by Anna Lewis
The spicy scent of eggs and onions wafted toward her and her traitorous stomach rumbled.
“Little goat!” Raeph shouted across the loft. “You’re awake!”
“I told you not to call me that,” Amaya grumbled as he sauntered toward her.
“You said not to call you ‘sacrifice,’” he said, brandishing the key to her chain. “You didn’t say anything about ‘little goat.’”
He had a point.
“Now, little goat,” Raeph continued, “If I unlock you, do you promise not to run away?”
Amaya glared at him. “And give you the satisfaction of destroying everyone and everything I love? No, thank you. I’ll pass.”
Her sarcasm was lost on Raeph, who simply unlocked her cuff. “Run free, little goat!” he announced. “Or, limp free, I guess. Running’s probably out of the question right now, huh?”
“I’m fine,” Amaya announced, swinging her legs over the side of the bed and immediately crumpling with pain. “My legs asleep, that’s all.”
“Right,” Raeph replied, one dark eyebrow cocked. “Well, hobble on over to the table and get some breakfast. We’re having eggs.”
He strolled back over to the kitchen, leaving Amaya to carefully pick her away to the breakfast table. Raeph may be awful, but the eggs smelled delicious. Amaya couldn’t remember the last thing she’d eaten. Hors d’ouevres at her father’s solstice party? She honestly couldn’t say.
After he’d served her a plate of eggs and poured her a cup of steaming coffee, Raeph plopped down in chair across from her.
“I’m sorry about your leg,” he said, sipping his own steaming mug.
Amaya was shocked. Apologies didn’t seem like part of Raeph’s vocabulary.
“That’s so like Endres, though,” he continued. “Always grabbing first and asking questions later. His whole clan is like that, a bunch of arrogant aristocrats who think everything in the world is theirs for the taking.”
There was a stir from the air mattress. Raeph lowered his voice and continued, “If I were you, Amaya, I would be terrified of being claimed by Clan Solas. They’re a blood thirsty lot and would love nothing more than to—“
“Raeph!” Endres was awake. “What are you telling her?”
“Nothing!” he replied, merrily. “Just bringing our little goat up to speed on her current predicament.”
Endres heaved himself off the mattress and ambled toward them. His eyes were still dazed with sleep and his white-blond hair stuck up at all angles.
“Don’t call her that,” Endres muttered, taking the third seat at the breakfast table. “Her name is Amaya.”
Raeph rolled his eyes. “Don’t buy into this nice guy act, Amaya. He just wants to butter you up so you’ll choose him.”
“I get a choice of who eats me?” Amaya said. “How generous of you.”
“Our generosity is exactly what got you into this mess,” Endres said, helping himself to coffee.
“What do you mean, your generosity got me into this?” Amaya asked. “I didn’t ask for anything from you.”
It was Raeph who answered. “No, but your father did, Amaya. He asked for a pretty big favor several… wait how old are you?”
“Thirty three,” Amaya answered. “It’s not polite to ask a lady her age.”
“Well, it’s also not polite to welch on your debts,” Raeph said. “Like I said, your father asked my clan for a pretty big favor thirty three years ago.”
Endres groaned. “He didn’t ask your clan, you liar, he asked my clan.”
“And that, little goat, is exactly why we’re in this predicament.”
Amaya sipped her coffee as Raeph explained.
“Your father is a self-made billionaire, right? Well, he didn’t exactly do it himself.”
Thirty-three years ago, William Bond had made a deal with a dragon. Full of ideas but short of money, he’d approached Clan Solas with a request: if they would give him a small sum, barely a fraction of their hoard, he promised to repay it with interest within thirty-three years. The dragons of Clan Solas had laughed at this request. They didn’t strike bargains with humans, but William Bond was insistent. If they lent him the money and he failed to repay it in triplicate, they could keep his collateral.
“His collateral?” Amaya interrupted. “What exactly did he put up for collateral?”
Raeph and Endres sighed in unison.
