Page 6 of Fallen for the Two-Headed Dragon

She defiantly placed her hands on her hips and sputtered. “What about when you’re away?”

“My things remain in their designated area.”

“I can’t stay here. I need a bed, and a fridge, and—and a bathroom!”

Both of his heads turned to her and he huffed. Her pointless arguments were tiresome and he was already exhausted.

“Nonsense. There are plenty of comfortable places in our home to lay your head. I will provide you with food, of course. The lavatory is two rooms down.”

Her jaw dropped open. His attention immediately snapped to the slope of her mouth. That uncanny sensation welled within him again, as though his mate were near and beckoned his hearts to their side. He yanked himself away so quickly he almost slammed his necks against each other.

“I’m certain you’ll find it more than habitable. Although, I have moved quite often in this past century. Some of my favorite pieces are hidden or…misplaced.” He attempted to smile at her but flinched at the foreign stretch of his lips. “I’m sure you will fit right in. For now, I am weary. I’m not as spry as I used to be. Perhaps you’ll have an easier time determining where you fit than if I were to decide for you.”

On that note, Rathym retreated to his nest of silks, linens, pillows, blankets, and mattresses in the northeast corner of his home. The little sleeping cove provided a lovely view of all his belongings, their colors and textures a comforting quilt of beauty. His eyelids grew heavy as his midday nap began to relax the muscles in his body.

Movement kept his heavy lids from closing. He jolted awake. The human was rubbing his prized golden urn with the rag she’d used on her spectacles. While he was too horror-stricken to react, she moved on to an elven silver vase in the adjoining pile.

“What are you doing? Cease that at once! You cannot—do not use inferior cloth to shine elven silver!” He rose from his nest in a huff and jogged toward her, using his broad, rightmost head to nudge her aside and block her with his neck, restraining her against the cold wall. With his other pair of eyes, he assessed the damage done. Nothing noticeable. Thank the Great Flame he’d caught her in time. “I thought I told you to find a place to sit!”

“Elven?”

“Yes, elven! Did you think I held menial items in such high regard? Everything you see here is a treasure in its own right, and you shall treat them with respect!”

Her brows rocketed to the top of her head and her plump lips were framed by darkened cheeks. Rathym growled with irritation at the wave of heat it sent reeling through him. His body responded to the human’s beauty even while he was incredibly upset with her. Traitorous spark.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know. But if they’re so treasured, why are they all just lying around?”

Cursed flame, what have I done to deserve this? The woman was proving a pain in his side, and yet she had the audacity to look like that while she ridiculed his very way of life! Must he explain everything to her? How was he to start from the beginning of ancient tradition and make it to the end without giving in to the carnal need her presence coaxed from his spark?

For the first time, Rathym longed to disregard the code and send her away. Far, far away, where the forge within him would not ignite from her nearness and he would not have to suffer any more of these questions.

A grumbling sound like that of a wee bear cub attempting to mimic their fierce mother’s growl emitted from the human’s body. She clutched her stomach.

She was hungry already.

“I’ll hunt. Stay put, human, so that I do not have to track you down again. Understood?”

She nodded and leaned against the silver vase. “Understood, um…what do I call you?”

“Rathym.”

“I’m Dana.”

“Dana. Remain here or I will be forced to hunt you down again.”

Rathym downshifted and shot through the tunnel before she could come up with another question. He needed to put space between them. Maybe enough distance would dull the strange feelings simmering within him.

Distance. How would he achieve proper distance when she was to live in his dwelling?

Chapter Five

Dana

The formidable two-headed dragon’s form shrank, then disappeared out the tunnel in a flurry of crimson wings and claws, leaving her alone in the dank cave that smelled like an earthen musk.

Dana leaned against a huge vase to ease the strain on her scabbing leg. The vase was incredibly sturdy and came all the way up to her elbow. Why would elves need silver vases this large? Did they make them specifically for the dragons?

She snorted at her inner dialogue. Elves and dragons. What else was out there? Would she get to find out?

---