Page 6 of Slay Me

He’d spend the rest of his life making up for the pain he was about to inflict on her, he promised.

Match lowered his head and bit her skin, trying to be gentle, but the dragon took over and took her much more roughly than he’d wanted to.

She grabbed his arms, almost falling. Her held her tight, trying to release his mouth, but he couldn’t. The dragon had all the control.

Mine. Mine. Mine.

She collapsed, her legs falling out from under her, and still he held her tight, both in his arms and his mouth. He tasted fire on his lips. His fire, trying to get out of him and into her. Her fire biting him back.

He had to get control of his dragon. His father had warned him never to let the beast part of him take total control.

“Maciej.” Her sweet voice saying his name was the one thing that saved them both.

He pulled away, horrified at the bruise and blood on her skin.“I’m sorry, Fallyn. I didn’t mean to. You can punch me in the mouth if you want.”

He blew on her skin trying to ease the sting and a wisp of flame licked across her skin.Right before his eyes, the wound healed and the bloody bruise sizzled, transforming into a fully healed scar. Not a scar, but a dragon. A simple one, but a red dragon for sure.

Fallyn found her feet and stood up, touching her neck. “It doesn’t hurt at all now.”

A rustling of branches sounded behind them and he heard Nanny Nin calling their names. “Maciej, Fallyn dear. It’s time for the party.”

Shoot. He wasn't ready to go back. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

“Yes." She grabbed his hand and spun them both in a circle. "I feel like I could dance all day.”

“Then that’s what you shall do.” He could have a birthday party any old time. They spun and spun in a circle until they both collapsed to the ground breathing hard and grinning like mad.

"Fallinka, Matchek, where are you? Come to the house now, it's time for the party." Nanny sounded much closer this time.

He didn't want anyone but him and Fallyn to know where his lair was. They'd have to leave soon so Nanny didn't come looking and accidentally find it.

"That's nanny. We'd better go," he grumbled and got up from where they were laying in the sun dappled grass. He reached for Fallyn's hand, but she pulled him back down.

"Not yet, Match. I like it here in your lair. It's quiet." She blinked a few times and he could see something was bothering her. She would tell him eventually.

He ran his fingers over the tender spot on her neck where he'd bitten her. It made his tummy tingle again. He really hoped it didn't hurt. "I'll build you a house here made out of big stones. Then we can live there together. It will be as quiet as you please."

"Like a castle?" It sounded like she liked that idea.

"Yes, like Teczyn Castle." That wasn't far from here and it was the biggest castle he could think of. Although his father had promised to take him to see Wawel castle in Krakow someday soon. He said there was a dragon secret buried under the castle and Match needed to be more grown up to hear about it. Now he had his soul shard so that meant he was grown up.The city didn't have the kind of life he wanted to build for Fallyn. It was noisy and stinky and there weren't enough trees. "But better because we'll have apple trees in the back garden."

"What about mamma and papa? Can they live in the castle too?"

"I'll build them a house too, but over there." He pointed back toward the village. "I want you for myself."

She smiled at him and he knew she liked that idea. Then they could run and play in their apple orchard and he could show her his dragon and she could show him her fire.

"I made you something for your birthday."

He sat up straighter, excited. "What is it? Will you give it to me now?"

"No, silly. It's back at the house. I made you a szarlotka."

His favorite. "Then let's go. I can't wait to have a taste since you made it."

He took her hand and this time didn't let it go. Until he saw the first demon wyrm emerge from the shadows of the forest. Then he pushed her behind him and shifted into his dragon once again.

On Fire for Her

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