Shit! Were they abandoning her out there? The poor girl was obviously terrified. Kate could never bear to hear the sound of a fellow creature in pain or fear. Without thinking, she rushed toward the water. It was one thing to play the part of a sacrificial maiden, but something else entirely to be one.
Effie, no longer so proud to be the center of the villagers’ attention, wasn’t a willing participant in the ritual any more. Kate didn’t understand what was happening, but it was clear that no one was doing anything to help her. She still couldn’t see what the thing in the sea was, but it was heading straight for Effie, and the weird humming sound was getting louder.
She raced to the rowboat. The villagers backed away when they saw her coming. She confronted a group consisting of three of the village’s strongest young men. “Come on, we have to get her off that rock. Quickly! Help me!”
The men looked at one another uneasily, but did not move. A couple of them had just come back from the rock, and they didn’t look in any mood to return.
“Tis the Zrakon,” one of them hissed. “He canna be resisted.”
“She chose it,” another muttered. “If she tries to take back her choice, the monster will come for us instead.”
Kate shook her head vigorously. The Zrakon? The thing even had a name. “Don’t be absurd. It’s probably a whale or maybe even a giant squid. It can’t come ashore, but it might hurt Effie, the way she’s bound practically in the water.”
In truth, she did not know whether whales would hurt anyone, but what if it was a shark? The sea was too cold for those, wasn’t it? Didn’t sharks stick to warmer water? She was already splashing into the breakers. One young man followed her, only to yell at her, grab her arm and try to hold her back. She jerked away from him, and he didn’t follow her any deeper. She didn’t need the boat, she realized. Effie’s rock was only a short distance away and the water was freezing, but not too deep.
The surf was rough, but she persevered. She dragged herself onto the mini-island before the sea monster, or whatever it was, was able to get there.
Effie was wailing, tears pouring down her flushed cheeks. “I’ve changed my mind, I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to be taken by something that big!”
Kate spoke softly to her, telling her not to cry, and to hold still while she cut the rope that bound her. But the blade of her Swiss Army Knife was not sharp, and it seemed to take an age to saw through the rope. If only she had one of those huge, nasty dirks like Ross Malloch.
All the while, the creature was surging closer, its angry hiss much louder now as it sped toward the sacrificial rock. She wasn’t going to make it, Kate realized. She cast a quick glance over her shoulder. The thing was almost upon them. Dammit! There wasn’t enough time!
The rope parted and Effie tore herself free. She leapt down and scrambled back through the thigh-high water toward the villagers, who still hadn’t lifted a finger to help. As Kate whirled to follow, a mighty wave crashed over her, and she stumbled and fell to her knees. The massive shoulders of the sea monster rose out of the water. Standing on reptile legs, he stalked through the surf foaming around the small islet. He opened his mouth and showed his great teeth to the crowd. His roar was like a clap of thunder. As it died away, Kate could hear people moaning. The creature pounded on his chest and roared again.
He turned from the scattering crowd and looked down on Kate, who had managed to stand up again. She was drenched and shivering. Huge eyes glittered like silver as they considered her. One more ground-shaking stride and he was looming over her.
Holy shit. What was this thing? The beast they called Zrakon was easily 10 feet tall. He seemed to gain height as he stood there, as if to make himself more imposing, more magnificent. His massive tail curved around him and slashed the water, sending spray all over them. She backed up until she felt something hard smash into her spine. The rock.
Oh no. I have become the sacrifice.
Chapter Four
Whatever the beast was, it was not a whale. Squinting through her tangled hair, which the wind was whipping around her face, Kate hoped for a miracle. This thing was either a demon from hell or a real-life sea dragon. His head was reptilian, with a high, ridged forehead, a broad, flat snout and a thick-lipped mouth that was hinged like a snake’s to open extra-wide. His vertically-slit eyes were enormous.
His neck was long and graceful, thickening into massive shoulders from which emerged two humanoid arms. His paws ended in blunt claws. Tentacles crisscrossed like laces across his breast.
His torso was roughly the shape of a man’s from the hips to the shoulders. His massive haunches supported powerful-looking legs and huge webbed feet. His thick tail tapered behind him, ending in a flipper-like fin that curled around his legs. Along his spine were several fins, and folded flat behind his shoulders were two leathery structures that might be vestiges of wings.
Why would sea creatures need wings? Or legs, for that matter? The legend she had heard from her Gramma claimed that sea dragons were the descendants of airborne, fire-breathing dragons. After committing some nameless crime, they had been banished to the seas where their fires had been extinguished forever.
But it was neither the reptilian legs nor the vestiges of wings that truly alarmed her. That honor went to the mammoth appendage protruding from between the creature’s hips. She had seen the phallus of a stallion once, as he had been ready to mount a mare. This was larger, thicker, and covered with what appeared to be coarse, fleshy spikes along its length. Worse, as the creature stalked her, its cock twitched and grew even larger. Shit. Surely it hadn’t meant to use that thing on Effie? It would have killed her.
Not on Effie. You spared Effie that torture, you little idiot. The monster intends to use it on you.
Kate liked to think of herself as brave and capable of dealing sensibly with things that would alarm other women. But never in her life had she faced anything like this.
