4

RAST
My mate’sscent appears on the air, strong and delicious, a moment before a second dragon’s smell touches my nose.
The growl starts low in my throat and won’t let up. A challenger. I refuse to let him touch her. I will destroy him first. She belongs to me.
Furious, I pump my wings fiercely as I push through the winds, heading for the source of her scent. I knew it was here in this strange, tall place, but I did not know how to get to her. Every time I approached, her scent would disappear, cloaked by that of the dragon and his bonded mate. They would not leave, either. No matter how many rocks I threw down into their nest, the big gold would not flush out and abandon his mate. It has given me a grudging admiration for him, even if his tenacity is frustrating my efforts to get my own mate. But I have not given up…and now this. She has emerged, only for another to appear on the winds, surging in at the last moment to try and steal her.
It will not be done. I will not let him have her.
I see her a brief moment before the other dragon swoops in, and she is so beautiful and perfect it makes my spirit flare with warmth. She has long hair the golden color of a dragon’s scales, a slim, delicate figure, and the most enticing scent ever. She remains in her two-legged form despite the approach of another. Does she not wish to battle him, then? I am puzzled by her reaction, but it is a good thing—I only have the male interloper to fight for her favor, then. She will wait and challenge the victor, I suspect.
I plan on being that victor.
With a snarl, I dive for my enemy. I can tell right away that he is young and untried. He does not react as a warrior does. He is surprised at my attack and leaves his throat open—and so I take it. I snap my jaws around his throat easily and begin to use pressure. It takes mere moments before I crush his throat, and then it is a matter of time. He knows he is dead, that he is defeated. When he relaxes fully, I whip my neck, snapping his.
It is over within the space of heartbeats. Arrogant fool.
I let him fall to the ground, full of disdain. He is not worth any female, much less my perfect one. With a beat of my wings, I surge forward again, ready to face my female. I am prepared for her challenge. I welcome it with eagerness, because once I have conquered her…we can mate. It is a ritual as old as time and my spirit craves it.
To my surprise, though, my female falls from her high perch, her body limp. It takes a bare moment for me to realize that she is not simply changing to battle-form. I adjust my wings, fly toward her, and scoop her from the air, cradling her protectively close to my chest.
She glances up at me and then goes limp, unconscious. Is she sick? Frightened? Have the others that have kept her from me harmed her? I do not know, but I will take her away from here to find out.
Full of glee, I clutch my mate to my chest and soar through the air, flying as far from this place as I can possibly take her. The others will come after us, but that does not matter. What matters is that she is mine and she is in my grasp. When she assumes battle-form, I will claim her as my own and then no one will be able to take her from me ever again. I hold her up to my muzzle and breathe deep of her scent. Just that is enough to clear my mind enough to focus. It is not perfect, and the rage still simmers close beneath the surface, but it is less overwhelming than it was before.
And when my mind is clear, with her at my side, I will be able to return home.

For such a heavily protected female,no one comes after her. I chafe with irritation at this—the warrior in me wants to fight for her. The male in me craves a challenge. The drakoni in me just rages to destroy something. As she slumbers in my arms, my thoughts become more chaotic, less peaceful. I need her to be awake to settle my mind. I need her thoughts touching mine to calm them, but we are not bonded.
Yet.
I will fix that soon enough when I claim her.
I fly away from the clustered human scents. They are focused in the sprawl of ruins, in stone buildings and strange surroundings. It is out in the open that I smell prey and nothing but greenery, and I head in that direction. That is where it is safest to take my mate, even if my battle-crazed mind demands that I remain in the center of things, seeking to take on all others to prove my strength. Even when my thoughts are at their wildest, I know that is wrong.
The female in my grip is fragile. Delicate, especially in her two-legged form. Until she shows me her strength and shifts to battle-form, I must do all I can to protect her. Until then, we must go as far as we can from others. Part of that is the selfish male inside me that wants to keep her out of the sight of all other drakoni males. She is my mate and mine alone.
