Revenge, the idea of vengeance, clouds that moment. It is because of her that I am breaking… It is because of this human my curiosity was driven to the brink. I have destroyed my cave for a femdragon I didn’t mate. I have lost everything I waited for. Wanted dearly.
Soon, a single wave drenches me wholly, completely, and the salt of the water finally loosens a growl of torment from my throat. It leaks into my wounds, stinging.
I have new hands and long legs; I am cold and wet. So much pain, I squint the water out of my eyes, and rising, stumbling on hands and knees, I try to brace myself on soft, weak feet. But waves rush me again and again and I’m forced to crawl farther onto the shore. Only when I reach the sand do I peer down at the place on my chest that burns. Blood trails from deep wounds that have yet to close.
Thunder rumbles, and it is quieter now in my new ears. Wiping my eyes, I find my sharp draconid vision gone.
But I notice a shape on the sand ahead of me, moving stiffly, using the cliff face to stand. It stumbles but rises again.
The human.
She is turned away from me. Long, wet black hair is plastered down the curves of her back, her rump.
“You,” I growl. My anger builds, seeing her.
She does not seem to hear me. I claw my way toward her without her noticing. “You,” my voice lowers. I feel this human to my very core. I am privy to her struggles and the bruising on her flesh.
It hurts, but I ignore her aches.
Right behind her, I rise and grab her wet coverings. I lose my balance and we fall to the ground. She yelps. She kicks and struggles but stops when I tug her under me and straddle her body.
She is much smaller than me, her strength no match for mine even in my new form. There is pleasure at the thought. More pleasure than having the femdragon would have given me.
Her eyes widen to dark beautiful orbs, fluttering shut from the rain. My body stiffens. Her lips part. Her gaze runs up and down my face and body.
“You,” I rasp. “You have taken everything from me.”
Her eyes narrow and I focus on them, missing her stick as it comes up and slams into the side of my head, knocking me out.
6
Aida Drags Home a Dragon
“Wake up!” I yell, standing over the male who’s out cold. I struck him impulsively, not thinking what I would do next. He doesn’t stir.
Guilt settles deep as I look upon what I’ve done. One minute, I was facing two battling dragons, trying to survive—the next, they’re gone and a frightening large manbeast has me under him. It is not my fault! I was protecting myself. Yet the guilt grows.
Leaning over him, I cup his face and urge him to get up, but there is no response.
Noticing gashes over his neck, shoulders, and chest, I curse. They’re gnarly and exposed in this weather, and with the lightning continuing everywhere, I begin to worry for his safety from the storm. Bright light flashes over his form, and my mouth drops.
It’s just your head, I tell myself. I know I hit it and lost consciousness at some point in the mayhem. But I can’t deny the long silvery blue horns coming from the male’s head, or what looks like a scaly tail rising from his lower back…
Nor his nakedness. My eyes widen and I glance away, searching for a place to go before the tide reaches us. Though the image of his solid, erect cock imprints on my mind… how it lies against the wet sand.
If I doubted he was the enormous water dragon I had touched, I believe now.
Squeezing my eyes closed and rubbing my brow, I push the image away. It’s wrong to check him out right now.
I hear a low moan and my eyes snap open. His fingers reach for his neck.
In a rush, I pull off my top, ripping it down the back, leaving only a tight band to cover my breasts. Then, using one of the sharp shells adorning it, I tear it into strips and bind his wounds as best I can.
I get most of his neck and part of his arm covered before I run out of hide. He’s still moaning.
“I’m so sorry,” I murmur, trying not to touch him more than I should… even though I long to run my fingers over his muscled arms and chiseled chest. I want to so badly my heart pounds relentlessly. Warmth swirls in my belly. “I hope you can forgive me.”
Glancing behind me once more, I know if we follow the rock wall bordering the jungle, we’ll eventually reach the caves. The cliffs will provide protection from the lightning. It’s a way to go, but we can’t stay here, not with the coming tide. We could be underwater in another hour.
Peering back at the male, I know I’m going to have to get him to safety on my own. It’s the only way. I can’t leave him here to die.
Getting up, I take a deep breath and grasp his hands.
And with every ounce of strength there is, with desperate adrenaline rushing through my limbs, I begin to drag him through the sand.
Minutes pass by like hours, and the chill of the rain vanishes with exertion. I pause to shift his weight—grabbing shoulders or shifting the way I pull, minding that his bindings stay secure—but I don’t stop. Every time I glimpse the beach, the water is a little closer. Each inhale is excruciating, and when I hear flapping, cracking sounds above me, I find we’re under the rope bridge. It’s broken, and the ends slam the
