Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 86059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
25
RACHEL
Jurik’s swiftly changing moods are giving me whiplash. One minute, he’s threatening to chase off another dragon, his eyes black, and then the next, he grabs me and shifts into dragon form, heading off in a completely different direction.
A little warning would be nice.
I cling to his claws as we fly, but I’m not worried. He’s got a good grip on me so I know he won’t drop me, and he’s got my pack in his other hand. His eyes—from what I can see—are still mostly gold, so the rage that threatened him earlier is gone. Whatever it is we’re doing now, it’s something different.
We fly, and as we do, I notice that he’s heading back toward Old Dallas, toward the skyline filled with tall buildings. Most of them are broken now, but I recognize them—this is the same way to the fort. Is he taking me back there?
Has he given up on me?
I’m alarmed at the twinge of fear and disappointment that sends through me. I thought he liked me. I thought he liked kissing me. Just when I decided that I want this thing between us for me, is he changing his mind?
I wish I knew what he was thinking. I wish he’d let me find some clothes, too.
Jurik veers away from Fort Dallas, though, and heads toward a tall building. I'm shocked when a large golden dragon launches himself to meet us, bellowing a challenge. I bite back a shriek of terror and hunch down in Jurik's claws, but there's nowhere to go.
What the fuck is going on?
Jurik snarls at the other dragon, ignoring him when he flies closer, and heads for the building. As we approach, I can see a large hole at the top of the building, as if part of it has collapsed in on itself. There's a few fluttering pale sheets, and then Jurik sets down in the middle of the floor, even as the other dragon snarls a protest and circles overhead.
Oh-so carefully, Jurik sets me down on the floor, and I collapse on the tile, panting in terror. I look up as the other dragon flies settles in high overhead, the need to escape near-overwhelming. To my surprise, I see furniture. This place is tidy, rugs scattered on the floor, a large sectional sofa set up in a protected corner. There's a table and chairs. There's boxes and crates of foodstuffs. There's a baby crib.
And a door opens in the back and a woman in a dress comes out, holding an infant in her arms. She cradles the baby's head and looks at me in utter surprise. "What's going on?"
I cross my arms over my naked breasts and twist my legs, trying to hide my nudity. "I wish I knew. Where am I?"
Jurik settles down next to me, still in dragon form, and his lashing tail knocks the table over as he curls his claws protectively around my body. Immediately, the other dragon jumps down from his ledge and puts his body between Jurik and myself, blocking the woman out of my view.
I can hear her sputter, and a moment later, she comes around from the other side of the big dragon's body. "You guys are destroying my living room. Stop this."
"You live here?" I ask, staring between the two dragons.
"Of course I do." She glares up at the dragon trying to protect her, a frown on her face, and is silent for a long moment. She glances over at Jurik, and then everyone's quiet for so long that I wonder what's going on.
Then, suddenly, both dragons shift to human form. Jurik steps protectively in front of me, pushing me behind him, my pack tumbling to the floor.
"What's going on?" I ask again. "Who are you?"
"I'm Sasha," the woman says, jiggling her infant in her arms. She looks over at the dragon-man at her side and then her gaze focuses on me. Her eyes slide to my scars, and then she focuses again. "This is my mate, Dakh."
I study them. Sasha looks vaguely familiar, as if I've seen her somewhere before. She's got lovely olive skin, a pretty face, and thick, curly hair. She might be a few years older than me, but it's hard to say, because the After ages everyone. At her side, the dragon-man is a bit more scarred. He's huge and bulky, his hair spiky atop his head and he looks fierce and dangerous even in human form.
But then he takes the infant from his mate's arms and cuddles her, and he just looks like another dad. A scary dad, but a dad for all that he's naked and golden and a dragon.
"As for why you're here," Sasha says, her hands on her hips. "Apparently your friend Jurik brought you here to us because he doesn't understand you."