“Do the math, little goat,” Raeph said. “It’s not that hard.”
“Me? He put me as collateral? But… but that can’t be. I wasn’t even born.”
“Exactly,” Endres answered. “Your mother was pregnant, and my clan requested the most valuable thing your father had. That would be… you.”
Amaya was silent, the realization crashing down around her.
Raeph continued with his story. Clan Solas did not lend William Bond their own gold. No, they’d given him gold that was rightfully the property of Clan Donaes, Raeph’s family.
“That’s a lie and you know it,” Endres interrupted. “That gold was the property of my clan and your family tricked them out of it, Raeph—“
Raeph shrugged, unaffected by Endres accusations. “The point is: she was bought with my family’s treasure, ergo, she belongs to us.”
“You are such a lying sack of sh—“
“When it came time to collect the debt, your father refused,” Raeph pushed on. “He seems to think money is thicker than blood.”
Amaya shook her head. “No, he would never do that. My father loves me.”
“He might, but he loves money more, little goat,” Raeph said. “He willingly gave you to us.”
Silence spread over the loft like an impermeable fog. Raeph picked at his eggs, Endres sipped his coffee.
“I need some fresh air,” Amaya said, pushing her chair away from the table.
“Head up to the roof,” Raeph waved her off. “You won’t be able to get down, not unless you jump. And you don’t want to do that, do you?”
Throwing one last glare in his direction, Amaya fled to the roof.
***
The winter day was cold, but the fresh air on the roof was a welcome relief from the stifling heat of the loft. Amaya sagged against the edge of the roof, weary from the revelations of the new day. She gazed out over the sea of rooftops and shivered.
My father did this to me?
“Here,” Endres said, appearing behind her and holding out a black trench coat. “It’s cold out here.”
Amaya took the coat, but skeptically eyed Endres’ t-shirt. “Aren’t you going to be cold, too?”
He just shrugged. “Dragon.”
They sat like that for a few minutes, Amaya huddled in the coat and Endres standing silently, watching over her.
“Raeph’s an ass,” he said finally. “And his clan is no better. A bunch of scheming snakes who’ll take anything they can get their claws on. They took my clan’s hoard. Claimed everything and left us nearly penniless. That’s why I’m here, Amaya.”
His tone was soft, almost gentle. She looked up at him, dazzled by his beauty in the soft winter light. “I don’t understand,” she said.
“I’m the first son of my father,” Endres said, folding his long legs under him and joining Amaya on the low wall. “It is my duty to return my clan to our former glory. If I can claim you–the daughter of William Bond—then Clan Solas will no longer be the laughing stock of our world.”
“I’m glad to be of service,” Amaya choked and bowed her head. She’d already cried in front of this man, this dragon, once so far. She did not want to do it again.
Endres stood up abruptly and held out his hand. “Let’s go,” he offered.
“Go where?”
“Anywhere,” he said. “Don’t worry, I won’t steal you. Clan Solas always keeps their word.”
Amaya eyed his fresh clothes. “And what about your—“ She gestured to his outfit.
“Good point,” Endres said, unbuckling his waistband. “Would you mind
holding these for me while we fly?”
Moments later, Amaya found herself with an armful of clothes, being carried back over the river by a gigantic red dragon.
She’d flown before, of course. Her father had a private jet and a helicopter but none of those things could compare with this wild freedom. “Faster!” she cried, surprising herself.
Endres heard her and streaked low over the water. Amaya’s toes dangled in the frigid river and she laughed in surprise as the cold waves lapped at her feet.
They neared the tip of Manhattan and the majestic green form of the Statue of Liberty loomed before them. With one flap of his mighty wings, Endres alighted on the edge of Lady Liberty’s torch, neatly depositing Amaya on the catwalk.
A pop of rushing air and the dragon was gone, replaced by a man who Amaya was quickly coming to regard as beautiful.
“Your clothes,” Amaya said shyly, handing over her bundle.
When Endres was dressed, he joined her at the railing.