She inched away from him, even though she had nowhere to go. The rock was at her back. The rough ropes that had bound Effie were dangling there. The entire island seemed to shake with each step as his powerful back legs crashed into the sand. He was rearing over her now, smelling of brine, seaweed, and something else that was male and musky. His arms, if they were arms, slammed into the rock on either side of her shoulders, caging her. She could feel the heat of his body, which seemed remarkably warm for something that had just swum in from the freezing northern seas.
Unlike a fish or a whale, the Zrakon had a forward-looking face, with his eyes on either side of his long ridged snout. He was definitely more dragon-like than fish-like. His jaw cracked as he opened it and roared with a sound that shook both the island and her heart.
Please don’t let me faint, Kate prayed. She was already lightheaded from the Scotch, and her terror was making her legs feel as if they were about to collapse. If she was about to die, she would prefer to face death standing, with her head held high.
The creature dropped its snout toward her neck and she steeled herself to have her throat ripped out. But it seemed to be sniffing her. Dear God. It crunched closer. She could feel the tip of its huge twitching penis pressing hard against her belly.
She spared a thought for all the guys whose advances she had refused in recent months. For some reason she’d been off men. As she’d laughingly told her friends, her vibrator didn’t make a lot of silly demands. Now it seemed absurd that she’d been so celibate lately. Raped by a demon monster? Was this her fate because of all the males she had rejected?
The monster was looking her over with what she would swear was a man’s lust. No, it was far more ferocious than that. He swung one of his arms at her and she flinched, sure she was about to be struck and killed. But the claw seized the neckline of her dress and ripped it away in one savage motion. It flung the tatters into the sea and let out a bellow. Shaking, she looked down at herself, expecting to see lacerations on her skin, but there were none. Those demon hands came at her again, wrenching aw
ay her bra.
He had fingers, she realized, as she teetered between humiliation and terror. Their movements were deft despite all his drama. The digits touched her breasts with some delicacy, leaving her to wonder if this creature felt women up regularly. They slid down over her flesh, leaving tingles, not wounds. They were rougher in texture than a man’s fingers, but they did not injure her. The tip of one blunt claw stroked her nipple. It felt surprisingly good. She gave a little gasp as her nipple turned hard. An erotic charge shot down into her core, and she could feel herself blush. Her heart was still pounding, but not entirely from fear. There was something wildly sensual about this.
The digit moved away, trailing farther down over her belly. When the dragon’s hand reached the elastic at the top of her bikini panties, he made another rapid jerk, tearing her fragile panties to shreds and leaving her naked. Then he studied her body with his flat, silver eyes.
Great, she thought. I’ve been stripped by a sea dragon, and the damn creature is arousing me. Were the villagers still watching this spectacle? Probably.
Kate forced herself to raise her chin and meet the monster’s gaze. A strange look passed between them. She could see his raging lust, but she could swear she saw intelligence there, too. And she seemed to hear Gramma Molly’s voice telling her, “You have the gift. You can touch the heart and mind of any creature, if you just learn to believe in yourself.”
The sea creature likes you, the cat had told her.
She drew a deep breath and opened her mind. She could link with the primitive brains of other animals, so why not this one?
Maintaining eye contact, she sent a golden thread towards the creature, envisioning it as a tendril of light that approached and joined her mind to his. She felt a jolt of contact. Then, not a thread, but a golden tunnel opened between them—much larger and more vivid than anything she had ever glimpsed when trying to match affinities with pets. As she entered this tunnel, she seemed to fly. The sounds of the waves and the howls of the creature slid into the background as she sensed intelligence, organization, reason, power.
And then, she sensed astonishment. The great tail slapped the water and sent another wave crashing over her. She clung to the rock and bit her lip to keep from screaming as loudly as Effie.
You can touch my mind?
His words weren’t spoken, but thought. She could hear the sea dragon’s phrase in her own mind. Like telepathy.
Whoa. She hadn’t expected it to work. She answered by speaking aloud. “So it seems.”
What are you doing here?
She had the impression that the “you” was emphasized, as in why you and not that yummy village girl?
“Um, I’m not the sacrifice. I cut her free.”
You took her place? Why?
“No one else would help her. I didn’t intend to take her place. You came before I could flee.”
Intentional or not, here you are.
“It’s all a big mix-up. I’m really sorry. Maybe you could return some other night?”
She sensed amusement from the monster. It’s Midsummer’s Eve. We won’t get another one of those for an entire year.
“A year can pass quickly sometimes.”
The creature growled. His huge eyes were flicking over her naked flesh. I am hungry now!
Despite the implication that she was about to become Zrakon prey, Kate was aware that this exchange was remarkable. Animals, even large animals, could not form coherent questions or answers. They didn’t have sophisticated forms of language. When she bonded with animals, what she chiefly sensed from them was imagery and emotion.
But he—the monster—understood her when she spoke. How was that possible? Was he some sort of supernatural creature? A demon? Was he about to bear her down to hell? She didn’t even believe in hell!
