Pretty Painful - K.A Knight Page 0,39
her softly leaning down to kiss her.
Dabria
We lie side by side, relearning how to breathe, our hands woven together as we watch the stars in the sky.
“What now?” I ask, knowing I can’t go back to my normal life. I can’t face my parents, not yet, and I can’t exactly pick up where I left off.
“Next, we find the men who hurt you, who hurt your sister, and we kill them all,” he replies casually.
Blinking at the sky, I turn my head to see him, and he flips onto his side and props his head on his hand, watching me with those black eyes.
“I-we,” I stutter and he laughs.
“I told you I would kill them. I plan to, you can come with me or you can stay somewhere safe.” He shrugs.
“With you,” I say instantly and he smiles.
“That’s what I figured. So, we find them, we kill them, and then we go home,” he explains, watching my fingers as he strokes the back of my hand.
“Home? Your home?” My tone is tinged with confusion. I can’t imagine this dragon god fitting in my bed.
“Yes, little one, our home.” He shoots a smug look at me.
“Where is this home?” I ask, wanting to know everything about him.
“Wherever you want. I have a few houses around, but nothing I would consider home. I want to make one with you, little one, so you pick. Find us a place to make our new life. All that has happened is in the past, I only want the future,” he states, and it rips my heart out.
“Mishal—” I shake my head, not knowing what to say. “I would love that. I’ve never had a home. I was adopted, and though they never meant to make me feel second best, I was always aware that place wasn’t my home. I was an intruder in their lives. When I moved out into a shitty apartment…well, yeah, that isn’t my home either. I would love to make one with you.”
“Then it’s settled, we will make our first home together.” He grins, leaning down and kissing my nose. “Killing first, house hunting later.”
I laugh, I can’t help it. “I love you.” I shake my head and he grins, with Nyre flashing in his eyes for a moment. “And I love you too, my grumpy dragon. We need to make sure to get a bedroom big enough for you and him.” I wink and I feel him blow a kiss in my head before I sober up.
“How do we find where they kept me?”
His eyes unfocus for a moment before he nods. “I think I should be able to track it. I’ve also overheard a lot over the years. They didn’t think it mattered since I was chained up.”
I nod. “If it helps, I think it was some kind of warehouse.” I wince as the memories tumble back in and I push them away, still not wanting to deal with them yet. I will probably cry my eyes out when we get home, and let Mishal wipe them away and make me feel better, but for now I’m concentrating on the here and the now, not the past like he said.
“Hmm, they mentioned a holding facility in the industrial district. Ring any bells? I don’t even know what this city looks like anymore,” he grumbles.
“It’s over the back side of town, secluded. It makes sense. There are blocks of warehouses, but I think we can find it.” I kiss his lips before jumping to my feet. “Well, come on, mate. Let’s go kill some baddies.”
He jumps up, wrapping his arms around me. “Mm, I love the word mate on your tongue, though it does make me want to fuck you.”
“What doesn’t?” I tease.
He pretends to think, tapping his chin, and I push him away. “Change before you decide to throw me down and have your way again. Nyre, I need you, buddy.”
Mishal winks and I watch this time, wanting to see him transform. I expected it to be like in the movies or books, maybe painful with snapping bones, but this is seamless, painless, and magical. Scales flow across his skin, a glow forming as he quickly transforms from man to dragon. When it’s over, Nyre lowers his head to me, watching me with those golden eyes, and I take a moment to appreciate his beauty. I didn’t get a chance before since I was dying and all, but he really is beautiful. In a deadly way.
His head is massive,