by Ruby Dixon
Sa-cha only sighs and settles in deeper in the nest, her breathing even with sleep. She wears more of the strange skins that she has picked up this day. I do not understand why the humans choose to cover their bodies with such things—perhaps because they have no scales to protect them? She even gave me a skin—a tight-fitting one that feels as if it is pinching my sac with every step. Just thinking about it makes me reach down to adjust my cock, and I frown. I hate it, yet I will wear it if it pleases her. She covers her entire form with such things. I dislike them. I want to stroke her skin and feel it against mine, but all I feel are these strange layers.
She sleeps, content, and I study her as she does. She likes this place, this nest. Not just the strange skins with the blobs, but this entire structure. She grew so excited with the sight of each new thing that I have decided we will stay here, where it makes her happy.
The fact that there was another human female here perplexes me. I did not smell her, my senses dulled by the strange scents in the air. That reminds me of the stink of the humans in their hive. I do not like it, and I do not trust it. If the other human returns, I will destroy her. Sa-cha must be kept safe at all costs. What if there is another human hiding nearby with the same ability to mask his scent?
I pull Sa-cha closer to me, troubled at the thought.
She makes a little sound of pain, and her hip makes a rustling noise. I frown to myself. She wrapped her hip and her arm with fresh skins this evening and slathered a foul-smelling paste on her wounds. My female has many injuries, and I cannot help but worry that perhaps I have been too rough with her in the past, when the ravens were attacking my mind. Is this why she is afraid of me now when I touch her? Did I hurt her before and I cannot remember it? My mind is nothing but chaos when I am away from her, but when she is close, I am able to think clearly. I do not think I would hurt her, but I cannot be certain.
Nothing can be certain until I link my mind to hers and we can speak freely.
Sa-cha is so small and fragile. I touch her shoulder, wanting to pet her and stroke her, but not wanting to hurt her. She gives a little sigh in her sleep and moves closer to me, as if pleased by my touch. I am overjoyed at that small reaction and run my hand up and down her back, caressing her through the layers. She makes a contented sound, and I am surprised at how much pleasure I feel at her enjoyment.
When she sleeps, she does not fear me. And earlier, when I licked her scent off her hand, I imagined that I saw interest in her eyes. Heat. Anticipation. It went nowhere, but it tells me that Sa-cha would respond to my caresses, I think. If I could get her to challenge me, she would put up a small fight and then give in sweetly, allowing me to conquer her. Allowing me to mount her and claim her, to give her my fires.
To make us one.
I must make her challenge me. Somehow. A hint of a memory dances through my mind, a recent one. Kael and his human mate. She is small and fragile like my Sa-cha, and yet they have mated. Kael has said that they share mind-speak.
How did he get her to challenge him? I stroke my mate’s back, thinking.
Perhaps tomorrow, when I go and find food for myself, I will also go close enough to the human hive to connect minds with Kael. Perhaps I will ask him how he managed to get his small human to change to her battle form and challenge him.
I cannot wait much longer before my Sa-cha takes my fires. Every day we delay is another that her life is in danger.
I will not let another take her from me.
The next morning, Sa-cha eats a meal from another one of her round containers and puts on another layer of skins, including ones on her feet. I gesture at the entrance to this strange cave, indicating that I wish to leave with her, and she seems to understand. She nods and twists her long hair into a rope, puts on yet another layer, and then slips her hand into mine.
Just that small touch is enough to make me hunger for more. I think of her fingers, coated with her scent, and fight back the urge to growl my lust. I must be calm if I am to keep my mate’s scent free of fear.
Sa-cha picks up a heavy bag full of her treasures, gives a sad sigh, and then looks patiently at me.
I take the bag from her and set it down on the ground. We will be returning. She does not need to bring this with her.
“Dakh,” she protests, picking the sack up again. She rambles her garbled human language at me, full of melodic nonsense. And she tries to put the sack over her injured arm again.
Again, I take it from her. We will return, I try to tell her.
