Page 68 of Claimed by the Savage Dragons
The clothes are entirely unsuited to life in the mountain, but I was told when I asked if the uniform could be changed to something else, that Aziel had picked it out years before when he was Morcai’s second. So, to keep the peace, I haven’t ordered them changed even though it’s abundantly clear why the females have to wear these short, sheer shifts. Easy access.
I let out a snarl when I think of the human in front of me being bent over a table the way that girl was this morning by Bron for little more than a misstep, my ire rising quickly.
I tamp it down, shaking my head at my fierce emotions. I must be more tired than I thought. My head pounds and I want more than anything to sink into my bed for as long as I can.
I turn away and then curse softly, going to the closet and grabbing a thick blanket. I cover the little human, all the while telling myself it’s because I promised to keep her safe until the others are finished with their temporary banishment.
I frown as I notice her red cheeks, hoping she isn’t coming down with something, but when I touch the back of my hand lightly to her forehead, she doesn’t feel warm.
I leave her on my couch, tucked up under the blanket and I go to bed, trying to quiet my mind so that I can get some rest before everything starts all over again tomorrow.
In the morning, when my alarm goes off, I wake just as tired and achy, though I slept like the dead. The human is still slumbering on the couch, and I frown, sending Dominick a quick message to get her a fucking bed.
My day goes like all the rest do. I spend the morning listening to complaints. I receive messages full of problems that I can’t fix without the infrastructure changes that Aziel is adamant we don’t need. He keeps his allies on the council fighting me on every little decision. At night I get back to my rooms and I find the little human already asleep in a small lumpy cot in the smallest corner of the five massive rooms I have to myself. I message Dominick to have one of the real beds made up for her when I see how fitfully she sleeps and the dark rings that have appeared under her eyes.
The days and nights pass, the weeks melding together. I’m busy as always. Exhausted as always. The headaches are constant as they have been for months, though I dare not tell Del how I’m feeling in case she puts me on bedrest. I don’t have time for that, so I just try to power through.
I rarely see the human in my care awake, though I receive weekly reports on her wellbeing from Dominick that I forward to Brax and Tor who are still dealing with the attacks at the Borderlands.
Pretty soon, six weeks have gone by practically in the blink of an eye, and I’ve never even spoken to the girl, though her tantalizing scent in my rooms has the beast inside me constantly vying for control, which is its own brand of torture if I don’t let him out to hunt at least three times a week. Something I also don’t fucking have time for.
It’s not until I find myself at a loose end one morning that I actually get to speak to her and it’s only because most of the adults are out on the annual elk hunt, a day which usually ends in a night of drunken fighting out in the woods. As a result, for the first time in months, I don’t have to get up early to listen to their endless complaints, their constant worries about the fact that our females aren’t breeding and haven’t done in over twenty years. The respite is definitely needed so I don’t set my alarmthe night before, but I’m woken early anyway by my front door opening.
I frown as I register the sound and glance at my clock. It’s six thirty. I’m always gone by now. No one should be coming in here at this time.
Puzzled, I get out of bed and pad quietly into my living room.
I smell Dominick in the air. I guess he’s here to collect the human and take her to work with the others.
I hear his voice in the other room, sharp and angry.
‘Get up, underling.’
‘Please,’ she says quietly.
She sounds weak.
‘I don’t feel well.’
‘What did I tell you? You do as I say, or you’re punished! You want to be punished, is that it, you little bitch?’
There’s the sound of a hard slap and a loud squeal.
‘Answer me!’
‘No!’ she cries.
I’ve heard more than enough, but when I enter her room, I realize it’s worse than what I heard.
Dominick has pulled her out of bed and is holding the naked girl by her long red hair.
I try not to take in the high breasts, the tapered waist and the rounded tummy, the meaty thighs I’d suddenly love nothing more than to have wrapped around me. I force myself not to look away, a gesture that Dominick’s dragon might see as submission. Instead, I stare at her, making my eyes coldly assessing instead of extremely desirous, and pushing the unwelcome thoughts deep.
‘Commander,’ he says, freezing almost comically. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were here.’
‘Clearly.’ My voice is so cold he shivers a little.
My eyes flick to the wincing human and then to my aide, who lets go of her immediately.
