Page 9 of Bred By Fafnir

The barbarian level of pride that floods my chest next is… only further unsettling. Her hands had shaken like leaves as she strode proudly past my Sihlih. The stupid beast had taunted her, and she still found it in herself to gift him a bright smile, trying to stifle her excited laughter as he raced home. Showing out for the pretty female, no doubt. The desire to roar in correction filled my throat, but it would only undermine his growing respect for her.

Failure to earn the respect of the stubborn, proud mountainous beast is often met with a brutal end. The Sihlih have served my people since the Gods walked these once frozen and barren lands. Valhyr, the God of War and Valor, often depicted astride one; he is said to have even fathered the first. They are not known as war mounts for nothing. My palm runs over the flank of Valoryx. As deadly as they are, once they accept you, they are amongst the most brainless protective beasts you could have the honor of working with.

It’s why I train them.

There is no reason for a creature every bit as deadly as I to skirt away as I walk past. Valoryx fought underneath me, shed as much blood as I. My only companion in those times, who never looked at me from the corner of his eye, wondering when my mind would betray me. I drop his saddle onto the post, returning to press my forehead to his. “Nythra.” I murmurer. It’s not a command, but a release. He and the others who followed him may return to their nests or do as they please.

He takes a few leisurely steps forward as the others run off, huffing his giant, dark blue colored nose pressed to the front door, and I can’t help but roll my eyes. She’d all but bound her hands in his mane, an intense show of trust and bonding done between a Sihlih and its rider early in its training.

I ignore his lingering, snagging my kit from the back side outbuilding, letting my mind wander because, for the life of me, I can’t fathom why I’m avoiding her. By all rights, I should be doting on the human, ensuring she wants for nothing… connecting with her so that when the time comes, she opens for me without reservation. Instead, I polish a freshly polished saddle, letting my mind wander if my young will bond with Valoryx or a Sihlih of their own, long after I’m gone. Even that normally endearing fantasy doesn’t shake the tendril of worry billowing in my gut.

How long will it take before I have to bring her intoHalthara, our community's center? How long before she, too, looks at me with hidden, apprehensive glances? Will her pulse spike in terror as I mount her? How long before she fears me like the rest do?

And why in Valhyr’s honor do I care?

I need her for offspring, not her flighty human approval of my home or all the ridiculous soft furs I compiled for her. She’s a means to an end, a breeder ensuring my line doesn’t fade with me.

seven

Lenora

He’s been gone for a while. Although I can hear him outside the front of the house, lingering for who knows what. The fire reddens my skin as I lie beside it on the wide circular base. It’d be comfortable, hell I’d probably be asleep by now, if I wasn’t one wrong move away from peeing myself. A quick exploration of the house once the worst of the chill was gone earlier provided absolutely zero clues as to where the bathrooms are, orbathroom,considering there’s apparently only one bed.

Oh god, what if they’re outside?

I can imagine trekking into the frosty night to take a pee with those lion beasts out there, no less. The absolute last thing I need is to walk up to my new alien partner to ask him where I can wash the urine out of my clothes.

Oh, hell no.

I’ll bury them before it comes to that.

Myultra-stilllounging quickly turns to pacing, and when a whimper escapes from my throat, my resolve to let him stew alone snaps.

I all but jerk the front door open, my eyes widening as his mount, looking no less imposing, stretched out like an Old Earth cat, lazily raises its head to meet my eyes. Its warm breath fanning my face might’ve scared me in any other situation, but I’ve got bigger fish to fry currently. When I peek through the doorway, I’m met with nothing but darkness and a few glittering lights far off in the distance.

“Fafnir?” I call out, doing a stupid-looking dance because, oh god, I’m actually about to pee.

I try to move past Valoryx, but his large head braces on my stomach, making me rear back to miss being gored by his horns. He paws lazily at me, obviously disapproving of my desire to venture outside. A sound of irritation leaves me as I stalk back in, a momentary retreat only to jerk a fur-lined blanket from the couch before I return to him. He grumbles, making my pulse hiccup as I settle over his back, trying to cross him like a mountain. He gets the wrong idea. The damn thing gives another languid stretch before surging to his feet. A panicked squeal erupts from my throat, my hands still twisted in the blanket hung around my shoulders as I fall off, pain flaring in my tailbone as it connects with the unforgiving frozen ground.

“Lenora?” Fafnir’s growly voice hits me just as I swallow back the volley of curses that would have Mom rolling in her sheets.

He rushes to me. The look of genuine panic in his stern brown eyes might’ve made my belly flutter before. He takes in my sprawled position on the ground, my knees raised and tilted together, my dress riding up with the blanket pooled around me. His panic turnsaccusatory as he straightens himself. “Female, you cannot just try to ride a Sihlih without its mast—"

Valoryx equals Sihlih. That seems kind of obvious now.

“I need to pee, now!” I all but squeak, willing the fullness in my bladder to remain just a moment more. Cursing my stubbornness, it had felt below me to watch him retreat, only to seek him out for help.

All delusions of pride are long gone now.

His everlasting frown deepens. “Is there an issue with the wasting room?”

What had started as a trickle of annoyance turned to hurt, then frustration, and now?

Now I’mpissed.

“I wouldn’t know, as you never bothered to tell me how to find it, you big dumb male! You dropped me off in your house and fucking booked it to Timbuktu!” I yell, making Valoryx chuff out something that sounds a lot like a laugh, but that would be really creepy, and we can analyze it later.

His eyes widen in understanding, letting loose a stream of curses in his gruff rolling native language. I yelp as he suddenly swoops forward, moving quicker than a giant horned man should as he all but plucks me from the ground, tossing me over his shoulder.

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