Not His Dragon

by Annie Nicholas

  She did as he instructed. Her heart skipped beats as she stared at the ground far, far below. How big of a hole would she leave in the earth if she fell?

  “That’s good. Now spread your wings.”

  Her long throat went dry and her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. “This is a bad idea.” She retreated from the edge. Wouldn’t it be her luck to die on her first day as a real dragon? She sensed Eoin pressing his stomach to her back, blocking her escape. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll move your scaly ass.”

  With gentle hands, he petted the feathers on her underbelly. “So soft.”

  She elbowed him in the gut. “Stop that.”

  He chuckled and wrapped his big, brawny dragon arms around her torso, just under her wings. “I won’t drop you.” He inched her closer to the edge. “Ever.”

  “Eoin.” She clung to his hands. “Can’t I be a ground dragon?”

  “I’ll be the one flying and you’ll be just testing your wings. Don’t squirm, bite, or hit me.” He knew her so well. He gave her a little nip on the back of her neck and then launched them off the roof of the castle with his great wings extended.

  The wind caught Angie’s wings and tugged her new delicate membranes open. The land below rushed past her so quickly the trees and grass blurred.

  “Relax.” Eoin spoke close to her ear. “Let the air speak to you.” The hardest thing in the universe to do was give up control. Technically, she hadn’t given it up. Eoin had taken it from her. Otherwise, she’d still be on that damn roof pretending she was human in dragon form. She needed to embrace her true nature. She wasn’t human and shouldn’t act like it.

  She stretched out her new neck and embraced the wind with her wings. She mimicked Eoin’s motions with her own wings trying to learn from example. He made it look so easy.

  Eoin flew them over the mountain and below into a green valley with a long, crystal clear lake. The surface was smooth as glass and as they flew over it she finally could see her reflection.

  He hovered over the water so she could have a good look. She was an ivory color with golden eyes. The feathers covered more than just the edges of her wings. They covered her limbs and her long thin tail. She was only half Eoin’s size. Opening her jaw, she stared at the transparent needlelike teeth. She might be small but she’d have one hell of a bite. From the reflection, she saw Eoin’s great horned head hovering over hers. The look of adoration in his eyes swelled her heart. They could truly be together.

  “Have you had your fill of looking?” His great dragon voice rumbled above her.

  “For now.” She rubbed him under the chin with her nose and it felt right.

  With a few strokes of his wings, he brought them to the shore and landed close to the water. “This is where I usually bathe. In dragon form, of course.” He ran his side along hers as he circled around her body. “You should join me from now on.”

  “Why do I get the impression that bathing is the last thing on your mind?” She dipped her claws in the cold water and shivered. She didn’t know if she could give up her human habits of hot showers. The important word being hot.

  Eoin brushed his jaw along hers in a very cat-like act and made a happy rumbly noise. “You’re so soft. I don’t know of any clan with feathers.”

  She sighed and sat by the lakeside, leaning her full weight against him. “Another mystery to add to my list.” She’d hoped once she shifted to dragon she’d be able to find the answers to her past, but she had more questions. Eoin sheltered her with a wing over her back, pulling her next to him. “I’m kind of relieved.”

  She tilted her head back to look at his strong-jawed face. “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t have to share you with anyone.”

  She ran a clawed hand along his muzzle. “You’re very sexy when you’re possessive.”

  “That’s just the dragon in you talking.” He winked at her before shifting back to his human form.

  She admired his tattooed, muscular back. He had the body of someone who knew how to use it. A cooing noise escaped her chest and she blinked at the odd sound.

  The corner of his lips lifted in a smug smile. “I like you too.” He entwined his fingers in the small, downy feathers on her body. “Are you going to change shape so I can fuck you already?”

