Okay, we need to get going. Come on, let me lift you onto Aaraeth."
I allowed him to push me up and onto my dragon. His grip on my thighs reminded me of one of the dreams I'd had—one of those dreams. I felt a blush spread across my cheeks and tried to think of something else, anything else.
I needed to make a decision about Ashe and I. Did I want a lifelong bond forever or not. If Ashe wanted to complete it, should I?
He was almost seven years older than me. Did he really think of me as a child? Well… apparently not when overwhelmed by the stupid bond.
His hands adjusted my feet, making me wince when he touched the twisted ankle, but not even that could keep my head out of the gutter when it came to him. This man whom I'd just met. This man who I'd almost given my body to... Yes.
My body—but as easy as it was to think about that—the reality was very different. Giving myself like in my dreams was easy... but how would it really be?
Was it reasonable for me to be afraid?
Why had fear stopped me from completing the bond? I wasn't sure what I was really afraid of, Eondian, Ashe, or the unknown. If our connection was this intense incomplete, how would it be once the bond was whole?
Aaraeth rolled her neck before prancing into the clearing to take off. When she flapped her wings and circled above my little camp, I gazed down and spotted Ashe, smothering the fire with snow.
He stopped for a moment and called up, "Aaraeth knows where to go, let her lead."
With long sweeping strokes of her wings, my dragon rose up high into the sky. Up in the air with the wind tugging at me, making my eyes water, I realized I'd forgotten to don my gloves. My icy red fingers gripped the strap, but soon, I switched over to hold Aaraeth's ridges like I had the night before.
"Where are we going?" I yelled at the beast.
It's a dwelling near the highway we were tryin
g to get to. There are Dragonborn there who will help you, including Zami.
"Sammy? Who's Sammy?" I yelled into the wind.
Zami. Zamirth is Bea's dragon. You call her Dr. Weaver.
"Dr. Weaver is there? No! I don't want to go there." Adrenalin shot through me. What a mess! I'd tried to run away and only caused more problems for myself.
Aaraeth and I needed to get away, get off their radar.
What about Ashe? He told you to go there, she said.
I chewed my bottom lip thinking about what to do. "I don't know."
I trust Ashe. He's afraid for you… She hesitated, and we began to lose a bit of altitude. It's too late. They are here.
Looking over my shoulder, I realized now that we were being escorted by dragons and their riders—one red Wyvern and a large Drake Dragon, the size of Eondian.
"Are they friendly?" I asked.
They want to help.
I snorted. "Right. Help. Everybody wants to help."
I held tightly to Aaraeth as she was herded by the other beasts toward a house that sat in the middle of a snowy field. She circled the ground a bit like a falling leaf before landing with a soft thud in the snow-packed driveway.
The woman rider landed beside me and called her wyvern to her. The red beast took a few prancing steps before diving into her chest. A soft gasp and a slight smile tinged her lips as she was made whole again.
Every time I saw the joining, it seemed impossible.
Limping through the snow, I clutched Aaraeth's shoulder ridge for balance.
The door sprang open, and Dr. Weaver stood there thoughtfully before turning her attention to the riders who accompanied me.
"Where's Carrick?" She barked out, shielding her eyes from the bright sky to search for him.
Turning, I could make out his black shape, as he came in fast. Eondian's enormous wings brought the pair to a stop almost midair before landing.
"All right, you inside." The professor called out, motioning to me.
I turned to stare at Aaraeth. We'd been separated for a long time.
I motioned for her to join me.
The beast hesitated. What if you need me?
Then you'll be with me. It's okay… Ashe is here too. He'll protect us.
Aaraeth bowed her head before diving into my body.
The joining was like nothing I'd felt before becoming a Dragonborn. It was half of my whole. The completion of my being all rolled into a beautiful dragon that appeared like an intricate tattoo.
However, now that we were merged, it was time to face the music. Dread washed over me as I followed Dr. Weaver inside.
We all shuffled through the door. Sitting there at a worn wooden table in an open area with kitchen and living room were Dr. Weaver and three other soldiers.
With Aaraeth joined to me, I could feel Ashe's mind again—worried, irritated, and protective.
Turning slightly toward him, I reached out instinctively, and he took my cold fingers into his. Then bending, he picked me up and set me onto the couch.
The brief contact with him nearly took my breath away, but the moment was gone too soon.
Dr. Weaver knelt in front of me. "You're injured. Zami says that you've sprained your ankle, have several bruises, and may need stitches in your scalp." She looked between Ashe and I. "Now, I've read of dragon mates healing each other, but as you're still a child, I cannot in good conscience leave you alone with Mr. Carrick. However, after you bathe, we may let the two of you sit next to each other."
"If he can heal me, then why not let him?" I asked, meeting Ashe's eyes.
He looked away, already knowing the answer.
Dr. Weaver pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow before speaking, "I'm sure you can guess why."
I narrowed my eyes and breathed out a dry laugh. "Whatever."
16
When I struggled to stand, my soldier quickly rose to his feet and helped me up.
"All right, where's this bath?" I asked, clinging to Ashe.
Aaraeth, ask Ashe why he brought me here. Why didn't he just take me somewhere else? What are they planning to do? Is he really afraid that we'll complete the bond without supervision?
That is a lot of questions, she grumbled.
