“You need to build muscle too. I insist you have the ability to hold a sword for more than a few minutes if you wish to train with me.”
Her arms slowly lower. Her face is quite expressive and I watch everything from disbelief to anticipation wash over her. “You would train me?” she finally asks.
I also see intelligence in her eyes. She won’t just take me at my word. She’s cautious. “I will train you.” I nod to the blade she has lowered. “That sword will need to go. It’s inferior. Your lessons won’t be easy. You’re weak, unskilled, and a woman. I will adjust for your learning curve.” Her brows draw together and I watch anger simmer deep within their depths. I ignore it. “There are rules that are important in training.” Well hell, now it occurs to me that I sound just like Acasia. Damn. “First, you will eat each meal brought to you so you don’t collapse. You will take my instruction and answer ‘Yes, sir’ or ‘Yes, dragon’. If I tell you to do something, you will do it.” I pause to give her time to think about these rules. “Last, though I may add other rules, you will not attack me with anything but a weapon during training. A chair is not a weapon. If you use your fist on me again, I shall break it and you will be unable to hold a sword for a month. Are we clear?”
She doesn’t answer. She walks to the table, jerks out her chair, and sits. When she reaches for the food, I grab her hand and squeeze painfully. “I want an answer from you when I ask a question.”
The pain from my grip shows in her eyes. “Yes.” I give her a glare. “Yes, sir,” she says and fire flashes in her eyes. I slowly release her hand and give a nod to her plate. She eats a third of the food on the tray without looking at me. I eat the rest. I’m laughing inside. This will be so much fun.
Chapter Thirteen
Roxanne
His manservant doesn’t take me to the weapons chamber, the dragon does. First though, the dragon delivers clothing. He tells me to put them on and be ready in an hour. It gives my food time to settle and I also have an opportunity to bathe.
The clothes are a problem. They’re made of beautiful, brown pliable leather. Soft fur lines the outer seams. The entire outfit, though incredible, is obscene. There’s nothing to it. I’m accustomed to heavy skirts that I had to loop through my belt so they remained out of my way while I hunted and trained. Nothing on this outfit will be in the way. More skin shows than even the bride gown displayed.
I dress in the clothes out of curiosity. Nothing so fine had ever touched me. The garment has a wrap-around flap in the front and the back buckles at my hips. My legs have the freedom to move in all directions. It barely covers my upper thighs and my bottom. When I move, the material separates and my hips show through the slits. The top piece covers only my breasts.
I can’t wear it outside of this room. I stare at the boots—sturdy and made from the same material. I can’t help myself and pull them on. Heaven. Fur lines the insides. Small buckles run up my outer legs and end just below my thighs. Some type of strange material coats the bottom of the boots. I jump up and down a few times and they actually spring with my movement.
I grab my blade and walk into the bathing chamber to glance at the looking glass. I can see only my upper half. At least my breasts are covered and secure within the leather. What’s not covered is the mark at the top of my breast. The one he made with his lips. My fingers skim up to the spot at my throat. My face heats up. How can he do this to me when he’s not even here? How can I not think of fucking? And I hate the word, though it doesn’t matter because that word is exactly what runs through my mind.
I back away from the looking glass and swing the blade. The thrill of unencumbered movement is intoxicating. I love the new garments even though I’m embarrassed to wear them. The dragon said he would train me. No man in my village would dare. Yes, because I am a bride, but also because women are never trained in the ways of war. Each day I went hunting, I would travel at least two hours so no one would see me. I had to train in order to place food on our table and also to kill the dragon. Now I have no reason to practice with a blade. I want to, though. I crave learning everything about properly using a sword.
I hear a noise and instantly raise my arm as I turn.
He stands in the doorway, his mouth hanging open. It’s the perfect opportunity to cleave his head from his shoulders, and my arm is heading downward. I stop the swing. His death is no longer what I want. Acasia’s story took away my bloodlust and I see the dragon in a very different light. That doesn’t mean I must like it, though. Looking at him with my mouth watering, I know exactly what I do want.
He’s dressed in tight, black, linen pants that define the muscled curves of his thighs and legs. His white shirt has billowing sleeves that gather just above his wrists. Suddenly, I’m horribly embarrassed that he sees me dressed in so little. I cross my hands over my breasts with the sword held downward.
“You’re incredible,” he whispers. I see lust in his eyes.
I purposely add a touch of ire to my voice. “I’m nearly naked.”
His eyes make another sweep over my body. “Nonsense. This outfit suits you perfectly.”
I shake my head. “I’m a bride. I can’t be seen this way.”
His eyes flash with silver. “You’re my bride and you can be seen how ever I choose. What of the arm guards? Do you not like them?”
Two additional pieces of leather rest on the bed. “I wasn’t sure what they are.”
He turns, walks to the bed, and picks them up. “Come here and I will help secure them.”
Why should I even care? He’s right. I must wear what he dictates. With the material caressing my skin, this command goes down easier than any of the others. I go to where he stands and place one arm out. He buckles the leather beginning at my wrist. His fingers whisper across my skin and the fluttering is back in my belly. He smells good too. It’s hard to think about anything but what his body will feel like against mine. I’m hopeless.