  “Oh, is that how it’s going to be?” She smirked and whipped the end of her tail at his firm, fine ass. “Maybe I’ll be the one to fuck you.” She calmed her mind, like Eoin had instructed her to do on the mountaintop the first time she had tried to shift with him, and pictured her human form. Nothing happened. She shifted her position and tried again. Her heart raced a little faster. “Eoin? I can’t seem to become human. What am I doing wrong?”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Angie rose to her hind legs and struggled to find balance. She flapped her wings uselessly and cantered to the right. Her wings struck something solid and she heard Eoin grunt. What if she was trapped as a dragon for the rest of her life just like she’d been trapped in human form? At least as a human she’d been able to hold a job and have a life. As a dragon, she couldn’t even fit in her apartment. She’d be dependent on Eoin for the rest of her existence. That was not acceptable. She tripped over something and slipped in the mud. Landing flat on her back, she knocked the wind from her lungs.

  “Are you done yet?” Eoin stood a few feet away, hand pressed to his eye as he bent over, resting his other hand on his knee.

  “I—I can’t shift.” She flapped her wings against the ground and did her best to roll on her side, but she’d gone from having four limbs to six and none of them were hands. “Eoin, help me.”

  “I will once you’re calm down and won’t trample me again.”

  She went still. “Did I hurt you?”

  As he approached, he lowered his hand. His right eye was already beginning to swell shut. “You have a strong right-wing.” He smiled to take the sting out of his words. “I’m going to help.” He raised his hands as if trying to calm a wild animal before resting his palms on each side of her dragon face. Warmth spread from his touch into her flesh.

  “What is that?”

  “My magic touching yours.” He spoke softly. “Concentrate on it and follow the path I’m taking. Eventually, this will come naturally to you.”

  Closing her eyes, she relaxed into the sensation as it spread deeper within her body and then she sensed another pop. She opened her eyes and once more she was human. “You’ll teach me how to do that?”

  “You shouldn’t even have to ask.” He took a step toward her and cupped her cheeks with his calloused hands.

  Angie sucked in a breath as his electrified touch sent tingles along her nerves. Right now, Eoin looked nothing like the furious dragon that had confronted her on the street. His anger and mistrust had been replaced with desire and love. She stood on tiptoe to meet his lips halfway, curling her fingers over the rough stubble covering his head.

  A sexy growl rolled from his throat as he crushed his mouth to hers. He tasted of cinnamon and firecrackers all rolled in a fireball of holy cow. His kiss was firm and demanding. He pulled her against his chest until her feet left the ground.

  She wrapped her legs around his narrow hips and rubbed against his growing erection. Odd how only a week ago, she’d have cut off her own arm to avoid becoming some shifter’s mate. Now, it seemed like the best idea ever invented and she couldn’t wait to make him hers.

  Eoin set her on the cool, soft grass along the lakeshore. He prowled over her, skin brushing over skin. His muscles bunched and released with controlled movement as he skimmed her curves. Fierce craving shone from his pale blue eyes as they caressed every mound and dip of her body. His gaze returned to hers and he started another breath-stealing kiss.

  Running her hands over his arms and shoulders, she memorized every hard detail of his form. She moved to his back and stretched her reach along his flank, needing to touch, lick, and nip every inch of him.

  He pulled her l
eft leg up around his hip and with the head of his cock he stroked over her clit. With just the tip, he started slowly pushing against the sensitive area, but soon they became longer strokes until the underside of his cock slid against her, using her own moisture as lubricant.

  The pressure built steadily until she could barely breathe.

  Breaking off the kiss, he stared between their bodies at where they met and groaned—the sound so raw and primal. His body trembled as if in terrible need. The angle of his cock shifted slightly so the tip no longer hit her clit but press in a little at her entrance before he withdrew.

  Her hips rose of their own accord, following his retreat.

  He repeated the process of rubbing his full length against her clit then dipping in a little bit farther, bringing slickness and fiction and heat.

  She landed a flurry of kisses on his neck, jaw, and shoulders, clinging to his hips so he wouldn’t withdraw, but he was too strong. “Fuck me.” Inside, the pressure built to unbearable pleasure but he wouldn’t let her go over the edge in release. “Oh God, Eoin.” Sweat slicked their skin and her hands lost their purchase.

