Page 21 of Eliza's Cursed Dragon

I melted in his arms and the desperation in his words.

I framed his face with my hands, looking him deep in the eyes, I slowly shook my head.

“Princess,” he said, and lowered his head. His lips hovered only inches from mine when one of my brothers squawked, breaking the spell.

Edward rubbed his arms as if they were itching. “I’m sorry, I’ve got to go!”

He hastened out of the room and I heard the hard trot of his steps as he ascended the stairs as if the devil was after him.

I glared at Charles, who had been the one squawking, and he glared right back, while Richard nudged me and snuggled his neck around my leg.

Edward

That night I returned to the graveyard to incinerate every single ghoul left, worrying my beautiful mystery woman would want to come back to the church to collect her things or pick more nettles. Even though I didn’t understand why she was doing this, I sensed that it was important to her and I respected that. All the more so I didn’t want to give her any reason to leave my mansion. Now or ever.

I felt a pull to her that was beyond anything I had ever experienced. Same with my urge to protect her, give her anything she wanted or needed.

But there was also a selfish part inside me, a part that hoped that maybe if I helped her, proved myself worthy, did a good deed so to speak, my curse would be lifted.

Even after three years I wasn’t used to it and would have given anything to be free of it. I won’t lie, I did enjoy flying up high in the sky, the feeling of wind rushing by, the way my wings spread and caught currents to move me, it was the ultimate experience, one that very few humans had ever had the privilege to encounter.

That was just the crux of it though. I wasn’t entirely human any longer. Even during my greatest heights there was always that one grain of salt rubbing my happiness.

Taking care of the ghouls was easy, picking up her things a bit trickier without hands, but I managed, stinging my lips on the nettles as I discovered five finished mantles and a sixth newly started, all made completely from nettles. What was she doing with those? Was she selling them? Was that how she supported herself and her swans? And who in the world would buy that?

I took everything and left it on her balcony where I was sure she would find it in the morning, then I perched on top of the mansion’s roof, drawn to be close to her.

While I meditated, I contemplated the wonder of her having recognized me in my dragon form. Who would have taken the time to scrutinize my eyes instead of running at the sight of a dragon? No matter if it had saved her life or not.

When the sun began to rise, I made my way down to my balcony. It was a tight fit, but I managed to squeeze in where nobody would see me if they happened to come by while I waited for my dragon form to morph back into Edward.

A shower later, I picked my mystery lady up from her room.

“Good morning, I hope you slept well,” I greeted, drinking in her perfect beauty and reveling in the smile she sent my way that seemed to be for me alone.

Gently, I took the liberty to kiss her cheek chastely, a gesture she returned with a slight giggle. The sound of it puckered my skin, the touch of her lips against my cheek sent a pulse through my cock, instantly stiffening it. Desire flared inside me, a desire so strong I had to fist my hands not to pull her into an embrace and ravish her where we stood.

A squawk reminded me of her ever-present friends, but I was grateful for the interruption. The scent of her freshly washed hair, lightly floral, was fogging my mind so much, I might have forgotten myself and kissed her as deeply as my body demanded.

She waved at me to stay and hastened into her room, from there she held out her bag with nettles and pointed at the mantles questioningly.

“Yes, I collected them for you last night,” I confirmed.

She put her hands together in front of her chest and bowed slightly in thanks.

“No need to thank me.” I tried to wave her off. “It was my pleasure. And by the way, if you want to return to the church this morning to… to get more nettles, I’m happy to take you there and help.”

Her eyes opened wide and she shook her head vehemently. Misunderstanding, I assured her, “The ghouls are all gone, I made sure of it.”

She lifted and moved her pointer finger in a windshield-wiper motion, still looking horrified.

“That’s not it, is it?” I guessed.

She shook her head.

“You don’t want me to go with you?”

First she nodded, then she shook her head, and I realized there was no way for her to answer the question with a yes or no. So I rephrased it, broke it into parts.

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