I sighed and watched Ashe's eyes glaze as he spoke to his dragon. A slight smile curved the corner of his mouth, and he looked down at me as if I'd said something naughty.
Aaraeth snorted, He says that you're a troublemaker. He also says that you know why he brought you here.
I widened my eyes at my would-be mate, Really? Tell him that I'm done with this bullshit, and we should just complete the bond, and maybe that would get everyone off our backs.
My dragon groaned. You shouldn't say things you don't really mean.
Oh? I mean it.
She shook her head mentally in my mind. No, you don't, but I'll relay your message.
Then her words must've been transferred to Ashe because he looked heavenward and breathed out a laugh.
He also says that you don't really mean that.
"No, I honestly do," I whispered aloud, my gaze locked with Ashe.
My comment earned us both some not-so-nice looks from Dr. Weaver and the red wyvern lady.
"All right, let's get you cleaned up," Dr. Weaver barked, motioning the other woman, Taya…her name instantly coming to mind from Aaraeth. She took my arm and helped me hobble to the bathroom.
Ashe let go of me with a shrug, and that damn twinkle in his eyes. I narrowed mine at him but couldn't help smiling when he winked and gave me that cocky shrug behind the women’s backs.
Wow! He's teasing me! I told Aaraeth, who seemed to shake her head at the two of us.
You know how Eondian and I think. All these human conventions are so pointless!
I snorted, mimicking her now-familiar trait, I'm tending to agree with you.
Even though you're afraid? She asked.
I'm not afraid! I spat at my dragon.
We entered the tiny room, and the women set me on the closed toilet before helping me remove my boots. Dr. Weaver pushed Ashe out and closed the door.
You were when you thought Ashe was going to…
Aaraeth! I cut her off. I wasn't ready for my dragon to give me a play by play of what had happened in those woods. Begrudgingly, I would have to come to terms with the fact that maybe I was the problem. Perhaps it was me who wasn't ready.
The thought made me feel stupid.
Should I be ready?
Taya smiled kindly at me, breaking into my thoughts. "Getting used to your dragon?"
She wore the same uniform as Ashe.
"Yeah," I said as I examined the emblems and wondered what they meant. Ashe said that all men had to serve two years, what about women?
Taya assessed me with warm brown eyes and a soft smile.
"Ashe said that you're new to the Dragonborn community? It must be tough adjusting." Her words were gentle but shot straight to the point as she helped pull my puffy jacket off. Feathers stuck out of a few gashes in the fabric.
"Well, this looks ruined," Dr. Weaver said with a shake of her head before stuffing it into a trash bag.
When they got to my sprained ankle, I shot up in my seat, "Wait! That's the hurt ankle."
"I'll go gentle," the professor said, turning the tap on and leaning over the tub's running water.
Carefully, Taya pulled my wool sock over the swollen limb, crinkling her nose when she saw my swollen foot.
After that point, I took over most of the undressing myself with the women's occasional help.
The adrenalin of seeing Ashe and flying had begun to wear off, leaving me exhausted and hurting. My head throbbed again along with most of my body, feeling as if I had a meat cleaver lodged in my skull.
When they finally settled me into the water, Taya hesitated, her hand on the doorknob.
"Thank you, Taya," I told her.
"My pleasure. We have to watch out for you," she said, a sympathetic smile cros
sing her lips.
Making her exit, she left me alone with Dr. Weaver.
After sitting there for several moments as the hot water and soap stung my cuts, I broke the silence. "Is it true that a female Prime can only come from two Prime parents?"
She hesitated for a moment before speaking, and when she did, I could tell her words were measured. "As far as I know, yes, that is true. But as far as anyone knew, you are an anomaly as well. No one in living memory has received the ritual at your age nor received any dragon at all, let alone a Prime. About forty years ago, when I was a girl, I heard of a boy—probably about fourteen years old—that was given the ritual, but he only had the sight—not even a wyvern."
I let that stew in my mind a bit. "I don't look like my dad…" I breathed out, "But he has to be my dad. Nothing else makes sense."
She sighed, and scooped up the bathwater with an empty cup, "Let's get your hair cleaned up."
I sat, holding my knees to my chest as she dumped cups of water over my head. Tenderly, she shampooed my hair before repeating the rinse again.
"Okay, I found the cut," she told me, parting my hair in the back.
"Ouch... ouch, ouch, ouch!"
"Sydney?" Ashe was nearby, outside the door—restraining himself from entering.
How long had he been there?
He never left, Aaraeth said.
"I'm okay," I called to my soldier. I wanted to be wrapped in his arms. I wanted him in here with me—not in a sexual way, but he leveled me out. Besides, I had this feeling—that if only he held me, all my pain would go away. But that was silly? Right?
The bathwater was now dingy from blood, sweat, and dirt.
And before Dr. Weaver could ask me to empty the bath, I'd already done it.
Why is everyone treating me so carefully? I asked the professor's Wyvern.
"You're talking to my dragon," she said as a statement and less of a question.
I nodded. "Doesn't everyone talk to everyone else's dragons?"
She shook her head. "I can—after years of practice and meditation, and even then, I struggle. That is one advantage of Primes."
"But, I know other dragons have talked to Aaraeth."
Cracked Open: The Dragon Born Academy Page 14
