Page 25 of Defy Me

Even Jett didn't know that. He'd never seen one, heard of one just hanging around. If anyone had known of their existence and what it could mean to Jett, it would have been Geshtianna. Not like she had been forthright with her information. If there was even a chance this mythical creature could save him and his brothers, they had to find it.

The man nodded, very serious and Yvaine looked as dumbstruck as Jett felt. "I mean, I guess if dragons are, they could be too.”

“Yes. Their blood can break any curse almost instantly."

Jett's own blood rushed through his ears, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh-whoosh. Break any curse. Instantly.

“Eww, no. Are you sure we need its blood? I wouldn't want to hurt it."

Jett would. He'd bleed the thing dry if it meant saving Yvaine from whatever was hunting her. He couldn't be there for her forever. She needed to be free. If sacrificing one creature meant he could also save his brothers from their cursed life in hell. He would absolutely do it. "Where can we find a unicorn?"

"That's a decision you'll have to make and sooner than I think you'll want to." He slid a tattered brown piece of paper across the table to Yvaine. "This is where you'll find what you're looking for."

"Really? A map to a unicorn?" Yeah, and he had a bridge he could sell her too.

"I have given you everything you need." The man changed his voice into a weird stage whisper. "But sometimes you have to mark and claim the gifts in your life for yourself. So everyone knows they are yours."

Yvaine raised an eyebrow at the guy. "You mean like X marks the spot?"

He stepped back from the counter and continued speaking in that whisper, but as if he were addressing the whole room. Even though Jett and Yvaine were the only ones here. "When there is something you know belongs to you and you to it, even when you don't think you deserve it, you must do everything in your power to hold that precious gift close, protect it with all your heart and soul. You know what to do. So do it already."

"Uh. Okay. I guess. Thanks for the scones, the map, and that bit of cryptic advice. We'll just be going now." Yvaine held the paper to her chest and backed away toward the door.

Jett waited for her to slip outside before confronting the man. "Who are you?"

The guy still didn't look at Jett and he was starting to get irritated. A to punch arm or the face would get his attention. Jett clenched his fist, readying to sock the guy when he up and disintegrated into a thousand colorful petals that swirled around the room. Half of them smacked Jett in the face. He grabbed a few out of his eyes. These were no soft bits of flowers, they were hard as diamonds. In the palm of his hand Jett rolled six of the things over and over. There was a rainbow of colors, red, green, blue, gold, white, and black.

Scales. These were dragon scales.

He glanced around the room looking for any clue he could find to the identity of the man. The door reopened and Yvaine stuck her head in. "You coming, Jett?"

"Do you know who that was we, I mean you, were just talking to?" Jett stared at his hand and lifted it for her to see.

"I assumed it was Mr. Bohacek. Where did he go?" She stepped back into the little shop and glanced down into Jett's hand.

The scales there turned to nothing more than a handful of rainbow glitter. It lifted into the air on a breeze and landed on Yvaine, most of it right on the soft skin of her neck. It sparkled in a ray of light coming in through the only window in the place. Jett swore they landed in a pattern of an arrow that flashed at him.

Mark her. Claim her. Mate her.

Jett could resist no more. He may be condemning them both, but Yvaine held in her hand the cure for any curse, so maybe they could both be saved. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her like they were the stars in a blockbuster Hollywood movie. She squeaked in surprise, then melted into him, taking his face in her hands and returning every bit of fervor.

Jett took a long deep breath. "You are mine, Yvaine. Mine."

He pushed the chain of the necklace she wore aside and it too turned to dragon scales in his hands. They joined the swirls of black light and fiery red sparks in the air around them. If they spelled out the words 'mark her' in the air their intent would be any clearer than it already was. Someone or something was conspiring for the two of them to be together.

"Jett? I need you. Please. Kiss me again. Make me yours." Yvaine's soft plea made his mouth water for her.

Jett pressed his lips to her throat, gave it a gentle kiss and then let his dragon's fangs extend. He scraped them across her skin being careful not to break her tender flesh, but he had to leave his mark on her. He gently bit down and sucked hard, pulling and lapping at the wound he was making on her.

"Jett, holy, oh, wow, Jett." She trembled in his arms and her knees gave out. She clung to him and he held her tight until he was satisfied her throat would bear the mark of his love for her.

Love?

No. It wasn't love he felt. It couldn't be. He didn't know how to love.

No Soul, No Soulmate

Holy. Cow. Bells. Or maybe that was church bells ringing in her ears. There were definitely angels singing.

---