Page 107 of The Exiled Dragon

“I don’t know! I ran and hid in a closet full of linens and had to listen to two wolves bang each other until dawn. I didn’t know they liked to growl and bite so much. I’ve been scared to death, Odessa! The male kept calling the she-wolf his slut, and she begged him to choke her. Gods, I thought I was kinky, but their language! The slapping!” My eyes widened, looking over at the guards. One left quickly, hopefully to go find Tangle.

Tangle fell into the room shortly after, his hair a mess, his dress clothes still intact from last night. “Daine,” he grunted. He picked him up from the chair, putting his nose next to his ear. “I’ve looked everywhere. Why did you run? You protected me.”

“Me?” he cried. “You are the warrior!”

“But you saw it coming before I did. You knocked him out faster than my own reflexes. I’m so proud of you.” Daine sighed, wrapping his arms around his neck.

“Really?”

“Yeah, really, but why the hell do you smell like a wolf?” I stood up from my chair, the legs making a large screeching noise.

“I’m going to let you two discuss it. I’ve gotta go.” I ran out the door, the guards quickly following.

The library wasn’t far, just down the hall from the dining room. My spirits lifted as I came closer. This was how I was going to help. I was going to use the magic inside me that was steadily growing to fight off whatever else posed a threat to me and others. Osirus knew something. He stared at me strangely, like reading a book and you are unsure what the words mean. Magic was the only thing significantly different about me compared to other Dragons.

I know these Vampires may be after me right now, but they pose a bigger threat to this world. Once they have me, who knows what else they could accomplish? The bags of memory powder they carried away were just the tip of the iceberg. How much Dragon blood do they really have? Gripping my fists, I cracked the door, not letting the guards come in.

“Can you please stay here?” I asked.

“Alpha, we cannot. We have to watch you at all times.” I squinted my eyes, wanting to throw a fit, until realizing they said, ‘Alpha.’ I grinned sweetly.

“As your Alpha, I’m telling you to stay outside this door.”

“Alpha Creed did not see that one coming, I bet,” the tallest one snickered. “All right, you scream if you need us, Alpha. We cannot disobey your orders, but we will break down the door if you are in danger.”

“Thanks,” I meekly spoke, shutting the door with a click.

Turning, I found Amora and Melina sitting opposite each other with white candles on the table. With them was a woman in a white robe, golden tassels around her waist, and wheat-colored hair flowing down her back. She smiled, beckoning me to come closer.

“So, there is my beautiful pearl Dragon.”

Chapter Sixty-Two

Creed

Forthreedays,myparents, the Dragons of our tribe, and the entirety of Osirus’ people hunted Vampires. The days were long, and the nights were longer with Odessa not by my side. She did not heed my warning by staying away from the windows at night.

Each hour I passed her window, I saw her sleeping, sitting up with a hand lingering on the glass. Her hot breath fanned the supposedly impenetrable material. Feeling her Dragon’s heartache only put my Dragon in a fever. He wanted to be beside his mate too, but we had to do this. We had to stay out and help the others but seeing her uncomfortable had my Dragon reach for her.

My Dragon pushed forward, having us land on the platform below inside the gates. My feet moved on their own accord. I was too tired to fight the beast inside me and deny him our mate. With newfound energy, we ran through the halls, slapping our feet against the marble without caring about waking anyone sleeping. The sweat on my brow dripped hastily to the clean floor. Once we arrived at our bedroom, motioning for the guards to step away, I rattled the golden handles at the door. It clicked, and I entered to see my sleeping mate lying near the window. My heart quickened its pace, running to her.

Her deep breathing, her forehead tilted towards the slightly cold window, put needles into my heart. Purring, I lifted my mate from the bench window and carried her to the bed. Odessa did not stir, her body too deep in the dreams of her mind.

My finger brushed her hair away from her face. Immediately, her face leaned into my palm, seeking its warmth. Even with the Duke not being here, he kept her away from me. My time spent hunting an endless number of Vampires that hide within the trees and shadows was enough for me to make the fire in my belly burn hotter.

I wanted her; I wanted to be near her. Our love, as Hecate said, was strong. Her breathing slowed further, sinking deeply into the mattress. Covering her with blankets, I kissed her forehead tenderly, leaving the room more agitated than before. I wanted her, my Dragon wanted her, not just in the emotional sense but in the physical. Burying my shaft deep inside her body, having her fall asleep connected to my body was my longing. It was the ultimate love I could give her, being attached to her emotionally and physically.

Our Dragons were calling to each other. They cried out, but I could not change my mind. I had to continue the hunt so we could be at peace, so everyone could be at peace. Once taking to the sky again, the minutes turned to hours, and my heart only grew heavier in the night. Dragons could go days without sleep, but even I felt the toil on my body.

Luckily, King Osirus’ soldiers could rotate six-hour shifts, most of them spanning the surrounding area of the palace and away from the lighted palace. There had been a few Vampires caught and imprisoned, but the ones I found were dead within seconds. Once landing on one of their backs, my Dragon’s scales would flutter up my back as if I were a raging Werewolf, biting into the neck only to rip it to pieces with my claws. Hearing the bones crack, the sinews of the tendons, muscles, and cartilage fueled my fire, thinking that one of these blood demons could be Mortus. Any rogue Vampires were deemed a threat to my mate, and my beast took over immediately. No care for orders from King Osirus.

The Vampires, and a few Witches and Warlocks, had memory powder in their pouches. It was used if they faced death, but none of the powder worked on our Dragons. I had been sprayed twice, and none of it even phased me. I could remember my mate, and that was all that mattered. Odessa’s dragon was already supplying us with enough magic to keep it at bay. No Dragon was inhibited by the spell. However, the Fae were not immune, and many had to be taken to the palace healer for an antidote that was still to be created by the Cerulean Moon Kingdom’s Sorcerers, who had samples of the powder.

“They need to be brought in for questioning,” Osirus continued to scold me after the third Vampire I had consumed. My Dragon dared to snarl at the king, but he only chuckled, continuing to hunt along with his men. Osirus wasn’t just a king who sat back on his throne and gave out orders, he was a leader that was out amongst men and working twice as hard. The soldiers that saw their king flying in the sky immediately puffed out their chests with pride and continued to fight the good fight on the ground. He only went inside for a few hours at a time to help him recharge his abilities with light.

His men were not only protecting the surrounding areas of the palace but taking further ground into the south and east. The Southern Tree Forest had the most promise. The trees were now overgrown, no longer being tended to by Pixies that inhabited the area. Meaning potential enemies could have captured the land and kept most of the area under a glamour spell to hide their new meeting spot.

Flying by the window once more before daybreak, I see Odessa back laying her head against the glass. Her hand had lowered considerably, her eyes shut, and a glistening tear trailed her face. “You should go to her,” my mother’s Dragon spoke. My mother and father had taken to the skies just twelve hours after their new bond was created. They even took no time to rest to help protect what slept inside the palace.

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