In the Arms of the Dragon Princes

by Jessica Miller

  “Fuck college. It’s a joke. People only liked me because I was friends with you. I had no one but you. Carissa, Linda and Tatianna were my sorority sisters and work friends, they barely tolerated me. The ceremony didn’t even work. If you were there it would have worked. This is all your fault.”

  Mia backed up, watching the gun shake in Cora’s tanned hands. The cliff was right behind her. She could not back up any further.

  “Cora, calm down. You’re not thinking clearly,” Mia said, hearing rocks tumble down behind her.

  “Good bye, Mia,” Cora said.

  Mia braced herself, but all she heard was heavy feet pounding behind Cora in the woods. Cora turned, but Mia saw him first. Micah’s grayish black body came barreling towards Cora, and Cora fired at him, missing. Micah was too fast. He bit Cora, dragging her away. Cora pulled free, backing up towards the edge of the cliff.

  “Cora, look out!” Mia yelled.

  It was too late. Cora tumbled backwards, falling off the edge of the cliff. Mia reached for Cora, but she was falling too fast. Micah’s human hands grabbed Mia and pulled her close.

  “It’s over,” Micah said, kissing Mia’s forehead.

  Brutus came barreling ahead in his human form.

  “What did I miss?” Brutus asked, panting.

  “Nothing. It’s over,” Mia said, leaning up to kiss Micah.

  “Good. I burned the bodies by the way. Can’t have humans coming across that mess. We should get out of here by the way. We were pretty loud and I smelled people. Well, I smelled hotdogs. Someone is nearby,” Brutus said, nodding at Micah.

  Micah nodded back and then held Mia at arm’s length, like he was studying her.

  “Are you…okay?” Micah asked.

  Mia nodded, wiping tears.

  “I feel…alive,” Mia said, shrugging. “It’s like I was meant to be this way.”

  A broad, face-splitting grin spread across Micah’s face.

  “I thought you would hate me,” Micah said, breathing a sigh of relief.

  “I would!” Brutus said, scoffing. “She could have fallen out of the tree, asshole!”

  “He’s right,” Mia said, slapping Micah’s chest.

  “All’s well that ends well?” Micah said with a sheepish grin.

  “Whatever. I guess we’re off to North Carolina then,” Mia said, looking north.

  “You still want to stay with me?” Micah asked, looking at her hopefully.

  “I don’t think another man will want her as their doggie best friend,” Brutus said, pulling twigs out of his knotted hair.

  “Hey! Be nice. Besides I would choose Micah any day,” Mia said, throwing her arms around Micah’s neck.

  “Alright you two. Don’t be gross. I’ll race you to the Florida-Georgia line,” Brutus said, breaking off running in his wolf form.

  Micah kissed Mia and shoved her back playfully and took off after Brutus.

  “Nice try, boys,” Mia said.

  She collapsed on all fours and breathed deeply. She was taking in new, fresh air and a new, fresh life. She was now all woman and all wolf. She was alive.

  THE END

  Bonus Story 3/40

  Destined to the Alien

  Breaking Free

  Mallory stood at the edge of the dry sand just before the water’s edge and stared out at the clear blue water, breathing deeply and basking in the early evening sun caressing her soft skin, the smells assaulting her senses from every direction and the slight breeze causing her flowery wrap-around skirt to brush against her legs. Heaven. She sighed. This was worth every overtime hour she had worked to gain the promotion. Her diligence to the project had paid off and now she could breathe.

  Her chestnut brown hair whispered against the back of her neck with the breeze from the water. The water rushed to the edge of the sand. The cool liquid was blissfully welcome across her painted pink toenails and feet. She felt much older than her twenty-six years. Sometimes she wondered if her ferocious ambition was worth it. She had never taken a vacation. Enough about business. She mentally shut her brain off and shook her head. Enjoy the scenery Mallory. You are here to unwind. Forget work.