I continue on as the ruins flatten out to mere ropes of stone sprawled across the grasses and the scents grow faint. Soon, she is the only human I smell, and the sun in this terrible place begins to rise, chasing away the stars. I have flown all night without stopping. I consider continuing on, but my mate will need sustenance soon. That means hunting…and that means battle-form.
Excitement flares through my senses at the thought.
I descend from the clouds and fly lower to the ground, looking for a safe spot to nest with my female. Something protected, I think, but able to fly from easily. I cruise along the breezes, scanning the grasses, and then in the distance, I see the perfect place. It’s a cluster of flat, oddly shaped buildings. I see two columns and a strange ball in front of one of the buildings. Off to one side there is a taller place, perfect for a nest. I head there, circling. There are no good places to land—strange—so I move back to the odd places with the long, flat tops and land atop one.
I gently set my mate down from my claws and examine her. She does not move or get up to challenge me, and that is disappointing. I study her instead. Now that she does not have my claws around her, she looks less delicately fragile than before. She wears a long, loose skin of a pale pink over her flesh, and I poke at it with a claw, unsure of what this means. I have seen many humans since becoming trapped in this world, but when I try to recall what they look like, my mind fogs. I do not recall their battle-form, or if they all wear these odd skins over their limbs.
Her hair is pleasing, though. It is pale golden, like a…I frown to myself at the surge of angry memories that brings up. Like what? What is it that I find pleasing to look at but so hateful when I try to think of it? I blow out a frustrated breath.
The female’s eyes fly open and she makes a little gasping sound as she focuses on me.
At last. Now, she will challenge me. I ruffle my wings and straighten to my full height. I am ready.
AMY
I stare up at the massive dragon looming over me and try not to scream with terror. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve been this close to a dragon, and always with his mate at his side. Never alone.
Never after he just murdered another dragon in front of me.
I hold my breath, hoping he hasn’t noticed that I’m awake. That maybe he’s sleeping or staring down at something else and I’ll be able to somehow crawl away. But then the large head dips, the eyes focus on me, and he leans in.
I bite back a whimper of terror.
Where am I?
I do a quick glance around, but I don’t recognize my surroundings. I’m not entirely sure where he’s taken me, but the fact that the sun is rising tells me that quite a few hours have passed. “Claudia?” I whisper out to the world, just in case my sister’s nearby and I don’t see her. Then, “Kael? Are you guys here?”
There’s no answer, only the lonely gusts of wind and the dragon in front of me. He watches me from above, unblinking and unmoving. His gaze is focused entirely on me, and my heart pounds in my chest out of sheer terror.
In all of my fantasies, I never dreamed that I’d be stuck at the side of the dragon that murdered the one I wanted. I don’t know what to do. I always thought I’d find my Prince Charming and we’d be happy and together, and I’d have what Claudia has. I didn’t think about what would happen if another bloodthirsty dragon happened upon him.
Lost in my girlish dreams, I’d forgotten completely that dragons are monsters. That they’re ravenous, rampaging killers who would just as soon rip a person to shreds with their claws as look at them. The dragon standing over me? This is the reality. These are the creatures that destroyed billions of people and shattered our world. It doesn’t matter that my sister loves one. It doesn’t matter that Sasha and Emma found kind ones to love and care for. All that matters is that this terrifying monster has me in his clutches.
And it’s completely my fault that I’m there. I’m the one responsible. I snuck out and went on the ledge. If I die—and it’s looking pretty good right now—it’s my own fault.
I squeeze my eyes shut again. I’m so sorry, Claudia. I asked for too much and look where it got me. I was just so darn lonely…
Even with my eyes shut, I can feel the air around me shift. There’s a hot breath against my skin and I snap my eyes open only to see the dragon’s moved his head down and is roaming over me, his snout inches away from touching my skin. I muffle a scream, because at this vantage point, I can see the long, white fangs jutting from under his lips. His scales are flecked with blood along his jaw and throat. Oh god.
I need to stop this. I need to be strong. Dragons are creatures that feed on prey, and humans have been prey far too many times. I lift my chin, trying to do my best to look defiant. Despite my best efforts to be brave, though, my body starts to tremble like there’s an earthquake in my belly. I can’t stop shivering with complete and utter fear as the dragon’s head moves over me, sniffing.