“I used to fly up here when I was young,” he confessed, smiling down at her. “My family was having so many problems, fighting all the time, and this place made me feel… peaceful.”
“I understand that,” Amaya replied, sliding her hand into his. “Thank you. For this, I mean.”
He looked at her for a long moment, his deep brown eyes unfathomable. “Amaya,” he said, finally, his voice thick. “I didn’t ask permission when I tried to take you from Raeph and you were hurt. I regret that deeply.”
“It’s all right,” she said, although it wasn’t all right and her leg still burned from his claws.
Endres slid his hand along her cheek, and Amaya nuzzled in to his touch. “I’m asking permission now, Amaya Bond,” he said. “Can I…”
The words were not there, but Amaya knew what he was asking. “I wish you would,” she whispered.
Endres’ mouth was on hers, his lips warm and soft. Less than twenty four hours ago, this man was a violent creature prepared to rip her from his rival’s grasp. Now he was kissing her so tenderly, it was like an apology.
An apology that Amaya accepted. She leaned into the kiss, lips parting, teasing Endres’ mouth open with her delicate tongue.
He gasped and pulled back, brown eyes wide.
“I’m sorry,” Amaya said, unsure what had just happened. “Did I move too fast, I didn’t mean—“
“No,” he replied, the words tumbling out of him. “You were perfect, you were… amazing. I’ve just never…”
His voice trailed off and he ducked his white-blond head.
“You’ve never kissed a woman on top of the Statue of Liberty before?” Amaya joked.
“I’ve never kissed anyone before,” Endres admitted.
“No one?” Amaya was shocked.
Endres shook his head. “When I was young, my parents told me that they would find me the perfect mate, that I should wait for her. And I did.”
“Me?” Amaya asked. “You’ve waited your whole life… for me?”
Endres nodded. “Honor means nothing if you don’t keep your promises. My parents promised that I would have you, and I promised that I would be good enough to deserve the most beautiful woman in the world. So, I waited.”
“Endres…” Amaya had told herself that this man would never see her cry, but these were an entirely different species of tears. Amaya reached for him and he leaned in, eager to reignite the kiss that had been doused.
Endres drew nearer, tantalizingly close, lips almost meeting hers.
And then, with a rush of wind, he was gone.
A pair of black wings filled Amaya’s view now, blocking Endres from her sight. She could not see him, but she heard his scream as he tumbled over the side of the torch.
“Endres!” she screamed into the void he’d left.
***
Amaya she rushed to the edge of the catwalk, searching desperately for any sign of Endres. His body wasn’t sprawled on the lawn below.
Amaya batted at Raeph’s claws as he tried to snatch her up, tried to take reclaim his captive. Hitting his scales was like punching a brick wall, but she lashed out again and again in spite of the pain. Endres’ name tumbled from her lips.
“Endres!” she yelled, the wind from Raeph’s wings engulfing her words.
Raeph’s claw had caught her coat and he dragged her along with him, toward the ledge. Amaya struggled with the coat, desperately trying to wriggle her way out of it and away from Raeph.
A large red body slammed into the black dragon, pushing him over the edge of the catwalk. Down they fell, Amaya tangled in her coat and Raeph’s claws as the dragons thrashed above her.
At the last minute, Endres snatched her from Raeph’s claws and they shot skyward, toward freedom.
“Stop!” Amaya yelled, as Raeph resumed the chase, slamming his black body into Endres’ red form. “Stop!”
Endres dove again, dropping Amaya on the lawn and wheeling back around to face Raeph, his brown eyes nearly red with his fury. The dragons clashed, a tumult of claws and teeth, fighting for dominance on the picturesque green landscape of Ellis Island.
Amaya, oblivious to her own danger, raced around their fray, screaming at them to stop. They tumbled once more, then skidded to a halt, each dragon glaring at their damsel. She stared them down, one at a time, emerald eyes then red ones.
“Stop fighting,” she commanded, breathless.
