Page 27 of The Lost Princess

I shot into the air, pushing my wings to get as high as I could as fast as I could. I didn’t bother turning around to watch him fumble with the massive arrow. I went high, then south. Each pump of my wings was another shot at life. I’d be damned to be saved by my madness only to die like some oversized pigeon.

The sharp wooden arrow zoomed just below me, scraping against my belly. The fear turned my stomach sour, and I couldn’t remember that last time I’d been so terrified. If I was injured, Kaida would die in our cave. It was too high for her to escape from and too hidden for the humans to rescue her. She’d die, all because of these stupid humans.

The anger buoyed me and allowed me to ignore my screaming muscles and the pain in my wings. The human was chasing me and keeping up due to the load I carried. I could drop the sheep. That would give me speed.

No. Kaida needed the food. I tightened my grip on the dead carcass.

Fly. Fly!

An arrow grazed my left ear, and part of me growled at the challenge. My inner draken wanted to turn around and fight, to prove our might against such weak foes.

But I didn’t stop. I kept going. The human with the bow would need time to reload and aim, and by then, it would be too late. I flew hard, gasping for breath but not relenting until the human was nothing but an angry speck against the landscape. Gliding over toward the looming mountains, I landed briefly on a large rock to collect myself and check for injuries.

That had been far too close for comfort.

More disturbing was the way they had screamed at me. With my memories coming back, I distinctly remembered walking among humans before in a past life. They hadn’t screamed, or pointed, or called me names.

This was very confusing. Maybe Kaida could offer some sort of explanation.

I pushed off into the air again and tried to come up with some sort of plan. Was she planning on staying? I would ask her, of course. I’d beg if I had to, but I wouldn’t force her. How could I? She’d already given me the gift of my sanity, breaking my feral madness after who knew how long. Anything else she chose to bestow on me was simply a gift.

I would not force her to stay, regardless of my feelings. Even if it meant I’d fall back into madness again.

The thought was chilling.

I didn’t want to sink back into the darkness, cut off from my memories, and not even knowing my own name. It was frightening.

So what could be done?

I would have to think about it more.

I landed roughly in the cave opening, dropping the sheep and falling to all fours. I checked the dress was still secure over my shoulder and looked up. Kaida was crouched down next to the fire, staring at me with wide eyes.

She was naked, and I wasn’t made of stone.

I admired the curve of her bottom and the strength in her thighs, the flare of her hips and how it narrowed up to her waist. Her pale, long hair fell down both shoulders in a white cascade. Her arms flew to cover her breasts the moment I returned, though I wasn’t sure why. Female drakens sometimes went topless like the males. Did she not like her breasts? I thought they looked fine. I wondered if they felt as soft as they looked.

I took a half step forward, and nearly tripped over the sheep. Oh. Right.

“I-I brought dinner,” I managed, my voice husky. I cleared my throat, and stepped over the sheep. I held the dress out to her, trying to focus onher, and not the soft sheen of her skin against the flickering flames of the fire.

Kaida blinked and stood before she reached out and snatched the dress from my hands. This close, I caught her scent. Herarousedscent.

Blood pounded in my ears.

“Thanks,” she said, her voice bright and a bit false with cheer. “Before I put it on, I wanted to show you what I did. I practiced while you were gone and it barely hurts now.”

She tossed the dress in front of her, and then turned so her back faced me. Kaida’s smooth skin erupted into scales, her wings and fangs elegantly shooting from her body. There was no awkward slow shifting or any trace of pain on her magnificent face. She stood before me as a vision—an unmated female draken, perfect in every way. More so even because she was going to be mine. I prayed she would be mine. The fire made her scales glow, and I knew I was in deep, deep trouble.

I loved her.

She might still wish to return home.

It wasn’t fair.

“G-good,” I rasped and looked down at the sheep, forcing myself to focus on the dead animal. I crouched over it, starting to skin it with my claws, preparing it to eat and use the skins. From the corner of my eye, Kaida deflated slightly. When I glanced back up again, she was human and wearing the dress.

“I’ve never seen how an animal is prepared before,” she said with interest, crouching down next to me.

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