  She slid her sunglasses up off her nose and squinted her dark green eyes to her left and to her right; sand! Lots and lots of pale, beautiful sand and people. Happy, laughing people. Her two-piece flowery bathing suit and matching wrap-around skirt fit right in with the beach crowd. She leaned down and picked up the big beach bag she had dragged down with her. It had everything in it for the beach, but nothing remotely related to work. She slung it over her shoulder.

  Mallory smiled as she started backing away from the edge of the water. These next seven days were going to be just what she needed. She could already feel the effects of the sun and heat rejuvenating her athletic body. She couldn’t wait to take a run in this paradise in the morning. Morning running was the best.

  As she was backing up, Mallory bumped into someone who happened to be walking behind her, startling her and nearly falling over. Elric’s quick reaction, he caught her elbow and put his shin behind hers to protect her from falling to the sand’s soft surface. She leaned into his strong grip and turned, looking into his eyes in surprise, then smiled in gratitude.

  “Thank you for that," she said, after she caught her breath.

  No problem." He smiled at her.

  She started to stand up instead of continuing to lean on him and asked, "Well savior, do you have a name?"

  "Elric," he replied, and steadying her before releasing her hand. "And yours?"

  She wiped the sand off her leg and then looked back up at him, smiled wider and replied, "Mallory."

  "Mallory. Well. I’m very glad to meet you, even if you nearly knocked me over. He smiled as he said it and it showed off his beautiful, straight white teeth."

  "Nice to meet you Elric," Mallory told him.

  "What brings you to Little's beach this time of year?"

  "I'm spending some time on holiday. I got a promotion and I'm spending the first bonus on my stay here before the craziness of the holidays."

  "Congratulations," he said

  "And you?" she asked.

  "Getting a much needed break from my own sort of job at home."

  "Sort of job?"

  "It's hard to explain," he said, brushing off the subject.

  As he had been speaking, Mallory was taking a discreet inventory of Elric. She liked the look of him. He was tall, over six feet with a strong jaw and kind-faced. His body was slightly tanned, and muscular and toned. He didn’t look like he sat on the beach all day. She hoped he wasn’t a bum or a conman. She’d had enough of those. His hands were thick and she had felt his grip when he’d caught her. Her body had reacted to his strong, thick fingers. She wanted to feel that grip on the rest of her body. She was getting a good feeling about Elric. She wanted to know more about him. She was enticed.

  "How are you this evening?" he asked.

  "I… uh," she stuttered.

  "Are you okay?"

  She laughed. "I’m fine… fine. Just fine."

  He smiled at her. "Do you need anything?"

  She smiled as she shook her head. "How kind. But, no. I’m ok. I was just enjoying the view." She wanted Elric to know that it wasn’t just the sun’s view she had been enjoying. She also didn’t want to come off as desperate in their first-time meeting.

  She said, "Well then, we can keep one another company?"

  Elric ran his hand through his hair and looked away, then back at her, nodding his head. "We could."

  They found their chairs and moved them under a tree overhanging onto the beach, casting sporadic shadows all over them. They talked about themselves. She found out that he liked sweets and couldn't have enough, where she could take them or leave them. She preferred salty foods. He didn’t like dogs very much, saying he knew too much about them, whatever that meant, while she loved them and wanted one. He asked why didn’t she already have one, and she revealed it was because she lived in an
apartment in LA. He nodded, wondering what it was like to live there. She told him how crowded and gentrified it was. She was sick of it. She hoped to someday have the chance to move wherever she wanted. They got to know one another like that, talking steadily for a few hours.

  Every now and then, while he was speaking, his hand would graze her skin, or he would lean close to speak and she could feel his hot breath gusting over her skin and even with the sun blaring, her skin broke out in goosebumps. She was sweating from the sun and Elric’s closeness. When he spoke, he would look her right in the eyes. At one point he had said they should both take off their sunglasses so they could see each other’s eyes.

  He’d stared and smiled as he lifted his glasses. She was sort of nervous. This was intense. His eyes were piercing blue. Her jaw dropped open. She stared. He was gorgeous. He had raised one eyebrow at her. She smiled. Lifted her glasses away from her face. His smiled beamed. ‘No, they aren’t contacts,’ she’d told him. He had nodded and said, ‘Mallory, I already knew you were beautiful, but you just let me in… really let me in. Thank you.’