A small pop of air and Amaya was no longer facing two fearsome dragons. Instead a pair of battered and naked men stood on the lawn in front of her, both heaving from the effort of the battle.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she shouted at Raeph, her voice unrecognizable in her fury.
“He was stealing you,” Raeph said, his tone was so petulant it practically sounded like a whine.
“He wasn’t stealing me, you idiot,” she snapped. “He took me out for a breath of fresh air. We were going to come back.”
To his credit, Raeph had the decency to look chagrined. “Well, how was I supposed to know that?”
“Could you just trust us?” Amaya said.
“Never trust a Solas,” Raeph retorted.
This was too much for Endres. “Clan Solas is bound by honor,” he growled. “Clan Donaes are the ones you shouldn’t trust—“
“Stop it! Both of you!” Amaya exploded. “I’ve had enough of your childish squabbling. You want to eat me? Eat me. You want to sacrifice me? Then get on with it. But I refuse to listen to the two of you bicker over ownership rights.
Both men gaped at her.
“I mean it,” Amaya demanded. “I’m tired of this. Get it over with. Kill me.”
She spread her arms wide and screwed her eyes shut, waiting for the blow.
Nothing came.
Amaya stood like that--arms spread, wind whipping the tatters of her coat and dress around her gashed leg—for another moment. When she ventured to open her eyes, both men were still… men.
“What’s the hold up?” she demanded.
“I think we may not have been entirely clear, Amaya,” Endres said.
“Our choice of words might not have been the best,” Raeph admitted. “I mean, you’re a sacrifice, all right, but… um…”
“You’re not a blood sacrifice,” Endres finished. “You’ve been given to us, but not to kill.”
“Excuse me?” Amaya was confused. “You two have been fighting over which clan gets to kill me, right?”
Raeph breathed in, slowly. “Not exactly. We’re fighting over you, but not over who gets to eat you.”
“Amaya,” Endres said, “we’re fighting over who gets you.”
“You’re ours,” Raeph admitted, “but you weren’t meant for a blood sacrifice. You are meant to be a… mate.”
***
“So you’re fighting over who gets to marry me?” Amaya asked. It had been hours since the brawl on Ellis Island and she was still having trouble processing this new information.
Raeph slammed the re
frigerator door closed and turned to her, bottle of white wine in hand. “I wouldn’t say marry, exactly. Dragons aren’t big on white-tie affairs but… yeah. Pretty much.” He opened a cupboard, presumably in search of glasses.
“Okay, so you’re fighting over who gets to put a dragon baby in me?”
“Little goat, you need a lesson in the dragon birds and bees,” Raeph said, emerging with two slender wine glasses.
He popped the cork and filled the glasses. Amaya checked her watch. “When exactly is Endres getting back?” He’d been gone for hours, only stopped in the loft long enough to make sure she was safe, then flew off again.
“He said he’s running an errand,” Raeph said, handing her a glass of wine. “Probably off collecting rent from his daddy’s tenants. Clan Solas is so poor, they’ve started investing in real estate, can you even believe it?”
“Why do you do that?” Amaya asked.
“Do what?”
“Say such awful things about his family,” she said. “When it seems like your family is—“
“Is what?”
“Is… terrible.”
“They are,” Raeph agreed, shaking his head sadly. “My family is awful.”
“Then why are you trying to please them? Why are you fighting over me?”
Raeph looked at her, his green eyes dull with sorrow. “Because I thought that maybe, maybe, if I was the one to bring home William Bond’s daughter, they might actually respect me.”
“Raeph—“
“No, Amaya, don’t,” he said. “You don’t need to pity me. I see the way you look at Endres. It’s the way everyone looks at Endres, like he’s some kind of god. It doesn’t matter that his family has fallen out of favor, he’s still upright and noble and, and, I don’t know, perfect.”
Raeph drained his wine and poured himself another.
“I understand why you want to choose him, but please give me a chance.” He gazed at her, pleading.
“What do you want, Raeph?”
“Give me a chance to prove that I can be as good for you as Endres, please. Don’t write me off.”