“Something Nessie had in her hoard that should have been in the Ušum-galAbarakkum archives.I think you’ll find it very interesting.”
The cryptic reply led to Alistair carefully unfurling the scroll.I leaned over his shoulder but couldn’t decipher the language.Apparently he could because suddenly he let out a bark of laughter.“Oliver, you genius.Whatever I’m paying you isn’t enough.Double it.”
“Delighted to.”
“What is it?”I asked, only to squeal as Alistair put the box down on the table and dragged me into his lap.
“A way to keep you around for a very, very long time, assuming you want to.”
“What do you mean?”I asked, looping my arms around his neck.
Alistair smiled, a bright and beautiful thing that almost stopped my heart.But his next words?Melted it.“There is a rite that can be performed where a dragon can share their well-being and longevity with a servant.A human.Or, in this case, a lover.”
“Seriously?”
“It would mean tying our lives together and isn’t something that should be done lightly, as it’s not a bond that can be broken.But should you agree, and we perform the ritual, you won’t age and we’ll be linked on a physical and spiritual level.”
The idea terrified and delighted all at once.Immortality with the man I loved?“I would like nothing more than to be your partner for life.”
And it turned out to be simpler to accomplish than expected, if gross.We needed to exchange blood, not by pressing simple cuts together but by imbibing it at the same time while touching.The cut across my palm stung, probably a lot more than the pinprick in the dragon’s paw.It took a full cup of blood each, imbibed while staring at each other, my hand on his snout as he literally swallowed a golden chalice whole.Me, I chugged my portion quickly before I could gag and spew.
The blood didn’t burn going down and actually tasted more pleasant than expected.Once we’d both finished, I didn’t feel any different, but I said nothing to Alister, for I wanted him to believe it worked.He finally seemed happy and at peace.We made love in celebration.
The next day, I woke but didn’t move, not wanting to wake him.I loved the feel of him spooned around me.Cradling.Protecting.
“You forgot loving.”
He spoke in my head, something he did from time to time.
But then the strangest thing happened.I felt his love for me on a metaphysical level.Suddenly I saw myself through his eyes.I could feel his affection for me, his desire, his need to make me happy.
I stiffened.“What was that?Why am I suddenly inside your head?”
“It’s the bond.The ritual worked.”
“You really do love me.”Said almost in wonder.
“Did you really doubt?”
“No, but it’s one thing to believe it, another to feel it.”I turned in his arms so I could see his eyes.“I am your world.”
And he was mine.
The intimate realization led to us making love, a frantic sweaty coming-together of bodies that lacked finesse but was all the more powerful because of how we shared the sensation.
When we orgasmed, it was so intense I almost lost consciousness.I definitely needed some time after before my boneless body could move.
As we lay entwined, the dawning sun’s rays bathing our limbs, some of his thoughts leaked, and being me, I had to address them.
“You can’t keep putting it off.”No need to elucidate what I meant.
He sighed.“I know I need to reach out to the hatchlings.It’s just I don’t know what to say.”
“You could start with hello.”
“Ha.Ha.Very funny.”
“Well, you did ask.You don’t necessarily have to mention the fatherhood thing.After all, how often have you told me dragons don’t care about family bonds?”
