Tori
Weflew over the city, andIcould hear surprised screams from below.Wesoared over the cliff and the ocean.Goosebumpsprickled my skin as the misty sea air clung to me.Abraxasspread his wings, and we took a great, sweeping turn back towards the cliffs.Iwas so distracted by the sky rushing past me thatIdidn’t notice he flew straight towards the cliff.
Um,Abraxas…
Don’tyou trust me,Tori?Holdon tight.
Iwrapped my arm around the back of his neck as bestIcould and clamped my legs down, feeling his massive muscles rolling underneath me as his wings beat.Thecliff grew alarmingly closer, and then he tucked his wings in as we dove.Iscreamed and closed my eyes, andIcould hear him chuckling, the asshole.
Wedove for the cliff, andAbraxasdarted behind an outcropping to reveal a perfect dragon-sized cave.Itwouldn’t have been visible without flying or taking a very dangerous climb down from the back of the castle.
Hepassed through the rocky opening, and dusttickled my nose as we landed inside the cavern.Abraxas’ ribcage expanded beneath my legs as he inhaled and let loose a spray of dragonfire.Torchesalong the walls were set ablaze, holding that bright green color for a few moments before settling into the soft orange of natural flames.
Islowly climbed offAbraxas’ back, my mouth agape at whatIsaw before me.Thecave was connected to the lower levels of the castle.Thetorchlight highlighted columns carved directly into the stone.Westood in a giant chamber with soaring ceilings, supported by high arches, holding up the weight of the castle above.Ihardly noticed the grand architecture as the room was filled to the brim with gold in every form.Coins, bars, jewelry, plates, and glasses.Scatteredthroughout the glowing metal were precious gems, some as large as my hand.Theywere all thrown together in one great pile like… well, like the hoard of a dragon.
Abraxasstretched his wings, nearly filling the entire space before he dove into the pile like it was a warm spring and not a mountain of solid metal.Theclatter of coins and jewels rushing every which way as he slithered through the mass was deafening until he finally settled himself.Onlya few coins continued to scatter down the pile, unable to find their final resting place.
Ihiked up the great mountain of wealth and sat next to his gold eye that just barely emerged from beneath the pile.Itwas so similar in color that it was almost hard to see.Ishifted and pulled a particularly pointy topaz out from underneath my seat before settling back against him.
“Youwere right,”Isaid.Hehuffed out of his nostrils in question. “IfIhad seen this beforeIknew you,Imight not have cared about your personality.”
Flaming-hot gusts of air flew from his nostrils as his belly shook with laughter.Itdestabilized the mountain of treasure, andIstood, trying to get my footing, beforeIwas sucked underthe surface, never to be seen again.Hecalmed himself and stretched his wings up.Icovered my head with my arms as more coins came raining down. “Itused to be nearly double what it is now.Imaginehow you would have felt then.”
“Double?Whathappened?”
Hisgiant slit pupil rolled to stare directly at me. “Well, it’s expensive keeping a kingdom fed and an army mobilized for centuries on end,Princess.”
Icrossed my arms. “Ididn’t knowIwas involved with a king who has such poor financial management of his kingdom.”Iwas just teasing.Iknew he kept his people happy and his soldiers well paid, and if that meant his personal horde had suffered, well, maybeIloved him all the more for it.
“Wellthen, you certainly aren’t going to like thatIhaven’t collected tithe from anyone but the nobles sinceIbecame king.”
“What?Whydidn’t you tell me?”
“Princess.”Helet his long tongue snake out and wrap around my body, holding me as he shifted and the coins below my feet gave way. “Iso enjoyed that delicious fantasy of yours,Ididn’t want to ruin it with reality.”Heset me down on the solid stone floor and changed back into his fae self, smirking.Beforehe could say anymore,Iwrapped my arms around him and drew him into a deep kiss.
“So, why did you really want to bring me here?”Iquestioned, pushing my body into his, but to my surprise, he pulled away slightly.
“Itis dragon tradition to present your horde to your mate after they have accepted your mark.”
“Yourmark?”Iasked, but my hand shot up to the wound at my neck that still ached.Itwas healing slowly, just as it had the first time he had bitten me.
“Yes, this would have shown dragon society that we hadaccepted each other.Shownthe world that you are mine and mine alone.”
“Possessivemale.”
“Youhave no idea, little bird.”
“Youalready bit me before on the ship, remember?”
Hislips flattened. “Thatwas… reactionary.Icouldn’t let the mark of that other male stand, even ifIknew it would not last.”
Thathad been so long ago, during our journey toXyr.Ihad hated him so completely then.Asmile twisted my face, andIcouldn’t resist teasing him. “Youtruly have been smitten since you first laid eyes upon me, haven’t you?”
Hegrowled. “Youhave always been mine, even ifIwasn’t sure ifIwould rather take you or throw you off the side of that ship.”
“Soundsawfully monogamous, coming from you,DragonKing,”Ibaited, giving him a cheeky grin.Tomy surprise, his eyes welled with sadness. “Abraxas?”
“Dragonsare monogamous creatures, my love.Weknow at a very young age who our soul is bonded to, or at least, we are supposed to.Inever did.Myparents never discussed it, perhaps hoping to spare me.ButIknew it was wrong.Manywhispered of it, a sign of the end to come for our people.Asmore of them died around me,Ibelieved it as well.Itdid not leave me in a good place.AndthenIbecame trapped in my fae body, and fae are promiscuous creatures.Ihad to play the part.Afterso much time… it was no longer a maskIwore but an escape.Ithink you know it as well.”