This doesn’t sound anything like how Kael and Claudia met. Isn’t he supposed to be friendly? Loving? Caring? I see none of this in the bloodstained muzzle before me, only death.
The snout touches me briefly and I flinch backward. I try to get a good look at his eyes—Claudia’s told me that black eyes means a lot of emotion, and that’s a bad thing when it comes to dragons. Their minds can be unstable and veer toward violence. A gold like their scales means that he’s calm.
“Hello?” I whisper to get his attention. I can’t quite manage to sound as brave as I want to be.
His head dips and one large, whirling eye focuses on me.
Great. His eye is equal parts black and gold, swirling together. I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean. I wish Claudia was here to interpret. Of course, if she was, I wouldn’t be in this mess. A hysterical little laugh bubbles up in my throat and I clamp a hand to my mouth, trying to swallow it back.
He studies me for a moment longer, and then his nose trails over my stomach. The dragon’s breath puffs out against my dress, and then he goes lower, nostrils grazing my hips and then moving to the dip between my thighs.
I freeze. He’s not…
The dragon places his snout directly against my pussy and breathes deep, as if he’s memorizing my scent through my dress.
He is! Outraged, a wordless sound escapes my throat and I can’t help myself—I push his nose forcefully away. “Don’t you dare!”
There’s a low, menacing growl, and that’s all the warning I get before the dragon grabs a handful of my dress, sniffs it again, and then rips it away from my body like he’s unwrapping a present.
I make another angry sound in my throat. My fear is creeping away to something else—outrage. Just who does he think he is? Dresses are precious in the After, and Claudia gave me that one for my birthday. “If you’re going to eat me, just do it,” I hiss at him, furious as I slap at the claws that descend toward me again. “Don’t toy with me like this. Just kill me and be done with it!”
His eyes flare with something—recognition? The clawed hand reaches for my nearly naked body once more, and I notice there’s a bit of grayish material tied over one claw, like tying a ribbon on your finger so you won’t forget. It’s the most absurd thing, and looks completely out of place on the fierce dragon. When he reaches forward with his claws, I can’t help but stare at that tiny scrap of fabric as it nears me.
No. I won’t allow this. I know I’ve been sheltered by Claudia, but this outrage is just as bad as the horrible men back in Fort Dallas. Groping and tearing at my clothes? Why did I ever imagine that a dragon-man would be any better than a human man? “You’re a monster just like the rest of them,” I tell him, shoving at his clawed foot when it nears me again. It’s like a game to him, but I’m not playing.
Screw this.
The dragon’s eyes whirl again, more gold than black, and then suddenly, it’s not a dragon any longer. It’s a man, crouching beside me on the concrete.
I suck in a breath at the sight of him, because blood-spattered, wild-eyed, crazy-haired and naked, he’s still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life. He’s far more wild and fierce than Kael or Dakh or any other dragon-man I’ve seen. His hair seems thicker than any of theirs, and it’s so snarled and matted that it looks like a golden cape down his back, and it’s so thick that it haloes his head like he’s an angel from one of the old stained-glass windows. His features are strong and proud, his brows and nose pronounced as if carved out of harsh stone. His body’s enormous, taller than any human man I’ve ever seen but still somehow lean, with terrifyingly long claws tipping each finger. The dapple on his skin is faint across his chest and deeper on his arms, which have long spikes along his elbows, reminiscent of his wings. His chest is taut with muscles, and I notice when he leans in, there’s a strange pale pattern on his neck. It takes me a moment to realize it’s scarring.
The dragon-man looks over my body with fascination, and I gaze at him, equally shocked. He’s…he’s really naked and really aroused. And oh my god. I’ve seen penises before. I grew up in Fort Dallas, which wasn’t the most private of places. But I’ve never seen one so golden…and so very erect. There’s no body hair to hide anything either, and he looks massive. My thighs tighten automatically.
He looks at me with fierce eyes, his lips curling in an almost smile, and then grabs one of my hands and pins it to the cement, over my head.
My terrified gasp echoes between us. What’s he doing?