Only the ravens hear my thoughts. There is no link with Sa-cha.
Frustrated, I try to make gestures to indicate that we will stay, but she does not seem to understand them. Eventually, she leaves her bag on the floor, but she looks even sadder, her scent tinged with unhappiness.
I am failing her again, this time because we cannot speak. Frustrated, I lead her forward, and the moment sunlight touches my skin, I change to battle form and grip her gently in my claws. I flap my wings, soaring high into the air, and turn toward the dark stain on the edge of the horizon that is the human hive. Kael lives near there with his mate.
Sa-cha wriggles and turns in my claws, and I tuck her close to my chest to keep her safe. She says some more of her human words at me, but I do not know what she speaks. Eventually she gives up and goes quiet, and I resist the urge to nuzzle her with reassurance.
A herd of brown, four-legged creatures with horns wind through the flat, hard lands near the human hive. Since my claws are full of Sa-cha, I scoop one up with my teeth, throwing my head back to gulp down my meal. Sa-cha makes a squeal of horror, but I must eat, and her shiny round things with their mushy food will not ease a dragon’s appetite. I chase down two more of the beasts, swallowing them before lofting higher again.
As I do, I send my mind out, trying to touch Kael’s.
It is…difficult. The ravens are everywhere. Not just my ravens, but those of other drakoni who are lost to the madness. The endless hum and buzz of this place tears at the minds of all my people. When I reach out, I can feel other minds—or what is left of them. The males struggle with their sanity, and I can practically taste the rage and bloodlust ripping through their thoughts. When my mind brushes that of a female, I can feel…nothing at all. They are completely lost. I remember when our minds were as a connected web of warmth and companionship. Now there is nothing but a constant stream of confusion and anger, and it threatens to pull me under. The ravens sense a victory and circle ever closer, jabbering their nonsense.
Sa-cha speaks, and her small hand touches my claw. Even though I do not know her words, it is enough. I focus on her, and the ravens retreat once more to go nest in another drakoni’s head.
I must focus on my mate and retreat to our nest, where I can keep her safe. So I focus on Kael, the imprint of his mind, and sift for it in the sea of chaos around me.
Kael’s mind touches mine like a focused beam of light, and I am impressed at the clarity of his thoughts. There are no ravens, no buzzards, nothing waiting to attack his thoughts. He is clear of any madness, and I am envious.
My friend, he sends to me. Your thoughts are much improved.
It is my mate, I tell him. She is the reason.
Then you have claimed the human?
Not yet. Having her near is enough for now, but I must claim her soon. I circle a tall building and then alight on a perch at the top. The wind is high up here, the scents of the human hive not so terrible. Kael’s thoughts are still far enough away to keep him at a safe distance from my mate. Not that he would take her from me, but the possessive male that I am cannot stand the thought of another drakoni coming close when my female is unmated. I fly close because I seek your advice on human females.
Mine? I am intrigued.
When I touch my Sa-cha, her scent is that of fear. I wait and wait for her to challenge me, to change into battle form and attack so I can conquer her, but she does not. What do I do wrong? How did you get your female to turn?
Kae
l’s thoughts are amused. They are not drakoni, my friend. Remember this.
You think I do not know this? I am insulted by his statement. I fear I shall break her at any time if I hold her too roughly. She is soft and sweet and fragile, my Sa-cha. She is nothing like a drakoni female.
Then you must stop thinking of her as one, Dakh. Do not assume she is as we are. I have known my Claudia for many days and nights now, but it took me some time to realize that she does not have a battle form. No human does.
No battle form? The thought is astounding to me. But…how do they defend themselves? How do they challenge one another? Even as I am stunned to hear this, it makes sense. Sa-cha is weak and wounded. She prefers to be on the ground. Of course she has no battle form. I have been thinking so much of how a normal drakoni mating is conducted that I did not stop to think that humans would be different. I think of the ones I saw mating back at the human hive. So the signal to challenge…is it pushing my face against hers? Is that a challenge?
