Page 44 of The Exiled Dragon

My slithering neck pulsed downwards, looking for the tribal leader, Zaos. The warriors parted as he came to the front of the lined warriors. “Black Dragon, we mean no harm.” His hands raised in surrender. “Please spare the women and children.” His voice shook. Lifting my head, one eye glaring at him from above.

“I would not harm the innocent,” I growled out. Many warriors stood back with their spears. “Only those who have touched what is mine.” Three warriors shook uncontrollably, backing away from the others. My body snaked around to the back of the crowd. My Dragon hissed while they stood still. Sniffing them from above, one, in particular, smelled like my fawn. My jaws snapped, picking the Elf from the ground, screaming like a helpless rabbit.

Warriors threw their darts, only to be reflected by my scales. “Stop! Please!” Zaos waved his hands. “She’s all right, really. She is being bathed; she was covered in mud…”

“Creed!” The small, timid voice I had heard from the first time we met tickled my ears. Her voice was faint, but her footsteps became so much stronger. “Creed!” Turning my head, I saw my fawn, clean and dressed in a beautiful yellow gown with flowers adorning the bottom. The slightly puffed sleeves and squared neck showed off her slender pale neck. Her hair was adorned with a large, beautiful braid over her left shoulder. Her feet were bare, but that didn’t deter her from running through the grass toward me.

“Creed!” her voice yelled, her smile widening and her eyes glittering with excitement. Immediately dropping the Elf from ten feet in the air, he landed with a thump. Whining, I left him, my Dragon shifting back into human form, causing the black smoke to rise around me as I ran to her. Her arms opened wide, throwing them around my neck as I picked her up.

Burying my face into her neck, I inhaled her sweet smell. She was clean, her hair was soft, and my Dragon purred enough to shake the ground below us. “You’re okay!” she whispered into my neck, hoping she was taking in my scent as well. My chest vibrated while holding her close to my heart. My forehead went to touch hers, but her hands cupped my face and planted a slow kiss on my lips.

Gasps and murmurs went through the crowd.

“That’s the Black Dragon” One little boy stood on a log near the bonfire. “Why isn’t he eating her, and why aren’t we on fire?” The boy's mother slapped her hand over his mouth, pulling him away. Odessa huffed in annoyance, reluctantly letting me go.

“You all are wrong.” Her arms were still wrapped around my waist, afraid I would disappear. “I don’t know where you learned such things, but Creed isn’t like that. He would hurt no one unless being threatened.”

“He just tried to eat me!” The Elf, still rubbing his rear, spoke. Other Elves tried to quiet him, pushing him back into the crowd.

“Well, you deserved it. You shot me with a dart and slung me over your shoulder.” Odessa’s bravery shone brightly as she talked about me defending her honor. I couldn’t help but huff my chest out, wanting to kiss her senseless. She was noticing the little things I could do to show her I cared, not even chastising me about it.

My hand encompassed her waist, pulling her closer to me. My bare chest felt the nakedness at the top of the back of her dress. Her stiff body instantly softened, holding her hand over mine.

“Is this him?!” A scrawny Elf with too many colors decorated on his body came close to Odessa. I pulled her back, baring my teeth.

“Damn girl, you like them rough and tough, don’t you?” He eyed me up and down, a smirk playing on his lips. “He certainly is barbaric. How is he in the sack? Is he rough there too?” Odessa gasped; her face buried in my chest.

“Daine, you don’t say such things!” she scolded through the muffled sounds of her lips pressed to my chest. Daine laughed, who was being pulled back by Zaos.

“Odessa vouches for you,” Zaos spoke. “She speaks the truth. I can feel it in her voice.” Zaos was Elven before he mated to a Fae woman. Each Fae has a gift they keep hidden, but it was no secret that Zaos had the gift of truth. He could figure out if someone were lying if he concentrated hard enough.

“Of course, I am telling the truth! Why would I lie?! He found me in the forest, scared and alone, taking me back to his cave and helped me heal. All the terrible things you said about him are false. I know it. Just because you listen to stupid gossip doesn’t make you a good leader, now does it?”

Zaos grimaced, looking at his mate. She put her hand in his, nodding for him to speak. “I have heard people talk yes. I could not tell if they were lying or telling the truth because they had not witnessed it. In a world like this, you assume the worst. Would the Black Dragon be willing to speak to clear his name?” Odessa pursed her lips and looked at me.

I shook my head. “But what about in your Dragon form? You can speak then.” Zaos sighed audibly.

“I cannot find truth or fault in a Shifter’s animal. It must be the human. You speak with passion and believe so strongly. If you are speaking the truth of him saving you, that is enough to make us reconsider his reputation.”

“A Witch…” Odessa mumbled. “Can Glinda make something to help his throat? To heal his vocal cords? Witches can do that, right?” Daine walked back towards Odessa, who stepped to take his hand. As much as I didn’t like it, I refrained from pulling her back. “Can she do it?” Daine scratched his head.

“She is no longer a full Witch anymore, but it should be a potion. I don’t see why not…”

“No,” a deep woman’s voice came from the ever-increasing crowd. Odessa went back into my arms to shield herself as she realized the crowd was now staring at us.

“There is a plant, but it is said to be extinct. I have not seen it in decades. If the Fortuna flower grows, it should be here in the Elven territory where nature is taken care of by the Elven magic.”

Odessa crossed her arms, visibly upset. I pulled her to me, wiping a stray tear from her face. “Does everyone think you have done those things? Tried to challenge your brother, hurt innocent people and all that?” I nodded. Her face softened. “Why? Who started these rumors? Who would do such a thing to you?”

The crowd dispersed, unsure what to think of the Black Dragon in their territory or the new information that I saved a helpless human. Odessa and I stood idly as Zaos and the Witch conversed. I should listen to what they had to say, but my concern was the woman in front of me. “Do you have problems with someone in your tribe that spread these lies?” Nodding, she let out a breath. “Your brother,” she whispered. “Your brother would have to spread rumors. Otherwise, he would tell everyone it wasn’t true.”

My fawn was smart.

My thumb trailed under her eye. Her dampened lashes were meant for me. As much as I didn’t want to see her cry, it made me feel loved that she would care to shed her tears because of me.

“Black Dragon,” Zaos came forward. “You both are welcome to stay here. Glinda has told me about the Vampires, and as much as I want to believe Odessa that she is safe with you, I have to abide by the future Queen Clara and look after her welfare.” I growled, gripping her tightly. I was to protect my fawn, not some Elf who couldn’t lift a sword properly.

“Please, Black Dragon, just for a few days. It would give us all ease to know she is safe. It will also do wonders for your reputation if what Odessa says is true.” My arms clung to Odessa. No one would take her from me.

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