There are thin strips that circle my arm and tie at the top. “What are these for?” I can’t help asking.
He removes a sheath with a small knife from his hip and slides it into the leather ties of the arm guards. “Several will fit comfortably and won’t inhibit your movement. Never rely on one weapon; you always want backup.”
His lesson intrigues me so much I forget I’m all but naked. Then he turns me to the side and his breath runs across my shoulders through my hair. Suddenly, I feel every bit of my unclothed state. He doesn’t seem to notice the goose bumps that pepper my skin as he attaches the other arm guard.
Surprising me, he grabs my hair and ties it tightly at my nape with a small piece of leather. I watch as he does the same to his own.
He steps back. “You have more than one hidden weapon,” he whispers as his eyes scan my body.
I have no idea what he’s talking about.
“I will take you to the armory chamber myself and help you decide on a weapon that suits you.”
Something is wrong with this picture. He’s an entirely different being than he was the day before. He pulls me toward the door and I dig my new boots into the wood beneath my feet. “Is this a trick?”
His head goes back and laughter fills the room. He wipes a tear from the corner of his eye when he finally controls himself. “Training you will entertain me until we can get on with the fucking. You may start begging at any moment, so we had better get you armed and your first lesson over with.” He turns and walks away.
“I will never beg,” I whisper to his back.
He hears me, though he doesn’t bother looking at me “Never say never,” is his pompous reply.
Chapter Fourteen
Laryn
My human weapons master stands to the side of the door as my bride walks through the large chamber. I watch her admire each piece with complete wonder. You would think she was examining the finest jewels. She returns several times to an overly large halberd. I love the weapon, though it is much too large for her. I walk over and lift it from its
stand.
“It’s quite sharp, a good weapon, but not a proper size for you. The halberd is deadly and takes a master to wield it proficiently.” I step several yards away and sweep the air in front of me. The blade whooshes through the air and makes a unique sound.
She’s captivated.
“Armorer, you will have one made for use by my bride no later than next week.” Unable to speak aloud, he nods. My gaze travels to my bride. “Choose a sword more suited to your size so we may practice today.” I place the halberd back in its stand.
“You truly mean to do this?”
I have no idea why she’s confused. “I said I will train you and I don’t go back on my word.” Besides, I want to see her move in the new clothes. They suit her and they’re alluring. I will need to protect my swelling cock from the sharp blade she chooses.
She walks over to a row of swords. “I’ve only had the one in my life and I have no idea how to test the weight or balance.” She peers over her shoulder and I see gold flecks lighting up her eyes. It does something inside of me. I rein it in. My goal is not to like her more than I already do, just to fuck her.
“Lift each sword and strike with it as I did the halberd. You’ll know your sword when you find it.”
Her smile changes everything. The hard, determined lines accenting her cheekbones fade and dimples appear to the sides of her lips. Her mouth is slightly open. I want my tongue swirling over her plump lips and between her teeth. I thought she wasn’t more beautiful than some of my past brides, but I was wrong. When she smiles, their beauty is only a fraction of hers.
I’m glad when she turns back to the swords and begins testing them. She needs to bend her elbow and knees, though these are things I shall teach her. Her muscles are firm and I have no doubt that for a human female, she’s in very good shape. I want those muscles defined. And at the same time, I want her to remain feminine. I’m not sure if I can have both.
She goes back to the fourth sword and swipes it through the air once more. “I like this one.”
It’s said tentatively as if she thinks I will deny her the sword. “Allow me to examine it.” Each sword within this chamber is balanced perfectly and extremely sharp. She has chosen a weapon almost too large for her. It will cause her to tire easily, but her endurance is something we will work on. She passed by the delicate swords and showed her resolve by wanting a larger weapon. I hand the sword back to her. “I approve. Bring the scabbard and follow me. It’s time for your first lesson.”
It’s difficult not to turn around to see if she’s smiling.
I take her back to the north tower. We climb the stairs instead of descending to the bottom. I hear her breathing increase the higher we go. We stop three-quarters of the way to the top and I walk out onto a large perch used when I’m in dragon form. It’s a half-circle and about forty feet at its widest section.
She steps through the opening and I see her eyes widen in alarm. “You me… mean to train me here?” she stutters.
“Yes,” I say as I walk to the center of the perch. “When you battle, you must always know your surroundings. I think it will be a more powerful lesson if the fear of falling keeps you aware of what’s around you. In this case—air and a hundred yard drop. I work with Ashrac out here and he’s adapting nicely.”
Her eyes are now dark circles of fear. “He’s a dragon and can fly. If I fall, I will die.”
I walk into her personal space. “Drop the sword.” It’s in its scabbard and instantly clangs to the ground. Even though I know the sword she brought with her was a poor instrument, she worked to keep it rust free and sharp. The fact that she dropped the new sword so quickly gives me a small inkling that she is beyond a bit frightened. I grab her arms and begin dragging her to the ledge. She screams and fights me.
“What are you doing? Stop! Don’t do this.”
