In the ten seconds since he’d started to ask his question, all but three of his kin remained. The twins stood.
“We’ll—”
“Sit down,” their mother ordered. And they both obeyed. She remained the only being on the planet who had full control over them. “What’s going on with you two?” Deniela asked Ailean.
“What are you talking about?”
“That sweet, innocent dragoness—”
At Ailean’s snort, Deniela’s eyes narrowed, and he held his hands up, indicating she should continue.
“She was in a foul mood and I’m blaming you.”
“How is it my fault?” Although deep in his soul, he prayed it was his fault. He shouldn’t be the only one not sleeping.
“She’s an innocent, Ailean. Don’t play with her.”
“I haven’t. And she’s not an innocent.”
“She’s probably a virgin.”
“Don’t be daft.”
“Have you asked her?” Deniela demanded. “Maybe you should before you set your sights on dirtying her up.”
“I have to say, Aunt Deniela, that I don’t appreciate you suggesting her being with me would dirty her up.”
When the old cow only stared at him, he walked out.
Shalin glanced up and that’s when she saw Ailean staring at her—again. She’d found him doing it several times since he’d walked in to groom the horses a few hours before. Finally, unable to stand it anymore, she asked, “Is something wrong?”
“No. Why do you ask?”
“Because,” she said, focusing back on Nightmare, “you keep staring at me.”
“Sorry.” But he didn’t stop staring.
“Ailean,” she finally said, “you haven’t done anything wrong.” In fact, he hadn’t done a damn thing and she’d gotten tired of waiting for him to.
“I know that.”
“Then why do you look like you’ve ravished me and left me pregnant like some human?”
“No, I don’t.” He finally grinned. “There’d be much more running away involved.”
She petted Nightmare’s neck. “I appreciate your family’s desire to protect me, but I don’t need them to protect me from you.” She forced a smile. “I’m sure when this is all over we’ll be the best of friends.”
“Friends?”
Shalin’s lip curled. “Is there a reason you snarled that?”
“Are you a virgin?”
Rearing back a little, Shalin wondered at the abrupt change of conversation. Her anger sliding away from her in seconds. “Sorry?”
“You heard me.”
“I…uh…”
“Yes or no.”
“No. But I’m not sure it’s—”
“You sure?”
“Am I sure? Am I sure I’m a virgin or not?” She stepped away from Nightmare. “Is there something wrong with you? Mentally?”
“Yes. Or. No.”
“Yes. I’m sure that I’m not a virgin. I haven’t been one for quite some time although it’s none of your damn business.”
“No reason to get snappy. It was a simple enough question.”
“I don’t get snappy. Now if you’ll—”
“Ever been with anyone while human?”
Shalin let out a long breath. “Why is this conversation getting stranger?”
“Answer me.”
“You want me to answer you? Fine.” Placing her feet in between the slats of the stall gate, Shalin rose up so she could look him right in the eye. “Here’s my answer. No. I’ve never been with anyone while human. But after reading those books about you, I’ve always thought if there was anyone who could show me how good it could supposedly be, it would be you. Little did I know at the time that you were insane!”
Ailean carefully wiped off the bit of spit that hit his eye when she’d hissed that last part at him. “Good, because—”
“Ailean?” the human female said from the front of the stables.
Shalin realized it was the blacksmith from earlier and she growled, causing the woman to step back.
“Uh…” the blacksmith stammered, “…you said you wanted to see the blade as soon as it was done.” She held up something long and wrapped in soft cloth. “I have it here if you’d—”
“Yes, yes. I’ll look at it now.”
“You’re leaving?” But he hadn’t finished what he’d been saying! Good because what? Good because what? Dammit!
“I’m not flying to the suns, dragoness. I’ll be back.”
And he thought she’d still be here?
He walked away, heading toward the blacksmith and Shalin jumped down from the stall door. She looked at the horse. “Would you like to teach me how to ride?”
In answer, Nightmare slowly lowered himself enough for her to easily mount him.
“Oh,” she sighed, “if only they were all like you.”
Once he’d approved the blade, Ailean walked back to the stables. His body almost vibrated with the thought of getting inside Shalin. Teaching her exactly how enjoyable a human body could be. To be the first to do so.
Still, that little voice of doubt wouldn’t shut the hell up. Constantly asking him if he should do this with someone he’d sworn to protect. Would that turn him from Ailean the Whore to Ailean the Right Bastard?
Ailean stepped in front of Nightmare’s stall and stared blindly inside.
When one of the stable boys walked past, Ailean asked, “Where’s Mistress Shalin?”
“She took Nightmare out a few minutes ago.”
He turned on the boy and yelled, “And you let her?”
“Well…she didn’t actually ask my permission.”
Ailean snarled and went to Dragon’s Gold, his fastest mount. It wasn’t that Shalin had walked away from their conversation. It was that she’d rode away with that demon horse. It was one thing for her to feed him and groom him, but riding that big bastard was another matter altogether. If he threw her and she landed the wrong way, her human neck could snap.
He saddled and mounted his horse quickly and took off after Shalin, using her scent to guide him. It didn’t take him long to find her. Typical dragon. She’d gone to the lake. To water. Something his kind were elementally drawn to.
“Have you gone mad?” he demanded, dismounting before the horse had even stopped.
She’d already dismounted and stood staring out over the lake at the next coming storm. He, too, could see the dark thunder clouds approaching, which fit his mood quite nicely.
“He could