Humans do not want to be challenged at all, my friend. Kael’s thoughts are direct and strong. Human females are not to be conquered, not unless you wish to harm her.
Never!
Then learn how to make her crave a mating with you. They respond when a male touches them.
Touches them? I touch Sa-cha all the time. Even now, I hold her in my claws. I glance down at the small female in my grip. She does not look as if she wishes to mate. If anything, she looks as if she wishes to be down on the ground. She stares around her with trepidation and clings to my claws, clearly unhappy at our height.
Not a regular touch. A touch that will tell her you wish to mate. My Claudia prefers kisses and caresses. She likes for her skin to be stroked. She wants her body to be touched with tenderness. Make her feel good and she will give you her mating scent.
Bah. This seems…too simple. And a kiss? What is this?
You press your mouth to hers—
I have done that. Frustration leaks through my thoughts. Do you lie to me?
Never. Kael sounds amused, and it irritates me. My temper begins to rise. Does he think it is funny I have not claimed my female yet?
He mocks, the ravens whisper. He thinks you are not worthy of happiness.
Anger burns low in my belly. Send me an image, I tell him. So I can understand.
His mind immediately closes off to my own. I can feel it shut until we are only at the barest of communications. I am not going to send you images of me kissing my mate. Such things are private. My Claudia is still angry that you have stolen her friend. She will be upset that I have helped you.
Helped me? You have told me nothing!
I am trying to help you, old friend. Calm yourself and listen.
Even as he speaks, I feel the prick of another mind coming into range. Another male. A growl surges through me, along with frustration. You would leave my mate in danger by not helping me?
I am trying, Dakh. I value our friendship. I value being able to speak to another of my kind and not being overwhelmed by madness. You are already much improved.
Lies, the ravens whisper. He thinks to trick you and steal your mate away.
In the distance, against the horizon, I see a speck flying in the air. It might be a bird…or it might be the male dragon I sense, heading for my mate. Protective anger blooms in my mind.
Bring your mate to visit mine and—
Lies! You seek to take my mate from me! I fling myself into the air, spouting flame. I will confront that male. I will rend him limb from limb and—
Sa-cha cries out in terror, clinging to my foreleg. “Dakh!”
My mate.
How could I forget her?
How could I forget how fragile she is? She will never survive if I go into a fight with her in my claws. And yet I cannot set her down. If I do, I leave her vulnerable to other humans and to drakoni. Only in my grip is she safe. Only with me.
Reluctantly, I swallow my flames and wheel about in the skies. I will speak to you some other time, I tell Kael. For now, I must take my mate to safety. And I flap my wings with all my might, pushing off of a nearby building to gain strength. I must go high and fast to get away from the other, before he sees me. I pull back in my mind so there is nothing for his madness to touch.
And I will bring my mate back to her nest, where I can protect her.
I hug her close to my chest, making sure she is secure. Speaking with Kael was a mistake. Perhaps my mind is still too full of ravens for his words to make sense. Touch my mate. Bah. As if I do not touch her. As if I do not have her clutched to my scales right now.
Still, some of his words ring true. I ponder them even as we fly onward, back toward the nest I have claimed as ours. The long, low building comes into sight again, and my Sa-cha makes a joyful sound, patting my claws. I think she realizes I am bringing her back, and she is pleased. This makes me happy, as well. I have found a place for my nest that, while not perched high in the clouds, delights my mate. There can be no better home.
I set down on the roof of the building, but my mate exclaims and points at the ground below. She wants to go back into the nest itself. Very well. I hop down to the flat, hard ground and release my mate gently.
She makes another happy sound and hugs my foreleg, wrapping herself around it and pressing her cheek to my scales, all the while making talking noises. Her touch surprises me, as does her pleasure. When she lets go of my leg, I immediately shift to my two-legged form to see if she will grab me again. But she does not; she only beams up at me with obvious pleasure.