Her puny attempts to hinder me do absolutely nothing. Her legs wrap around my lower calves as I push her upper body over the ledge. I hold her there wickedly enjoying her terror. This will be her first lesson. “You attacked me at the claiming ceremony yesterday. If you were not my chosen bride you’d be dead now.” I stare straight into her panicked eyes. “Then you proceeded to break a chair over my head and bloody my nose. It is within my right to punish you severely. You planned to die yesterday and now you’re afraid because we’re up a little higher than you feel comfortable?” I loosen my fingers and she slips just a bit backward. She’s too scared to do more than whimper. “I will not allow you to touch the ground if you fall, bride.”
To prove my point, I step back to dislodge her legs from around mine. I lift her up high and launch her over the side. Her screams are quite satisfying as I burst from my clothes and take off after her. There is nothing of her new clothing for me to grab with my teeth so I use my talons and scoop her up. I feel her weak fists pounding against the rough pads of my inner paw.
Good. I want her angry. She needs to concentrate on the sword not how far up she is. I call to my manservant to bring me new clothes along with an extra set in case I need to repeat this lesson.
Her voice breaks into my thoughts, “You no-good, miserable dragon. I will kill you the first chance I get. I hate you!” It’s muffled, but each distinct word has my grin widening. I toss her to the center of the half circle when I land.
She curls into a tight ball and her shoulders shake. “I hate him, I hate him,” I hear her whisper.
My clothes are deposited outside the door. I shift and stand watching her. She’s crying. Not because I’ve claimed my right to mate with her, or that I locked her into a small room with few amenities. She cries because I tossed her over the ledge. I will never understand women.
Chapter Fifteen
Roxanne
I will kill him. A slice to the gut so his intestines fall out is my preference. Then I will pull them and watch him die slowly while in great pain. Maybe a few birds will land and feast on his internal organs before the last vestiges of death lock his eyes into an endless stare.
He’s mean. He’s worthless. I give a loud sniff and lift my head. He’s naked. It startles me so much that my anger vanishes. His male member juts out from between his legs and I jerk my gaze to his. “Why did you do that?” I demand.
He moves closer and I suck much needed air into my lungs. He waves his hand nonchalantly. “It’s the only way for you to get over your fear of falling so we can get on with your next lesson.” He walks past me and grabs clothes that I didn’t know were there. I have no idea when they were delivered. “Are you finished gazing at my fine physique or would you like to come closer and touch it?”
I hadn’t realized my eyes dropped back to his manhood. “No, please cover it. That thing is quite ugly.” It isn’t. It’s strange, but not ugly.
He grabs it. “When you finally beg me, my cock will have you screaming in ecstasy much like you screamed on your way down when I tossed you from the ledge.”
The ass. “I will be screaming as much as I would if I found a spider or snake within my bed.”
His lips quirk. “You may consider me both. It will feel as if I have eight legs when I fondle you, and my snake knows just where to go.”
He’s insane. And he’s laughing at me. I stand slowly. I’m at least twenty feet from the ledge, though to either side of me it’s more like ten. I can’t believe I behaved so childishly. I’m ashamed that he saw me at my weakest point. Crying was at the top of my list of things he would never see me do. I don’t think about what I do next because I need to prove something to him and also myself. I run for the edge and dive. When you know you won’t hit the bottom, the exhilaration is incredible. I laugh even though my heart stops.
His talons close around me. It’s not real comfortable to be held like this, but I can move around. I position myself so when he releases me on the ledge, I roll once and take to my feet.
His dragon form is breathtaking. This is the first chance I’ve actually had to admire it… him, whatever he actually is. Ac
asia didn’t explain more than that dragons have two forms. The people of my village don’t know this. Somehow I think their fright is greater because the dragon is well… a dragon. They breathe fire, stomp, and snort during the claiming. They do good things also. Our land has few natural resources and the dragons occasionally provide a source of precious metals, machinery, and even cloth for our garments. And because of these things, a maiden is sacrificed every twenty-five years. It’s only been one day, but my thoughts have turned upside down in regard to this dragon.
I notice smoke trail slowly from his nostrils. He’s angry. This never occurred to me. His great legs widen and the scales to the back of his underbelly glide seamlessly away from his… for the love of all that’s wicked. It’s his dragon manhood, or cock as he calls it. I can’t help my gasp. His large member pops from the underside of his belly. It’s humungous. A giggle escapes me and I slap a hand across my mouth.
“You laugh,” he blares into my head.
I truly can’t help it. How can I not laugh when his mightiest sword is blue?
A split second later, he’s human and has a hold of my tied-back hair. “You will tell me what you find so amusing or I shall pitch you over the side again. This time I won’t bother catching you.”
I’m really trying to control my giggles. The past twenty-four hours have been the worst in my life. The memories of each episode flash through my mind. It’s just too much. Trying to kill him at the claiming ceremony. The terrifying flight to his castle. The flight from his castle on Acasia’s back and return on Bastian’s. At this moment, I’m standing before a naked half-man half-dragon. I’m dressed in a few strips of leather, in a new world, a totally different life ahead of me, and a dragon who says I’ll beg to fuck him. And, in dragon form, he has a blue member.
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