Page 8 of Red Fire

I can set her straight and prove to her that we do, in fact, exist…or I can leave it alone, at least for now. Since I need her calm, I choose to go with the latter option.

Octavia will learn the truth soon enough.

That dragons exist. That we are every bit as big and bad as you would imagine and that she has plenty to fear out here in the jungle.

“What you should do with me?” she repeats what I just said, putting her hands on her hips. “What do you mean by that? And what is your name? I told you mine; it’s only right that you tell me yours.” She’s covered in white ash, making her hair looklighter than it is. It also makes her eyes seem so much bigger…they’re bluer, too, with hints of gray. They’re quite pretty…just like the rest of her.

Although tiny, she’s definitely all woman. My eyes are drawn to her chest for a few moments. She’s wearing a tank top. It pulls tighter over her ample breasts, which have no place being on a woman this small; at least, she’s small compared to a dragon shifter female. I’ve never seen a human before, so I wouldn’t know. Compared to my almost seven-foot frame, she’s tiny.

“Are you just going to stand there and stare? It’s like you’ve never seen a woman before.” She folds her arms over her chest, clearly covering herself. I need to keep my eyes on hers. I don’t want her to think I’m some sort of creep because I’m not. I need her to trust me and to do everything I say, or she’s not making it out of this alive.

“My name is Creed. You’ve crash-landed on Mistveil Island. The reason I’m looking at you so strangely is because you are the first fe…woman I have laid eyes on in years. Just over three, to be exact.”

“Why is that?”

“Our women live in the city. There are none out here. None for miles and miles.”

She frowns, looking at me like she doesn’t quite believe me. “Why? That doesn’t make any sense.”

“And yet, it is the truth. It’s why they all want you. Why you can’t stay here, lest they find you.”

“You’re not making any sense, Creed. Where are the women? Why are there men living out in the jungle all alone?”

“Most of them are not out here by choice; they’ve been excommunicated. That is why they want to mate and breed you…why they want to keep you. Women are rare and highly sought-after on Mistveil. They are unheard of out here in thejungle.” It doesn’t matter that she is a tiny female or that she is highly breakable. A human might even hold more appeal.

Her eyes widen, and she gasps, all the color draining from her face. “You can’t be serious. You’re saying that to…to…scare me.”

“Why would I lie? Why would I want to scare you for no reason?” I keep my voice low, my senses on full alert. “There are very few women on Mistveil. It’s mostly men on this island…even in the city. Women are sought-after, fought over, and very often shared.”

“Shared?” Her mouth falls open. “As in…?”

“Yes. I’m talking three or four men to one woman. Sometimes more, if the female can take it. I’m talking about the civilized side of the island. It’s the Wild West out here. I’m not sure what would happen. It isn’t safe for you. You should not have come.”

“I’m not here by choice. I was forced to go to Draig Island as a Tribute.”

“You should have stayed there,” I tell her.

“I’m beginning to realize that now.” She worries her lip with her blunt, white teeth. “I need to get off this island and back to the Mainland.”

“Yes, you do, and as a matter of urgency.”

“Will you help me, Creed? I’m not sure I’ll manage on my own.”

I grunt. Getting involved in all of this is the last thing I want or need. I hate how every instinct inside me is telling me to help her…to protect her. She isn’t mine. She never will be. I feel this way because of instinct. I’m driven to mate and to reproduce. Living alone in the jungle isn’t normal or healthy for a male in his prime. I need to ignore these instincts, but at the same time, I can’t just leave her to fend for herself; she wouldn’t last two seconds out here.

Hell, she probably won’t make it even with my help. It’s something I have to keep firmly in the back of my mind. This female is as good as dead.

Fuck!

“Please,” she whispers; her big eyes are pleading.

“It’s not like I have much choice in the matter. You won’t make it without me. I have a couple of conditions.”

“Okaaay… What kind of conditions?” She narrows her pretty eyes at me, looking skeptical.

“You shouldn’t care what they are. You should be agreeing to just about anything I ask of you, Octavia. I will be putting myself at great risk to help you.” I clear my throat. “Make that, Iamputting myself at great risk. If they catch me with you, they’ll kill me to get to you.” I use my thumb to point behind me, somewhere near the door. “They’ll kill me for keeping you from them in the first place. They’ll tear me to pieces.”

She licks her lips, looking stricken. “I’m sure it wouldn’t be that bad,” she mutters. I know that she’s trying to make herself feel better, but she’s wrong. Dead fucking wrong.

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