To Wake a Dragon - Naomi Lucas Page 0,60
possibly want or need. I do the same for him… when he allows it. Each day our cave becomes a sanctuary. Each inch has been touched by us, and together we take what was once Drazak’s prison and turn it into his quiet haven.
Quiet, for his mind. He needs time to adjust, and I want to make sure he has all the time he can get before his youngling comes. He thinks I'll be laying eggs, and I laugh. There’ll be a surprise in store when I don’t.
The urge to unleash my dragon comes daily, and with each transformation, the shift becomes easier. Drazak and I practice together in hopes that one day he’ll be able to shift back too, and we can fly the skies together. I know it will be soon now; I can sense his dragon strengthening in our bond.
Though it is many weeks yet from this night.
“I love you,” I say, listening to the crackle of the fire.
Drazak turns to face me. His tail curls around my wrist. “You do?” he asks, hesitantly.
“Yes.” I will tell him it every day if it gives him peace of mind. “I love you.”
He smiles. I sprawl back and pull him down to me. He captures me against him.
“I can prove it,” I tease.
“You can?”
I nod.
“How?” There’s a hint of curiosity.
“You’ve got me tucked away in your cave. You’ve got me tucked away, and I have no qualms about it, and nor do I wish to leave.”
“How is that proof, human?”
“If I didn’t love you, I would never settle in such a place,” I continue to tease. “I hate bugs. I love you more than I hate bugs. That’s proof.”
He goes quiet, and I wonder if I said something wrong. I bite my lip.
“Ah, but that is not proof.”
My brows furrow. “It’s not?”
“No, because you are now part dragon, and dragons all settle in places like this.” This time he teases me. “And there are ways to banish bugs.”
“It’s proof for me.” I pout.
Drazak twists to his side to face me. It reminds me of when he first began moving not all that long ago. “I do not need proof.” He brings the back of his finger to my cheek. “I feel it,” he says.
I curl my hands up at my chest. “I feel it too.”
“I love you too, Milaye, my protectress, my huntress of the Mermaid Coast, my beautiful femdragon, and mate. I loved you the moment I heard your voice and I was not sure if it was in my head or not. From the moment I laid my eyes on you in the darkness, and again in the light. I once thought all I had left to look forward to was the smell of petrichor invading my cave, but now there is everything and more. Your silken raven hair, your gold and white scales, your fear of these bugs… I have it all. This feeling is my proof.” He places his hand over the ones curled into my chest. “I never want to sleep again. Tonight or ever. I will miss you if I do.”
“Then we won’t.” I smile, rising to push him onto his back and lean over him. “Not tonight at least. Perhaps not tomorrow night either.” I press my lips to his.
It is a good feeling, this one we share. This thing between us. It is everything I could have ever wanted, ever desperately pined for, and so much more. Drazak puts his arms around me. Now, I’m finally finding peace in our cave.
I’ll never tell him, but I’m thankful he survived for me. That fate—poisonous as it was—bit him and he was here, waiting for me all along. I just had to find him.
Touch him.
And wake us up.
I cup his cheeks and kiss him deeply.
Epilogue
One Year Later
* * *
I hear the snap of a twig and the rustle of leaves. Looking up, eyes squinting, I peer into the brush to my left. There’s nothing but foliage, though it’s settling from whatever disturbed it. I stare at it for a while in case whatever disturbed it decides to show itself. But nothing does.
Eventually, I turn away and head back home.
Haime is waiting at the entrance, sharpening arrowheads.
I sigh. “Does Aida and Zaeyr know you’re here?” I ask, walking up to her and setting down my basket of fruit.
“Has he come back?” She doesn’t even look at me. There is only the grating sound of her work.
I glance behind, my gaze returning to the jungle