The dragon-man leans over me and breathes deep, inhaling my scent in a way that makes me feel…strange. I don’t know what to think of how he’s acting, only that it makes me feel flustered and strange. Terrified and yet not at the same time. This is bizarre.
“Do you speak English?” I ask him. I know the answer is probably no, but the silence between us is far too charged for me to lie back and let him handle me and say nothing at all. “Let me go. Please.”
He keeps his clawed hand curled over my wrist and leans in. That “prey” feeling comes over me again. I push against the hand pinning me down, and that makes his eyes flare a deep gold with black at the rims. I suck in a breath, fascinated at the small change, and then I feel his weight settle over my hips, until he’s on top of me.
Even though I’m wearing panties, that feels too intimate. “No!” I cry, frightened. I buck up against him, trying to push him off, but it sends a tidal wave of pain through my bad leg—and only seems to excite him more. He growls low in his throat, a pleased sound, and runs his face along my shoulder, his hand tightening on my arm. His hips push up against mine, and I can feel his cock resting against my panties, and I’m terrified of the moment that he forces my legs apart. I don’t know what to do. Helpless and frustrated, I jerk my legs up again to kick him off—
And nearly black out at how much pain it sends through my bad leg.
I go still, trying to breathe through the agony. I know it’ll pass. I just have to wait for it to ebb. I close my eyes, trying to shut down to mentally protect myself, and as the pain slides away, I realize something curious.
The dragon-man on top of me isn’t moving.
I slide my eyes open, looking back up at him. He’s still above me, but the look of fierce need and pleasure on his face is gone. It’s been replaced by confusion…and frustration. He pushes at my arm again, as if daring me to fight him, and then watches my face.
It dawns on me then. He wants me to fight him. It turns him on.
I force myself to remain utterly still, taking in only small, shallow breaths and avoiding eye contact. I stare at the hand curled over my wrist instead. The golden skin, the heat of him that feels scorching hot enough to leave reddish marks against my flesh. The too-long talons that look dangerous and curious both. I try to recall if Kael’s were that long, and it feels strange to compare this dragon-man to my sister’s. They feel nothing alike. Kael is utterly devoted to my sister.
And this one…I don’t know what to think.
He growls low, and the sound is angry. Irritated. Frustrated. I continue to ignore him, trying to calm myself, to relax. I need to show nothing that will make him think I want to attack.
So I wait. And wait.
With a frustrated sound, he flings himself off of me, storming a few paces away.
I look over, scarcely daring to breathe. Is he…is he leaving me? But he only moves back and forth, flexing his hands in a fist over and over as if he doesn’t know what to do. His hair ripples out behind him like a messy curtain, and he looks as oddly beautiful as he is menacing. I think of the white scars at his neck…and then of the way he murdered my dragon. I swallow hard. I can’t afford to think he’s attractive. Not when he can snap me as easily as he snapped another dragon’s neck.
The dragon-man snarls and glances over at me again.
I freeze in place, biting back a whimper of fear as our eyes lock. I’m half expecting him to come to my side again and tear off the rest of my clothes, or get on top of me once more and finish what he started. When he stalks toward me, I flinch back, raising a hand to my face.
That stops him. He looks at me and I could swear the expression on his face is shock. It’s gone as quickly as it flashed over his face, but a moment later, he grabs the remnants of my dress from the rooftop and buries his face in it, breathing in my scent. He stays like that for such a long, long time that I wonder if he’s even breathing.
He lifts his head again a moment later, and his eyes are pure gold. There’s a look of such intense loneliness on his face that it feels as if he’s stabbing me in the heart. Oh. I know that look. I know that look all too well.
I want to say something to him. To communicate with him somehow. Even though we’re enemies, I feel sorry for him.
Then his gaze moves back to me and his eyes surge with black again. He lowers my dress, and I think he’s going to drop it, but instead, he wraps it around his cock. His hips surge forward and his mouth flattens. He grunts, and a moment later, I realize what he’s doing.
He’s…mating my dress. And he’s doing it with such an accusing, defiant look on his proud face that I don’t know what to think…
Other than I suspect that my sister didn’t tell me the entire truth about her first meeting with Kael.