To Wake a Dragon - Naomi Lucas Page 0,38

our haphazard camp.

My gaze goes back to Drazak—I can’t stop looking at him. Like if I were to stop, I’d wake up and discover this was all a dream. But he’s here in front of me now, male and wild, he’s intimidating, even in his sleep. If I was hunting him… I’d stay clear. His dragon form pops into my head, large and mesmerizing. No. I’d want to run away but would never succeed.

Perhaps that is what makes a predator different from an apex predator. Running versus knowing there’s no point in doing so.

I go to my scattered supplies and gather them into a pile, pushing the thought away. Drazak isn’t like the other two dragons I’ve met. There’s an uncivilized way about him.

Even so, I know my tribe will accept him. I don’t have to worry like Aida did. The tribe would accept any dragon male after the blessings Zaeyr and Kaos proved to be—they single-handedly stopped our imminent extinction.

My fingers pause, clutching a feather that had fallen from my shirt. Will Zaeyr accept Drazak? It was a question I’d never thought to consider.

Back when the comet shone, neither Zaeyr nor Kaos were keen on huntresses searching for others of their kind. Nor were they entirely keen of each other—each preferring their own territory. But they did get along, and when needed, would work together for the sake of all our people. Though at the end, they could always separate, returning to their respective clans.

Bonded with me, Drazak won’t have his own dragon man-free tribe to stake his claim. I look back at him, worry gnawing at me.

Zaeyr will accept him. He’ll have to.

Because if he doesn’t then I can’t stay… We’ll have to leave.

Venture into Venys… Into the unknown where my skills may not be enough against the beasts. I shiver. I’m not frightened of the world, but I never thought I’d ever leave my family, my sisters. And I would leave—I know it without a second thought. I place my hand on my belly. For Drazak, I’d follow him wherever he goes. For all the children we’ll someday have.

I drop my hand and wipe it on my dirty skirt, rising to my feet again. None of that matters if we don’t get out of this cave, and soon.

A distant scattering of rocks pricks my ears. I pivot in that direction. And I pause, startled, as the naga boy stares back at me from behind a boulder. He lingers by the ledge where the cave entrance is. Leaning down slowly, I grab my last ration, all the while keeping my eyes pinned on him.

I’d forgotten all about the naga.

I make my way toward him, holding the ration out before me. As I approach, his features come into view, and my throat tightens. He’s emaciated. Much more now than he was in the jungle. He really is alone. I don’t know why this bothers me as much as it does. He looks no older than Haime, and he’s starving. He could’ve attacked Drazak and I, stolen our food, eaten us too, but he didn’t. It bothers me a lot.

Almost upon him, I offer him the ration. He leans back as if to flee.

“Wait!”

But he pulls himself up the ledge and vanishes into the tunnels beyond.

“Waters,” I curse, knowing I can’t chase after him. Instead, when I reach the ledge, I place my ration upon it, along with the feather I’m still clutching to.

Hands grab my arms and spin me around. The next moment, I’m facing Drazak.

Nostrils flaring, he growls, “You left.”

I grow wet at the sound of his voice.

“The naga,” I say as if that answers everything.

“Him again? You are never allowed to leave me.”

“I didn’t leave.”

His hands tighten on my arms. “You can never leave me.”

“I would never,” I whisper, my brows furrowing.

“If you did leave, I would hunt you down, bind you with rope, and chain you to my side for all eternity.”

He’s desperate. Scared?

He’s afraid of being alone. He’s been alone for so long…

What would I do if I were alone for so long? I know I would go mad.

There’s a wildness in his eyes.

I reach up and cup his cheeks. “Drazak, I will never leave you,” I reassure him. It’s the truth. “And I’ll do the same to you if you ever left.”

He lowers his face to mine and traps me with his gaze. The strain in his jaw eases. “Make it an oath,” he demands.

“Never,” I swear. And right then I realize, he’ll never