Page 29 of The Exiled Dragon

The servant continued down the hall, reaching the door where the blood bags were kept. The dank basement, the water dripping in the distant corner, made my lip curl. My beloved, the one I wanted, the one I had saved from this hellhole, was kept here.

I would have run too.

The cage was larger than the others, a small thin mattress not as thick as the tip of an index finger laid on the floor. Odessa’s smell was strong. Pulling the thin blanket with holes up to my nose, I sniffed the aroma that kept me up at night for months.

The plans, the mating, the formal gathering I had planned for her were all wasted. On top of it all, most of my guards were gone helping a little uprising with the rogue Witches not far away. It was the perfect night for her to run.

Standing up from the cage, I turned slowly, my eyes zeroing in on the two servants who disobeyed. “Dungeons,” I spat. “Both of them.” Guards began dragging them, their feet digging into the wet stone floor.

“Not me, my Lord! I told you of her treachery!” she screamed, pleading. I laughed vociferously.

“Really? Then you should have told me of her wrongdoings since the first night. You are just as bad as her,” howled. Smelling the rag once more, I put it in my pocket.

My beloved would return to me; we would be reunited. Anything that stood in my way would be destroyed.

“Get another search party,” I spoke to my head guard as I walked out of the blood room. “Send out a reward notice to every Vampire, dark Fairy, and Witch you can find.” Looking out the nearest window, the sun began to set. She was new to this world, the only single human running around Bergarian. Odessa would stand out like a sore thumb, few places to hide in a place like this. Someone will find her quickly. “The reward will be beyond anyone’s comprehension.”

Chapter Twenty

Creed

Odessa’slipsweresosoft. Everything about her was delicate. I didn’t want to hurt her, not my Fawn. My beast couldn’t stomach that. I kept my hands from gripping her too harshly, but her movements, the way her hands tickled my neck and weaved into my hair, had me wanting more. So much more.

Odessa granted me the ultimate gift by kissing her as mates do. Does this mean she wanted more, too? My hands traced up her back. We were back at the cave, lying in each other’s arms. Every moment, I wanted my lips on hers. She was my additional element of life, such as water and air. Odessa had to breathe, so sometimes, I would trace my lips on her cheeks, her jaw, and down her neck. Her sighs roused my desire for her, but she had not granted me anything more just yet.

Her fingers gripped my rough shoulders, holding on as my hand pulled her lower back into my body. One of my arms had gone to sleep, but I would suffer to keep her facing me on our sides.

“You are really good at this,” she spoke breathlessly. I hummed, continuing to bury my nose in her neck. The sweet citrus infiltrated my nose, my Dragon purring excessively.

“Have… have you kissed someone before?” My head pulled from her neck; my eyes locked on hers. Shaking my head, her body let out a sigh. I swear on this mountain if she had kissed another, I might have to travel to the Earth realm. I didn’t want anyone alive that could have touched her. My jealousy radiated from my Dragon. Hearing him snap his long, jagged teeth in my mind made me focus on Odessa.

As if reading my mind, she added. “Oh, I haven’t either.” She blushed, her finger trailing a Dragon's skull on my chest. “You are just gentle and passionate. Maybe you had a Dragon lady friend or something before me.” Her eyes looked away from me. Taking my thumb, I trailed her lips, finally pulling her back to my gaze. I shook my head again, pulling her in for another kiss.

She backed away, and I grunted in disappointment. “So, no one?” Her eyebrows raised in question. “Not even in your younger years when your body was changing and all that stuff?” Odessa’s hand waved around, exerting her point. Shaking my head again, my lips pushed back to hers. Her body instantly relaxed as I pushed her back into the pillow.

I craved this feeling; for so long, I wanted a love that all the other Dragons had. Now I had it, at least I think I did. It would help so much more if I could speak more freely. One day, one day soon.

***

As dawn approached, my worry about Odessa’s safety heightened. Razak would be here to protect her, but what if there were more than a small band of dark Fairies? What if a small militia came for her? Odessa stirred. She always seemed to know my emotions. When I am uncomfortable, she comes to my side as Razak comes to my aid in a scuffle with prey.

“Creed? Is it morning?” The back of her hand rubbed her eyes, her heavy eyes lifting slowly. Her mouth was still puffy from the mouth mating we did well into the night. In fact, it had only been a few hours of her sleeping soundly.

My body hovered over hers, not wanting to go, but if my brother found me late, they would come find me. The last thing I wanted was for him to know my fawn was here. He would do anything to make sure I suffered.

Odessa's lips pouted. I didn’t waste time capturing it with my lips, sucking it gently. “Creed.” My name rolled off her lips, making my Dragon purr. My forehead rubbed with hers. I didn’t want to leave her. Feeling my tension, her gentle hands cupped my face.

“I’ll be here when you get back.” Her lips kissed my forehead. “I’ll stay in the cave and not leave.” She kissed my cheek. Her nose rubbed mine, letting off a giggle as she let go. Groaning in my chest, I left the bed reluctantly. Gathering supplies from my satchel, comprising a few knives and a spear, along with extra clothing to enter the tribe, I slung it over my shoulder.

Odessa propped her arm up on the nest, watching me get my things. She smiled at me, pulling the furs closer to her chest. “I’ll be right here, and we can kiss some more, I promise. And! I will have food ready for dinner. I’ll wait for you.”

Rushing back to the bed, I kissed her again. I kissed her like it would be the last kiss I would give her. Odessa’s lips parted, stunned at my sudden intrusion. It was more intense than our previous kisses, but by Horus, the mighty Dragon, I needed it to last me the day.

Pecking her lips once, I clicked for Razak to stay. He had become accustomed to being called Fluffy. I may need to just call him fluffy once my voice is repaired. “Go,” she whispered, “and hurry back.”

I took off down the cave, hearing my supplies rustle in my satchel. My mood had already deteriorated, the heat of my Dragon exploding from my chest. My body didn’t wait. We transformed immediately inside the cave. Smoke poured from the cave entrance as my wings caught the wind of the cold mountain above.

Being in no mood to deal with Adam, my Dragon let out a mighty roar, shaking the trees below me. I had my Odessa, my fawn, and I didn’t want to leave her. There was more to her, to me, even my Dragon. I wished I could speak with him once, just as the Werewolves speak to the animals. Snuffing at the idea, we raced to the worthless tribe I used to call home.

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