“Emmeric has barely looked at me in years. I don’t understand why you’re so concerned that I am particularly threatened because of him.”
Stesha grits his teeth and paces to the end of Nilak’s tail and back, his scowl deep, his dragines bared. Nilak opens her jaws and snarls at me, which takes me aback, as she’s never been aggressive toward me. It’s not a loud snarl, but it’s a warning not to defy her rider.
I gaze at her, feeling perplexed. Am I the one who’s being unreasonable? It’s an Alpha’s instinct to protect, and Stesha is trying to protect me. I seize his hand. “It must have been terrible for you to witness Mirelle’s and Onderz’s demises. I’m sorry. No wonder you’re worried about me.”
“I didn’t see them die, but I have known few days of my life that were worse than that one.” He takes my face in his hands and says urgently, “Which is why I am so cautious about your safety. I will leave you be once I am sure you understand the gravity of the danger you’re in. You must abide by your oathto me to never do anything reckless. A dragonrider’s word is binding.”
I’ve never seen Stesha so worried before. “I have sworn to be on my guard wherever I go, and I will uphold that promise to you.”
Stesha exhales noisily, pulls me roughly against his chest, and squeezes me tight. “Thank you, Zen. Starting tomorrow, I will leave you be when Zabriel gives you orders. But not today. Come on, let’s continue your search together.”
A few days later,I’m helping Stesha with two older fledglings who have ingrown talons and impacted teeth. The little dragons are in pain, which makes them kick, bite, and scratch every time Stesha tries to remove dead cuticles or baby teeth that should have fallen out by themselves.
While I hold one of the fledgling’s heads steady, Stesha tries to go in with the pliers. The dragon hisses and spits, wrenching her head from side to side.
Stesha hands me the pliers. “She’s too big for you to hold. I’ll do it. You pull her tooth.”
He carefully wedges a piece of leather between the dragon’s back teeth so she won’t rip my arm off when I go in for the loose incisor. While he wraps his strong arms around the dragon’s neck and upper body, she hisses madly and screams like we’re trying to torture her. I reach in quickly with the pliers and snatch out the sharp little tooth that’s causing her pain.
“All done.” I hold up the tooth so she can see it.
Stesha slowly lets go of the dragon. She blinks and shakes herself off, suddenly looking embarrassed that she was kicking up such a fuss. I smile as she hurries back to her mother.
We move on to the dragon with the ingrown talon, and soon Stesha’s forearms are covered in scratches and little bites. “I should have put protective gear on, but I can’t bear it against my skin this morning,” he mutters.
It takes us a little longer to help this dragon, but eventually, we relieve its pain, and it runs away, squawking indignantly. Stesha’s shirt has been torn to ribbons, and he keeps tugging a loose sleeve up his shoulder. Finally, with a snarl of annoyance, he rips off his shirt and casts it aside.
My gaze flicks over his broad shoulders and muscles before dropping bashfully to the ground. Every time my eyes dance up his body, I feel another thrill deep inside me. It’s not like I haven’t seen him without his shirt before many times, but there’s something different about all his bare skin and muscles today. The way he looks, so tall and broad, and the alluring way he smells. I can’t keep my eyes off him. I crave to touch him.
“Sorry about my temper. It’s my rut coming on,” he says, pushing his sweaty hair back with both hands.
So that’s what he meant about not being able to bear the sensation of the protective gear against his skin. His oncoming rut always makes him sensitive.
“Can I do anything to help you?” I ask. I swallow hard, my face turning red. Help Stesha with his rut. If only he’d let me. I wonder what it would be like to stay with him while he grew increasingly worked up. Frustrated. Aroused. If his eyes darken. If his scent grows richer. If he touches his knot. Squeezes it to get some relief.
“Do anything?” he asks vaguely.
Nilak has approached, and she makes a soft clicking noise and rests her chin on Stesha’s hefty shoulder. He takes a deep breath, and lets it out slowly, relaxing at his dragon’s touch. Minta approaches from the other side, nudging me closer toStesha and sheltering us with her wings. I wrap my arms around Stesha’s waist and dare to rest my cheek against his bare chest.
I feel Stesha look down in surprise, and then he laughs softly. “My women are all very sweet to me when I’m in such a foul mood.”
“Because we care about you,” I whisper.
He rests his cheek against the top of my head.
“Stay,” I whisper, feeling braver than I ever have before. “It doesn’t matter to me if you’re in a rut. I hate it when you go.”
“You won’t want me to stay while I’m like that. I’m not pleasant to be around.”
I picture Stesha with flushed cheeks and feral eyes. Breathing hard. Restless. Hungry. I wouldadorehim like that. I want him to stay and let me take care of his rut fever with cool cloths and icy drinks. Maybe if we spend his rut together, he might finally see me in a new light.
Stesha’s hand slips to the nape of my neck and strokes me there, humming softly to himself.
“I like you all the time,” I tell him.
“Do you?” His fingers stroke me harder, and I have to bite back a moan.
Please, Alpha, please, I beg silently.Don’t leave me. Don’t hide any part of yourself from me.“I never want to be apart from you.”