Conscious that she might not have too many more moments on this earth, Kate tried to answer him with dignity. “I’m the wrong sort of sacrifice. I’m a traveler and a foreigner. I don’t share the customs of your people.”
The beast’s gigantic head tilted to one side and he seemed to be examining her with some attention. What is a foreigner doing on a rock in the Highlands on Midsummer’s Eve?
“I’m half Scottish. My grandmother came from this region. Anyway, I’m a guest. Surely you’re aware of the ancient laws of hospitality. Even mythical creatures respect them.”
Next you’re going to tell me that these ancient laws forbid me to fuck you.
She drew a deep breath. “I doubt you’d find me appealing.”
You do look skinny. My intention was to ravish a buxom village girl, who would have been whiskey-sloshed and compliant.
“I hardly think Effie wanted to be raped.”
Effie, was it? She heard a loud sound that sounded like sea dragon laughter. She would have enjoyed herself hugely, and had a fine tale to tell her grandchildren. It is most ungracious of you, lass, to interfere with my pleasures.
Was she hallucinating this? Maybe she was having imaginary fancies as she died. Like “walk into the light,” but personally tailored for a woman who was fond of animals and folklore.
One of his huge clawed hands reached out and touched her on the shoulder. His silvery eyes looked speculative. Are you a virgin?
If she hadn’t been so scared, she’d have laughed. “No. If the sacrifice has to be a virgin, I’m afraid you’re out of luck.”
It is a great misconception that we expect virgins as the sacrifice. A lusty, experienced girl is preferable. His metallic eyes glanced downwards at his own erect phallus. All human women are virgins to the Zrakon.
Kate thought it wise not to respond to that understatement. The sea dragon gave a thunderous growl. He reached out again with one of his dragon fingers and ran it over her flesh, from her breasts to the thatch of dark brown hair between her legs. She flinched from his touch, but she was fascinated by it. Once again, it sent pleasurable shivers through her. This is what comes, she thought breathlessly, of being intrigued with the forbidden—you end up contemplating some sort of monster sex!
I want you. But this doesn’t feel quite right. The creature sounded puzzled. It’s not enough. You are different. There should be more. Much more.
More what? She clung to the idea that there was something wrong. “So, you’ll let me go?”
No. We’re going for a swim.
Kate tried again to retreat. “I’m not a very good swimmer.”
I am. The two vertical rows of tentacles that laced down the front of his chest unlaced and opened. Do what I tell you.
Kate stared at the iridescent rainbow-colored scales in front of her. His hide was quite beautiful, close up. She sensed that he wanted her to step forward into his briny embrace. “The sea is cold. I’ll freeze.”
I will cradle you against my chest and belly, holding you in my laced tentacles. You will be warm there.
“I don’t really—”
Just above the top two tentacles, you can see a stubby bud. It channels air from my lungs. You must press your face there and take it into your mouth. You will share my air. I can hold my breath under water for a hundred times longer than you can.
“I’m fine right here, thank you.”
I’m taking you to the keep.
She frowned. The only keep around here was Mallochbirn Castle. A sudden suspicion seared her. “This has something to do with Ross Malloch, doesn’t it? Is he controlling you somehow?”
He growled. It’s complicated.
“I’ve been forbidden by your master to visit his castle.”
There was another rumble of what she suspected was Zrakon laughter, and then he lunged forward. He had grown tired of the debate.
Kate felt his tentacles close around her, caging her. She expected them to feel cold and slimy, but they were warm and dry. Despite her puny struggles, she was drawn tightly against the giant pectoral muscles of the sea dragon. His muscles rippled against her flesh. He was immensely strong. He was briny, like the sea.
> He swung around, and strode back into the sea. One of his reptile hands pressed her face against him, guiding her to the appendage she needed to breathe. It was larger than she’d expected. It barely fit into her mouth.
Keep it in your mouth. Do not attempt to breathe through your nose. Press your face tightly against me and breathe only through the bud. Do you understand?
She nodded her head. Pressed against his chest, she could see nothing. The Zrakon’s hand pressed her head to the bud. His other hand settled on her back, monitoring the inward and outward movements of her lungs. He didn’t hurt her, but the pressure was firm and unyielding.
She felt him surge as he dived forward and down, and then the waters swallowed them.
Chapter Five
At first, it was terrifying. Most of her senses were cut off—she could not see, smell, or hear anything underwater. Even though she could taste the salty air that was filling her mouth and her lungs, she was still afraid she would breathe in water and drown. She was also afraid he would dive too deep, where the pressure would be too great for her human body to withstand. She could not control the depth, the speed, or the course they were taking. The knowledge that she had no influence on this wild creature was humbling.
How foolish humans were to believe themselves the master of all beasts.
She could feel pressure against her eardrums, but it was not uncomfortable, so he must be keeping them near the surface. Did he understand human physiology? If so, how?
He was going so fast. The water skimmed her body like fire; the tentacles, wet now, cradled her hard against his chest and abdomen. His body heat transferred to her, keeping her warm as he had promised, despite the cold temperature of the Scottish sea.
He was not quite as large as he had seemed at the sacrificial rock: from the bottoms of his legs to the top of his head, he was less than twice her height, although the long tail added length in the water.
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