To Wake a Dragon - Naomi Lucas Page 0,31

a hush, her eyes lowering. “I should have done more not to… fall upon you. I’m so, so sorry.”

She sounds sad? Why does she sound sad? What in the skies is she saying?

I bristle. So she is unhappy to be with a disgraced creature such as I. Is that it? Any female would be. My hand grabs her hair and tugs, making her look up at me again. “I am more than what you have seen,” I growl. “I will prove as much to you. You. Will. Never. Leave. Me. Again.” I do not care if she is saddened by our circumstances; I’m the one with the right to anger here.

She is mine, and that will never change. Not for all the world, my wings, my body.

A glistening drop forms on her lashes and falls down her cheek. I cock my head, studying it, knowing what it is without ever experiencing it, this is a tear. Dragons do not cry. They do not show sadness in such a way.

But I have not had water in so long… and I now find I am thirsty, aching for it on my tongue.

Shaking, I dive in. I lick it from her face but miss. My head falls besides hers as my knees give out. Fury—shame—unlike I have ever known erupts while I fall, sliding down her body, dragging my claws, scraping the wall as I go.

“Drazak?” Her hands come up to catch me.

I roar against her stomach and frighten her away, feeling her body going rigid. I slam my fists into the rock, again and again, needing the pain from their impact.

“Drazak! Stop!”

I do not hear her, pummeling the wall.

The next thing I know, my hands are covered in hot blood, and Milaye is next to me, trying to lift me up. I push her away. “Do not help me!”

“You’re hurt!”

“Skies! I want the pain,” I rasp, clenching my fists. If I cannot have her, at least I can have this.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she snaps. Her arms come around me again. “Let me get you back to the fire.”

“I said don’t!” A bark leaves my throat. “Leave me.”

“No.”

“Leave! I will not have you see me like this!”

Suddenly, warmth cups my cheeks, a soft heat that forces my chin up. My human is on her knees in front of me, cupping my face. The faintest of lights halos her face.

For a brief moment, her eyes flash with white light. I blink and her eyes are back to normal.

“I get it,” she says. “You’re struggling, dragon. We both are. I did not come into this cave thinking this would happen, and you did not…” She shakes her head, and I see her flinch. Her head still hurts her. “But we can’t let these changes defeat us.”

“I have already been defeated.”

“Have you? Really? You don’t look defeated to me.”

I bare my teeth. “What do you know of defeat?”

Her eyes glaze over as she looks towards the darkness. “More than you can know. Haime…” She turns away, her face falling into a look of grave concern.

Haime? She said that when I could not understand her.

Then it occurs to me… The other human. The other one she was with before I turned.

Where is the other human?

But before I can ask, she faces me again, the graveness now gone. “In the time I went to collect roots, you’ve managed to rise and walk—you trapped me. If you’ve done so much in such a short time… Think of what you can do a day from now, or even two. This isn’t defeat. This is just the beginning, and beginnings are always the hardest.”

“Such wise words from such a young creature.” I cannot help being snide. She has offered wisdom I know is true, but they are words I do not want to hear.

“Wise words? Common sense. That’s all it is. Now let me help you back to the camp so we can rest—” She starts to brace under me.

“No. I will do it.” Though I do not push her away.

I could never willingly push my mate away.

“Are you sure?” she asks, hesitating.

“Collect the kindling.” I untangle my arm from hers. “I will make it back myself.”

She moves away, and I almost grab her back to me but clench my bloody hands away from her.

“I’ll meet you back there… then.”

I watch as she quietly collects the fallen roots and gathers them under her arm. She picks up her torch, which is now little more than burning embers. She stares at it