  His hand had reached out, probably without him even realizing it and he had caressed her cheek and jaw. Before he had dropped his hand, he’d smiled at her and winked. Her stomach had felt like butterflies were going crazy inside her. Her blood had raced through her body. Her pulse had pounded so hard. Just from his one touch. She couldn’t believe the reaction she was having to him.

  It was Sunday, and on Little's, it meant there were drummers on the beach, preparing everyone for the staff spinning and fire show once nighttime fell.

  The beats throbbed through the sand into their feet. They laughed at some of the goofy antics and snickered at some of the drunken antics. They ordered food to the beach and stayed right where they were sitting. They had a pile of wings, and fries and veggies, and stuffed their faces, laughing at the spots where the sauce from the wings would land. And they talked, about everything and nothing. Mallory was blissfully blissful.

  Then the festivities began. They watched a fire spinner twirl the staff while doing a one-handed cartwheel and another spun it so fast around their front and back that it left light trails. The drumming went to the beat of the spinners. It was thrilling and entertaining.

  Mallory hadn’t drank much. Elric hadn’t drank much. They had bottled water more than anything. Mallory told Elric about her running ritual and he told her that he liked to run too. They had discussed the possibility of meeting up for a morning run. When the festivities on the beach had ended, Elric had offered to walk Mallory to her room, and told her that he was not trying to get into her room. He liked her and didn’t want to ruin anything by being too pushy. She had thanked him for being such an enjoyable and entertaining companion for the evening, he said the same.

  When they got to her hotel room, she pulled her room key out of her beach bag. Elric took it from her hand and smiled. He slid the key in, the light turning green and he pushed the door open for her. And stood back.

  She smiled. "Elric, I had a great time. I’m really glad I nearly fell on you." She laughed.

  He smiled. "I’m really glad you nearly fell on me too, Mallory." He leaned in to her. Mallory’s heart was pounding. God. He was going to hear it. He whispered against her ear, "I love the way you react to me. Breathe Mallory. Sweet dreams." His soft and perfectly cool lips grazed over her cheek and then the contact was gone. She had been holding her breath. Then he was gone.

  She leaned against her hotel room door and let out a deep breath. It felt like she had been holding that breath all day. It felt good to feel so alive. She smiled as she pulled away from the door and let it close. She headed for the bathroom. A shower… was definitely called for, and most assuredly needed, right now.

  *****

  Jumping Ship

  Mallory woke up the next morning, smiling. She stretched and wiggled her body all over the bed. She had slept like a baby. She felt amazing. Jumping out of bed, Mallory headed to the washroom. She tinkled.

  Heading back into her bedroom, she walked over to the little table and grabbed a banana from the small fruit basket she had brought up with her. She ate the banana and as she let it digest before going running, she tidied up the bed, her clothes from the night before. Brushed her teeth. Tied up her unruly hair. Dressed in her bikini and then her running clothes over her swimsuit. She knew it was going to be hot and didn’t want to have to come back up to change, just to swim after running.

  She tied the small but functional pack around her waist; hotel key, money, bandaids, phone neatly tucked inside and a bottle of water inserted just beside the pouch. She didn’t need to tune anything out here, so she left the earbuds in her room. It was going to be heaven to run and not have to block out the LA noise.

  As she exited the elevator, she looked up and there was Elric, leaning against one of the thick, marble columns that decorated the hotel lobby and was probably a very pivotal part of the structure. With more windows and doors open than a regular hotel, there was a gentle breeze blowing in. You could hear water splashing, and laughter, and all the other sounds associated with a resort close to boats and water.

  Elric had his shirt tucked into the waistband of his shorts. Oh god. His shorts. She was going to die. Right there. They weren’t too tight, but they weren’t loose either. She could almost see… She stopped herself before she let it get any dirtier. They smiled at each other.

  He lifted his sunglasses as she approached him. "Mornin’ beautiful." His blue eyes sparkled as he looked her right in the eyes, and asked, "Did you sleep well?"

