drives me to find a couple spare hides and erect a makeshift wall to keep their roaming eyes at bay. The beach cave is big, long, and goes on for multiple sections, which spreads us all out. I’m thankful for that because I need privacy more than anything else right now…
I look around, seeking security in this new location, and see there are some ledges higher up crowded with emergency supplies.
When we lost a portion of our village to a hurricane shortly after my birth, Sand’s Hunters lived here until they rebuilt the village. Since then, this place has been maintained, a place of safety if ever an event like that falls upon us again.
Torchlight is flickering, lighting up the cave. The sounds of thunder are distant now. I peer down at the male resting before me.
Or a dragon… I swallow, staring at him. His eyelids flicker but they don’t open.
Pulling my tangled, wet hair back and tying it in a knot with some rope, I settle next to him.
“Aida,” Milaye says softly from beside me, peeking over the hide. “You should get looked at by your mother, she wants to see you. Let me take over or allow one of the healers to tend him.”
The male groans. But it sounds more like a growl to me.
I won’t leave you. I don’t think I could even if I tried. My body loses its warmth whenever I step away from him.
Using a wet cloth and clay bowl, I begin cleaning the male’s skin. “I’m fine.”
“You could’ve died. When I realized you weren’t behind me… and saw that monster down the coast…”
Glimpsing Milaye’s face, I see guilt and sadness. I give her a reassuring smile. “You didn’t leave me. I stayed.”
She frowns. “Why?”
Shaking my head, I force the smile into my voice. “I had too. I needed… I wanted to make sure that whatever came wouldn’t follow me to the cave. The tribe, you, Leith, Delina, are my responsibility.”
“I would never forgive you for dying on my behalf,” Milaye says indignantly. She studies me, the male. “You wanted to see if the monster behind the rain was a dragon,” she accused. “Guess he was.”
“Yes, that too. I stayed for several reasons,” I answer honestly with a shrug. “Regardless, even if it had been a disturbed kraken or a giant serpent, I wanted to make sure it followed me, away from the cave, and not you. Luck gave me a dragon.” I turn to the male, whose brow is furrowed now. I reach up and smooth it out with my cloth.
A hush settles over us, and I know Milaye is staring at me.
My sister’s voice breaks the silence. “So the messenger was speaking the truth? Dragons can be turned into humans?”
Looking back up, Delina’s face is now peeking over the hide next to Milaye’s and both their faces are exactly the same, eyeing the male. Annoyance fills me even though I can’t blame them, knowing I probably have the same look when I stare at him. Good thing he’s draped in hides from his waist down.
Though there’s a tent where his erection is…
“Is he…” Milaye pauses. “Is he the beast from down the coast? Is he a—a dragon, Aida?”
The male groan-growls again, and my eyes snap back to him. I begin unwrapping the bandages from around his neck, hating the half-dried blood and dampness keeping them stuck to his skin. “Yes,” I say, wondering at the question myself. Though I know it has to be. The silver-blue water dragon vanished and in its place, he turned up. With a tail, horns, and sapphire scales. “I think so, yes,” I mutter, throwing the strips of my old shirt aside.
“Oh my waters,” Milaye gasps. “I knew it.”
Delina jumps. “I knew it!”
“You got yourself a dragon, a male. Aida, it’s a miracle!” Milaye’s words flood my ears with excitement and dread. They didn’t see him, didn’t see his violence, his might. I don’t know if he’ll kill me when he wakes up or try to leave… or both.
What if he leaves without killing me first?
Delina scoffs. “Just because Aida brought him in doesn’t mean he’s hers. The elders decide who is the best fit for a mate. The best female will be mated with the best male.”
My heart sinks. She’s right.
“Even if that’s true, you’re already mated, Delina,” Milaye snaps. “You won’t be considered.”
“I’m the chosen female!”
I urge them to lower their voices but they ignore me.
“And what about Leith?” Milaye gripes.
“It wouldn’t be my choice,”