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“Most of us choose a mate with whom to raise hatchlings and share a life. That partner may or may not be one of the dragons we spawn with during mating season. Choosing one’s partner is about mental synergy and character compatibility, not the passion of mating.”
“Sounds like a very cerebral process. What about love? Do dragons fall in love?”
He glances away. “Some do.”
“So if I undress, you won’t be tempted to any kind of sexual aggression. Not until this mating season occurs,” I say cautiously. There’s hope in that idea. A reprieve. A chance to escape.
“That is correct,” says the dragon. “Mating season will begin in about a week, when the Rib Moon shines.”
One week. It’s better than nothing. At least I don’t have to fear a brutal breeding session until then.
“Very well.” I tug at the remnants of my soiled dress. It doesn’t take much for them to fall away. I stand naked in the sunshine, all except for my lacy underwear.
The dragon eyes me, blinking. So far his inflections and expressions have been human enough for me to interpret them, but I have no idea what he’s thinking now.
Slowly I slide the underwear off my legs and stand there, utterly bare before him.
He huffs a hot, glowing breath, still staring. His gaze drops to the area between my legs.
“Have you seen a woman’s body before?” I ask quietly.
“No.” His voice is lower than ever. “It looks soft and fragile, which is unfortunate. But your teats suit you.”
A hot flush rises in my face. “That is the most disgusting compliment I have ever received.”
He rumbles in his throat, disgruntled. “It wasn’t a compliment. Simply a statement of fact. That you are… proportional. At least I think you are. For a human, that is.”
“Go away,” I snap. “Stop looking at me.”
“I must keep watch, since you seem willing to do yourself harm,” he replies. “While you bathe, I will search for berries or roots to feed you.”
Turning my back on him, I wade into the cool water of the lake. I can feel his eyes on me as I move deeper, as the water rises up to my knees, my thighs, my ass, my waist. Only when I’m shoulder-deep in the lake do I hear the thump of his ponderous steps and the rustle of bushes as he begins to forage for food.
I don’t have any soap, and the water is much colder than I expected, but I manage to clean myself, and I work the tangles out of my hair with my fingers until it’s reasonably decent. By the time I emerge from the water, I’m shaking from the cold. My skin is stippled with goosebumps and my legs are trembling.
I step onto the beach, expecting—
Fuck. Was I really expecting a maid to greet me with a warm towel and a soft robe? Such luxuries are a thing of the past. The only substantial scrap of clothing available is the ragged, vomit-stained dress I removed before I went into the lake, and I’m certainly not putting that on again. I could try to wash it, but then I’d have to wait for it to dry.
My underwear is still lying on the beach, but when I pick it up, I notice that the backside is coated with wet sand. So that garment is also out of the question.
I’m alone, stark naked and soaking wet, beside a lake in the center of the dragons’ domain. And where did the black dragon go? Not that he’d be of much help—I doubt there’s a chest of women’s clothing tucked away in some cleft of his cave.
Maybe I can find some leaves to wrap around myself.
I pick my way across the pebbles to the grass, and from there I walk into the forest. Huge, ancient trees spread a thick canopy overhead, so the undergrowth is minimal. Not far away, some vines with broad arrow-shaped leaves twist around one of the trunks. I head over and reach for them.
“I wouldn’t do that.” The dragon’s voice vibrates through me, right down to my core.
“Why not?”
“Those vines are poisonous. They are lethal to ingest, and if a dragon so much as licks them, his tongue will break out in huge blisters. I assume they would wreak similar havoc on your delicate human skin.”
“I need something to cover up with. And I’m freezing.” I whirl and glare at him. “You’re the worst captor ever. Didn’t you say you were a prince? If you can’t take care of one little human, how on earth do you rule an entire race of dragons?”
“Very poorly, apparently, since half my clan have perished. Now if you’re done insulting me—”
“I’m not done.” Cold and shaky though I am, my anger spurs me on. “If you’re going to kidnap someone, you need to know how to keep them alive, do you understand? You brought me here to bathe, yet you didn’t provide any clothing or any way for me to get warm afterward. There’s no soap, no towels, no hot water. Your cave is uncomfortable and primitive, not fit for the lowliest peasant, let alone a king of dragons. There’s no privy, not so much as a wash basin to clean my hands—no pillows, no sheets, no blankets. I’ve had no food, I’m cold, I’m wet, and I want a cup of fucking tea!”