  She smiled at him. "Good morning Elric. Yes, I slept like a baby. Yesterday was a lot of fun and I was exhausted when I got to bed. Did you sleep well?"

  Mallory watched Elric’s face as his eyes pulled away from her eyes, almost regrettably, and slid down her body and took in exactly what she was wearing. She wanted to smile but her body was too busy pulsing with his stare. She was very glad that she had picked the soft pink, tight tank top and snug, black spandex shorts to wear. The shorts stopped mid-thigh. She could hear his breathing. It was deep and speeding up. It sounded like he groaned. She smiled. He looked back up, into her eyes.

  "Yes, Mallory, I slept great. God. I can’t stare at you for long or everyone in this lobby is going to know just how happy I am to see you. Let’s go running." She laughed. He laughed. They walked out of the hotel. He pulled the shirt out of his waistband and slid it over his head.

  "Phew. That was close. An embarrassment that I didn’t really want to experience." They laughed louder.

  They headed to the paved path that wrapped around the hotel property. There was a small hut with lockers inside where people could leave their stuff. There was a bottled water machine. You could swipe your room card and get a water. They stopped and began stretching their bodies. Arms and legs were extended and small grunts could be heard. Mallory loved the sounds coming from him. They were otherwise quiet in their minute of preparing to run.

  Elric turned to Mallory and asked, "How long do you run for Mallory?"

  She finished her stretch and replied, "I’m not a crazy runner. I just like to run to unwind a bit before my day, so 2 or 3 miles is good for me."

  He smiled. "Perfect. Ready to go?" She nodded. They headed out toward the paved path and started pounding the smooth path. Within a few minutes, they were both breathing a little heavier. Mallory concentrated on running. She didn’t want to screw up and fall. Her body was vibrating to life. Every inch of her thrumming with the force of hitting the pavement. She laughed. This was why she ran. This exhilarating feeling.

  Elric didn’t speak. They didn’t need to talk. They savored the peace and enjoyed the sounds of nature surrounding them. They followed the windy path around the resort and saw colorful birds in trees and on the ground. There was a pond in the middle of the natural sanctuary and birds were flying in and landing on the water gracefully. The squawked and frolicked in the water.

  They had been running for
about 20 minutes when Elric asked if she had been running long enough. Mallory nodded and they started to slow their pace down. They slowed to a fast walking pace for another minute and pulled in deep gulps of air. Once they had stopped running and were walking at a brisk pace, they turned around and headed back to the resort’s main building.

  They were both sweaty and their skin was shining in the glorious early morning sun. Mallory reached behind her and pulled out her bottle of water. She took a few sips, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and said, "That was glorious Elric. God I love running outside."

  He smiled and nodded his head, "Agreed. And you look amazing all sweaty and shiny." They both laughed out loud, and kept walking. As they neared the resort, Elric lifted his arm behind his neck and pulled his t-shirt off. Mallory reached for the waist of her tank top and lifted it up over her head too. Elric stopped walking and was staring at her. She smiled widely and said, "I’m wearing my bathing suit under my clothes."

  "Do you want to go swimming?" she asked. Elric still hadn’t spoken but nodded and followed Mallory toward the water. She stopped as she stepped onto the sandy beach and hooked her thumbs into the waistband of her spandex shorts and shimmied her hips as she pushed the shorts and the waist pack down. Elric gasped. "Do you really have to get undressed… right here?" She smirked and nodded, and continued pushing her shorts down her legs and left them where they dropped.

  Mallory smiled as she started walking backward towards the water. She rolled her finger at him in a come here motion and Elric dropped his shirt and followed. She turned and let him follow her. She snickered at what sounded like a groan from behind her, and she felt the heat of his stare on her booty. She swayed her hips a little harder.

  The clear blue water felt invigorating against her heated skin. She sighed and swished her arms around her, making the water fly up a bit and land on their bodies. She giggled when she heard Elric’s sharp intake of breath. Eventually they were past the waves and had swum a few strokes before turning toward one another and floating on their backs.