I decide I will put my arms around her, then. I move forward and embrace her, pulling her against my chest.
Sa-cha makes a startled sound but then giggles and pats my back, letting me hold her close. I rumble with pleasure, deciding that this is nice. I let my hand stroke up and down her back, and she makes a contented noise, relaxing in my arms.
Perhaps this is what Kael meant by touching my mate. Perhaps I should be stroking her and giving her pleasure. Perhaps he was not wrong after all.
I have much to think upon.
11
SASHA
“So, are we going to go inside?” I ask as Dakh continues to hug me in the parking lot of the SuperMart, his hand stroking up and down my back. I don’t even mind his touch. It’s nice to be hugged, and I’m just so thrilled to be back here that nothing could ruin this day.
I thought I was going to lose all of my new treasures when he made me leave my bag this morning. I thought we were leaving for good when he took me up in the air, and it made me sad. The SuperMart has everything I could possibly need for some time. Sure, it’s a little stinky in places, but it’s a paradise in these times. For bringing me back, he can have all the hugs he wants.
He doesn’t seem like he’s in a hurry to move, though, and I can’t help but smile to myself. “You’re sure into hugs, aren’t you?” I rest my cheek against his chest, deciding that I’m going to ignore the fact that he’s completely naked and any underwear he might have worn last night is completely gone. I guess it ripped apart when he shifted. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t seem to care about clothing—it doesn’t last very long. Well, if it’s not his thing, I won’t push it on him. I sigh and relax against him, figuring I can let the hug go on for a little longer. It’s…kind of nice. He’s hot against my skin, not quite uncomfortably so, but definitely warm enough to make me pink up and feel tender where we’re touching. Still, feeling all that warmth is kinda relaxing, and I close my eyes and figure I’ll enjoy for a bit longer. His hand rubs up and down my back in a soothing way, and I wonder if he’s been lonely and that’s why he’s so into this hug.
It makes me a little sad for him. Weird how I’m sad for a savage monster that eats people and flames cities, but I am. “The After’s kind of a sucky place,” I whisper to him. “I understand how you feel, though. Sometimes it’s just nice to be held and feel safe. That’s the rarest feeling in the world.”
Kind of like how I’m feelin
g right now. Huh.
Eventually the hug goes on for long enough that it starts to become weird. Or, weirder, I guess. I worry he’s going to take things to the next level if it goes on much longer, and I’m not ready for that. So I pull away from him and give him a bright smile. “Shall we go inside?”
He grunts assent, and when I offer him my hand, he takes it and leads me back in.
The store’s just as empty as when we left it. Part of me had hoped, I guess, for Emma to return while we were gone. I can’t blame her for not coming back, given that I’m accompanied by a rather unfriendly dragon and all. Still, I miss female companionship. I’ve spent the last seven years in the After with Amy and Claudia, and I miss them. I hope they’re well.
Heck, I hope they’re alive.
Troubled by my thoughts, I’m quiet as we head for the bed I made for myself in the linen department. The pallet of blankets on the floor is just as cozy as when I left it, and there are mountains of fluffy pillows to ensure that I’m comfy. I might try blowing up an air mattress tonight, because even with a bunch of blankets, the floor’s still hard tile, and it’s not great on my aching hip. To have all these things is a luxury, I tell myself. Enjoy them while you’ve got them.
After all, who knows how long we’ll be here? Best if I take everything the store has to offer and not worry too much about my friends back at Fort Dallas. There’ll be time enough for that later. I sit down in the blankets and glance over at Dakh. “So what are our plans for the day…?”
I trail off as I realize he’s picked up one of my romance novels and is studying the people on the cover intently. It’s a historical romance, with an earl and a half-naked lady necking on the cover. And, I’m a little embarrassed to see, the woman has dark, curly hair that looks a lot like mine. Dakh touches the picture and then stares at it even more closely, then glances over at me. “Sa-cha?” he asks, pointing at the cover.
