Page 19 of The Exiled Dragon

If we meet other supernaturals while Odessa wore this fur, they would be envious. They would know the difficulty of hunting a creature such as the Eskaskis. I had taught Razak well, only attacking the spot underneath the neck, which causes them to fall limp while being carried. The fur was untouched, with no holes in the leather and no blood. The only liquid that could stain the fur was its own blood, causing it to be ruined immediately.

I let my half-smile cross my face. It would be perfect for her to wear. Her own eyes shined with mirth as she felt the luscious thick fur. It was perfect, just like her.

Odessa hobbled in, leaning on the cave entrance. I had hoped her scratches, bruises, and ankle would have made progress the past three days, but there was none. Her eyes were darker, and her face was puffy. "Good morning, Prince Charming." She gave a smile that didn't reach her eyes like it usually did. Like the past few mornings, I walked to her, picking her up with an arm under her legs and another behind her back. Instead of putting her on the new chair I had made her yesterday, I put her in my nest.

"Thank you." She let out a quiet yawn. My fingers went to work, pulling the bandages off her cuts. They were the same, no healing. I couldn't understand what I could be doing wrong; the salve could help get rid of the body's infections quickly. Was it because she was not a Shifter? Not of this world?

Odessa let out a long yawn, her eyes sunk deeper into her face. Her eyes were red with weariness. Odessa was not all right; she was becoming worse. Her eyes fluttered; her body relaxed entirely until she sunk into the furs of my bed. Pulling at my hair, I paced the room. What could be causing her not to get any better?

Moving the drapes and sauntering back into her hollowed-out cave, nothing was amiss. The fire's embers were still warm; there was no dampness or drips from the top of the rocks. Her bed was in perfect condition, the furs spread tightly across, ready to be slept in. My hand touched the nest; it was soft, soft enough for her body to mold into it. Everything was for a good sleep.

Except.

The furs were cold. Odessa had just left the furs of the nest, and there was no warmth. My scarred hands moved across the furs, trying to find where her body had laid. In between the furs, I was met with nothing but cold. Crawling fully onto the nest, I could not even smell her scent.

Odessa did not sleep here. The smell was faint, too faint for having just risen. My Dragon's tongue seeped through my lips, smelling the area. The rugs I had placed on the floor to keep her feet warm had traces of her passing through. Turning to the corner of the room, her scent was more potent. It was away from the fire and the warmth of the bed. Not wanting to be correct, I hesitated until I finally placed my hand on the rock. Expecting it to be cold, wanting it to be cold, I felt her warmth.

She had slept on the floor.

Was my nest not good enough? She would rather sleep on rocks? Her soft body would find this floor repulsive; she deserved more than this. What was wrong with what I provided her? I growled loudly; Razak came inside, his head ducked low. My fangs elongated; my Dragon was angry Odessa wouldn't accept our nest. This was for her, the best I had, the best wasn't good enough.

I had to be good enough. There was no other way.

Realizing I couldn't leave the cave, I couldn't speak to her without her thinking the worst; my claw extended. Scratching the cave wall, the heat of the swipe caused sparks to fly across the room. Breathing heavy, I stomped out, trying to rein in my anger. Odessa was sick because I couldn't provide; she could not get adequate rest.

What had I done wrong so that a human would reject my gift?

My Dragon breathed heavily over her bed, watching her sleep. My fawn will sleep in my nest but not hers? My heart stopped. Did she want my nest? I wiped my mouth, feeling venom drip down my beard. Surely not. She would like her own space. Humans did not become attached to others so quickly, especially when there was no mating bond, did they?

Odessa stirred; a strangled whimper cried from her chest. Eyes shut tight, her fists pulling at the furs, her eyes shot open, breathing heavily. "Creed," she breathed breathlessly. "I'm sorry, I must have dozed off. Everything all right?" My heavy breathing startled her, but her gaze never left mine.

Sighing, I sat on the side of the nest. How could I convey to her I knew she wasn't sleeping? That she denied my gift to her and how it hurt me? Odessa wouldn't have known; she couldn't know that a Dragon's ego could be damaged by rejecting something as a nest. The nest was a home, a sanctuary for a Dragon to feel safe. My dragon shuffled backward into my body, not wanting to know the reason for our failure.

Picking her up, I pulled her to my chest; her head rested contentedly while I took her back behind the cloaked door. Her heart began to race, pulling away from me, looking around, not understanding where we were going. Striding back into her chamber, I sat her on the bed. "I'm not tired." She shook her head, trying to get back up. Odessa did not even want to lay on the nest. I pointed to her and the bed, she complied, but the pleading look in her eyes let me know she didn't like it.

I walked to the opposite side of the room; her eyes looked over, pondering what I planned. I pointed to her and to the spot I knew where she lay. Her body stiffened, arms rubbing across each other, holding herself tight. Pointing again, she shook her head.

Odessa hid something from me; she knew what I spoke of and what I was trying to convey to her. Why did she not sleep in the nest I supplied? Taking giant strides to her, I sat beside her. It was the perfect size for her body, not near big enough to fit mine. Odessa's head would not turn to look at me, her nails piercing into her skin.

Pulling at her hand, she leaned away from me. My Dragon growled, causing Odessa to jump slightly. Breathing deeply, I laid my hand on hers, trying to pry her fingers from her skin.

"Odessa," my voice growled lowly. Making my voice as soft as possible caused more pain, but I still did not want to frighten her. We had become comfortable with one another, but now she was afraid.

Odessa's amethyst eyes came to mine; the glassiness held sorrow and pain. My hand tightened around hers. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "You made me a beautiful bed and my own room." Her tears retreated back into her eyes.

"I'm just scared." Her throat automatically gulped. "I've been having nightmares, so I do not want to fall asleep; I sit on the cold ground and stay awake." How could I have been so stupid not to see the signs the first night? Her mouth said one thing, but her body said another. She was uncomfortable from the very beginning.

"This bed, the furs, the room were all so beautiful. You made it for me, and you were so proud, and I was so grateful." Odessa sniffed. "I wanted to show you I appreciated it but…" She shrugged her shoulders. "I goofed up not telling you the truth. I just wanted to see you happy too."

I gave a half-smile, letting her know it was all right. Odessa had a voice, and she still failed to communicate with me.

"It just reminds me a lot of the cell I was in. Sometimes the cave makes wind noises that sound like whispers. Whispers that would try and pull my arm out of my cage and drink my blood before I went to the Duke," she cringed.

I wanted to keep her safe and give her something she would appreciate, and I only made things worse for her. Gripping my braids on my scalp, I pulled them harshly. A nasty habit I had acquired as a young Dragon. Odessa's hands pulled my arm down. "Don't," a small breathless whisper escaped her lips. "Don't do that. I was so happy you gifted this to me. You've done so much I couldn't deny it, Creed. I just think I sleep better with you in the same room." My self-defeating conscience and my Dragon cursing me stopped in an instant.

She felt safe enough to be around me while she slept? No fear of my beast waking and hurting her? Not even Razak would sleep near me; he slept close to the cave exit to leave if my Dragon decided to stir in the night. Perhaps she didn't know, but the beast would never hurt someone as caring as Odessa.

Picking her up, I led her back into the common area of the cave. My large nest lay unattended with clean furs. Odessa had not healed because she would not let her body rest, so rest is what I will give her.

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