  On this dip, he thrust deep inside her until he couldn’t go any further.

  She cried out at the sudden and intense pleasure.

  He hovered over her, suspended by his arms, and he rolled his body from hips to abdomen as he moved inside her. Deep, strong thrusts followed by his own rumbled growls. He dug his knees into the ground as he pinned her under him. “Mine.” He repeated by her ear in a raw voice. “Mine.” Over and over.

  She arched into his body, repeating yes to his every claim. Unable to keep her eyes open any longer, she dropped her head back as her climax burst through her body in long, wild sweeps leaving her in a shivering, spine-tingling mess.

  Eoin pulled her tighter into his embrace and rolled onto his back so she lay limp across his chest. He nuzzled her cheek as if they were in dragon form and laughed.

  She loved that sound. She loved the feel of him against her. She loved his patience with her crazy, especially when trying to teach her about flight. They had so much to share and a whole dragon lifetime ahead of them, except something still bugged her. And Eoin still hadn’t voiced the question she knew must be burning in his heart. “Why do you think that the spell suddenly broke?” Angie lifted her head. “I mean, one moment I was me, and then pop, suddenly I’m a dragon. I didn’t do anything. I didn’t even try to shift.”

  He traced her collarbone. “Can you recall what I’d just said before you shifted?”

  She paused and searched her memory. He’d said he loved her. Could it be so simple? “Did you mean it?”

  “Every word.”

  Was Eoin’s love what broke her curse? “The key to undoing the curse is to understand the reason why it was needed in the first place.”

  “Where did you hear this?”

  “The witch who stole all my money. It’s what she said when we were discussing the source of this thing shielding me from magic. Except at that time, I had thought whoever had abandoned me had placed this curse on me before I was even given to my parents.”

  “That has nothing to do with love. If anything, it’s the opposite.”

  “Exactly, but the truth had been staring me in the face all this time and I never wanted to admit it. My parents, my adopted parents, were the ones who placed the spell on me. Otherwise I never would have developed the sharp nails or the fast healing or other mild shifter traits when I was ten. It’s when I began developing these things that my parents pulled me out of school and were fearful whenever I spoke about my differences. They must have been the ones who placed the spell on me.” She hugged herself, suddenly going very cold. If they had loved her so much, why would they hide such an important thing from her?

  “That makes sense.” Eoin rubbed her back in soothing circles.

  “What? That my parents were ashamed that I was a shifter.”

  “No, that’s not it at all. If it were found out that humans had adopted a shifter child, then you would have been taken away by the supernatural community. Humans are not equipped to deal with a child just learning to change shape. It’s very dangerous.”

  “So, they did it…”

  “Because they loved you and couldn’t stand losing you.”

  “Why didn’t they ever tell me?” Angie flung her hands up to the sky. “I would’ve gone the rest of my life living as a human if I had never met you.”

  “They died when you were young. They probably wanted to wait until you were older and more stable so you could control your shift better and make your own decisions.”

  “So this is an accident.” She leaned into Eoin’s embrace.

  “I think so, but they had foresight. They set a failsafe in case you met a dragon—”

  “And he fell in love with me?” The world seemed very big all of a sudden, even for a small white dragon. She’d been alone for too long and Eoin’s love was filling all those empty, hurtful places in her soul. “Can we go to your home now?”

  He lifted her chin with his finger and stared into her eyes. “Yes, let’s go to our home.”

  With Eoin’s guidance, she shifted back to dragon form.

  “But there’s one last thing we need to do before leaving.” Eoin spread his wings and began to circle Angie. He beat his feet against the ground to a primal rhythm that only he could hear. Swinging his tail back and forth, he began to dance.

