Page 42 of The Exiled Dragon

“Yeah, and I escaped. Creed saved me and took care of me.” Rubbing my arms up and down, the sudden chill made me crave his warmth.

“You will not go back there,” Glinda spoke with authority. “The Elven territory will see to it. We are loyal to both Cerulean Moon and Golden Light kingdoms, and that is to protect the humans. I’ll let Zaos know of this information. Is that how you got here? Someone kidnapped you from Earth?”

A stray tear threatened to fall, but I sucked it right back in my eye. “My estranged mother is a Witch. She brought me here to pay off a debt.” Daine embraced me in a tight hug, knocking the kitchen chair over.

“No wonder you are so wary of Witches,” Glinda laughed.

“Goddess, Odessa, you’ve been through shit.” Daine shook his head.

“Now, chin up. Lura is here to take you to get clean. You are stinking up my house.” I giggled at the face she made, which cheered me up a little. Daine helped me stand up and put his arm around me. “It’s going to be all right, I promise.” Daine tilted my chin.

“Thank you, Ms. Glinda.” I smiled at her. Maybe not all Witches were wicked, and perhaps not all Vampires, but I’ll have to make that assumption later. My thoughts of helping Creed with his voice came to mind. Getting her alone and talking to her privately would be best.

“Just so you know, I don’t fancy getting into your pants. I can see love in people’s eyes even if they don’t want to disclose it.” Daine winked, walking me to the door. Lura stood outside, towels and a dress laid under her arm.

“Come on, my home is just over there.” She pointed over a large swinging bridge. My stomach twisted, watching the wind sway it back and forth. The bridge looked longer by the second and the creaking noise the wind made had me clutching my cloak tighter.

“I’ll carry you!” Daine lifted me up while laughing, carrying me across the rickety bridge. I didn’t protest because I don’t think I would have the courage to cross it myself. With my eyes held tight, I waited until he crossed.

“What will you do when your big hunk of a man comes back from hunting?” Lura asked Daine. “He’s going to think you are leaving him for a girl!”

Wait? What?

“He’ll be fine. He knows how I’ve craved to have a special girl in my life. None of you ladies feel comfortable around me, and this one seems to take a liking to me, right, Odessa?” I giggled, listening to him argue with Lura.

“We like you fine, but our mates hate you, thinking you are playing both fields. Until you and your hunter make it official, our mates will always be that way.” Lura huffed, pushing the door to her home in. “Just know when Odessa’s Dragon comes back, you better not touch her.” Daine rolled his eyes.

“You will protect me, won’t you, Odessa?” His lip wobbled, and I laughed at the childishness.

“Creed would never hurt you! I promise!” I beamed at the thought of Creed being jealous. In a sick, twisted way, I liked his possessiveness.

“Good, I’d like to finish this mating game I’m playing with my mate before I die at the hands of something ferocious.”

Creed

Razak, now known as Fluffy, raced off into the forest down the mountain. The snow was heavy, but my Dragon was not deterred by it. We rose to our large height, burning the tops of the trees as he let out his mighty breath.

The twig that both Odessa and I heard would have been just a small snap, but to me, it was like thunder running through the forest floor. Odessa had cleared most of the branches and debris from the area to help take us back to our cave.

My Dragon huffed, squeezing through the path of the oncoming noise. Noises of grunting and complaints of the snow rumbled through the slits under my horns. Letting out a deadly cry, I smelled the oncoming persons coming closer. Dark Fairies in their enlarged form.

Standing still, the small group turned their backs to each other, waiting for my approach.

“Did you hear that?” one said. “Sounded like one of those Dragons.”

“We are in Dragon territory, duh,” another spoke harshly. “Well, we have permission to be here. That Adam character said so. We shouldn’t have any problems. Keep going so we can find her and leave.” They continued their path, their footprints barely leaving marks in the snow. There were six of them trekking through. Their wings shivered in the cold, and their bare feet, not made for the snow, turned bright pink.

“Should have dressed for the weather,” one chattered his teeth, holding onto the small cloak he wore. The others were silent, all holding small weapons such as rope, a large bag, and the faint smell of herbs that could knock out a human. They were looking for Odessa. They still had not stopped trying to find her.

I would end them, every last living being trying to get my heart’s desire. No one would take her from me. Growling, I trampled the snow and charged toward them. All six of them would die today.

Blood-curdling screams came as they turned to see my fire blowing heading there way. My claw grabbed one under my foot, smashing him to pieces. Another tried to take off, but my winged claw crabbed him by his wing, tearing it down the middle. Several others threw magical sleeping dust into my eyes, but little did they know none of that would work on a Dragon.

My claws continued to rip into them, causing them to crawl into the bloody snow. One jumped on my neck, taking his spear to jab it into my scales. To no avail. Could he penetrate my scales, I would have to shift my scales upwards to let anyone touch the delicate skin underneath. My head turned in a snakelike fashion, biting into his torso, slinging him into a nearby tree. He groaned, rubbing the blood from his face.

None of the Fairies moved; no heartbeat slammed into their chest any longer except the one that lay by the tree. His wings were broken, and his face was covered with mud and debris. I stalked over.

“Why are you here?” As much as my hunch told me they were looking for Odessa, I didn’t want to believe it.

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