  She sensed his magic once more caressing her feathers, and in turn, her own magic flared. Only then did she hear the music. Unable to resist, she drew closer to him, spreading her wings, ready to join.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted something burnt orange diving from the sky. She cried out as it landed upon Eoin was such force that the wind caught her wings and blew her back toward the forest. With more grace than the first time she had attempted, she rolled back onto her feet and faced the destruction.

  Another dragon stood upon Eoin’s back, his talons scraping against Eoin’s new-grown scales. Burnt orange in color, he was much larger than Eoin in bulk. His muzzle ended in a sharp beak like an eagle’s instead of teeth. With lightning speed, he darted in to snap Eoin’s neck.

  Eoin moved out of the way just in time and shouted, “Run, Angie. It’s Cedric.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Pinned to the ground by Cedric, Eoin tried rolling the bigger dragon off but his weight was too much. Body tense, muscles quivering, he snaked his head around and blew fire. A familiar burn rolled in his stomach, spreading up his throat and out his mouth. His flame bloomed like hungry death. It was back. Eoin was back.

  The force of the blow sent Cedric rolling off. Angie was vulnerable. They’d started the mating dance but hadn’t finished. This left her open for any males to take his place and bind her. He had to protect her.

  Eoin regained his feet and caught a glimpse of white in the corner of his eye. His gut clenched. Angie still stood by the lake. Why hadn’t she run? He set himself between her and Cedric. She didn’t know how much danger she was in. He should have taken the time to explain the details to her instead of impatiently rushing to possess her. “Angie, you have to go.”

  “I’m not leaving you.”

  Her heartfelt words only made him more determined to protect her.

  Cedric had recovered from Eoin’s fiery strike. His scales steamed from the heat. They were not of the same clan and Cedric was somewhat more vulnerable to fire. But that also meant that Eoin was vulnerable to Cedric’s power.

  Eoin stood his ground. “You could have had any mate in the world. Why did you wait for her?”

  The ancient dragon tilted his head to the side as if not understanding the question. “Because I want her. She’s of an ancient bloodline as old as mine. My claim should come first.”

  Eoin wanted to take this fight into the air—he was younger and faster—but there was no guarantee Cedric would follow him to the sky. He might just grab Angie and run, even though Eoin doubted th
e aged dragon would be so cowardly. “She’s mine.” Cedric was bigger and more experienced, but was he willing to fight to the death for Angie like Eoin? “She loves me.”

  With a snort that set sparks off around his nostrils, Cedric shook with laughter. “That’s because she’s known no other dragons.” Cedric used his wings to leap high in the air with his talons extended toward Eoin’s chest.

  The only choice Eoin had was to deflect the sharp talons. If he dodged, then Angie would take the hit instead. With all his strength, he shoved Cedric away but was left with a deep gash in his side. Blood streamed from the wound and would sap his strength if he didn’t put an end to Cedric soon.

  Angie cried out and raced to Eoin’s side. She’d been raised human and wasn’t accustomed to the violent ways dragons used to settle their differences.

  He swung around and extended his claws to stop her. “Stay back.” She was going to get trampled. He’d rather give her up than see her killed.

  Angie crouched low to the ground and circled the two male dragons. What were they fighting for? She’d made her choice. Nothing was going to make her leave Eoin. That asshole Cedric might hurt her wonderful dragon. She wasn’t one to back down when someone she cared about needed help.

  Cedric’s gaze caught hers, and of all things, he winked. “By the gods of thunder, you’re tiny.” What would happen to her if this jerk won the battle? She sure as fuck wouldn’t mate him. She suspected a mating with Cedric would be more the akin to prison than marriage.

  Whipping his head back toward Eoin, Cedric opened his mouth, but it wasn’t flame that he blew. Jagged lightning bolts snapped and crackled from his throat. Static electricity tugged at her feathers.

  “No!” she shouted as Eoin curled into a ball, his mouth open with no sound coming out.

  With what grace Angie could manage on four legs, she hurried toward Cedric. When she reached his side she slid on her stomach and bit his ankle with her new needle-like teeth. It seemed like the only place on his body where her mouth would fit properly.