“I’ve listened to what I can and can’t do my entire life. I’ve been told what I am and am not. Don’t. Just don’t tell me.”
Deo removed himself from the bed and stood.
That wasn’t what he had been trying to do. He thought he was being supportive. Deo had meant that the world wasn’t sitting on her shoulders, because he knew that feeling. He knew what going into battle felt like and knowing the second a warrior was down, and their life would depend on his speed and accuracy. And at that moment it felt like the world did indeed rest on his shoulders.
“Aisha, that was not what I meant.”
He paced the room. He’d seen today going very differently.
“I am not telling you what to do.” Only, maybe he had. He was getting a little desperate to earn her trust. He was also starting to struggle against his dragon. Every time she was near his skin rippled with the dragon's need for her. Desperation wasn’t a good look for him. He needed to claim her, or at least get a taste of her again. His resolve faltering. A lot.
“What do you want from me? I would give you anything to make you happy,” he asked.
She looked up at him. “I want to go home.”
He wouldn’t allow her to see the hurt, but the stabbing within his chest was almost enough to have him down on his knees.
No. This was not what he had wanted. Somehow, though, he felt like if he didn’t return her home, the trust he was working so hard to gain would be lost for good.
“Yes. Of course. I’ll take you home.”
He held his hand out and was relieved when she took it. Perhaps this was a slight hiccup, like Kal and the chicken incident, or Eadric and the antidote. Or like when he first met Aisha and asked her for help, and he had to do everything he could to not mark her then. For him, he’d been pining away for his mate since he’d first caught her scent mixed with that of chemicals of her lab. But for her, a witch or human, she was only starting to feel the effects of finding her mate.
He could and would ensure that she trusted him, even if that took a few more days. He hoped.
Guiding her out of the ship, he continued to glance back. She wouldn’t look up. She fidgeted, chewed her lip, and at one point wiped away what he assumed were tears.
His tongue a sandpaper desert every time he thought to speak. He’d even reached out to his brothers who sent back little help, more confusion, and sadness. Not a single fucking male in his life knew what to say to fix anything with these females.
Great.
As they left the ship he stopped. “Aisha, I would never keep you from your work. Whatever you need or want, I will make sure you get.” He gave a gentle tug and when she didn’t protest, he wrapped her in his arms. “I just need you. I will wait if that is what you need. I just need you.”
She said nothing as he backed away, tossing the pants aside and letting his dragon slowly surface.
This time he waited to shift until she was paying attention. Her eyes widened and sparkled in fascination.
Standing tall, he let his dragon take over, unfurling his wings as he stretched into the freedom.
Show off, Deo thought to his damn dragon. Sometimes it was much easier to let this dumb beast take over. He seemed to miss all the small subtleties and focus only on the tasks at hand.
His dragon turned toward Aisha. Her steps were slow, but less cautious than earlier. His dragon bowed toward her and extended his leg. She patted his neck and although Deo was less satisfied that she appeared to like this dragon better than his human form, she at least wasn’t running. Not that she could go far in the middle of nowhere.
Standing next to him, she laid her hand along his hide. His dragon’s chest rumbled in contentment.
If only life were always this easy.
Deo’s dragon craned his neck to the side; a reassuring snuff of the air all he could do.
The scent of sadness lingered as she climbed on and Deo didn’t even really understand what had happened. Of course he didn’t. But he would figure it out.
As she straddled his neck, the dragon wiggled his hide a bit to make sure she was secure, eliciting a slight laugh. Maybe all hope wasn’t lost.
Turning around, he took a few steps and pushed off, catching the wind with his wings.
All things wrong in the world, and at least he still had the freedom of the sky.
Nothing could be wrong up here. Or maybe it could, but not right now. Aisha was with him, safe, and the world faded away below them.
Closing his eyes, he wished he could communicate with her right now. Let her know that he would take away her pain if he could. He’d do anything to allow her peace.
Deo soared in and out of a few white puffs in the sky, gaining an extra giggle here and there. It wasn’t enough, nothing would be, not until she was safe in his arms forever.
A few minutes passed, the trip being much too quick as he circled her home, watching to make sure no one was on the street. Finding his opportunity, he quickly landed.
Aisha slid down, and he instantly shifted. He would not waste this moment. Every chance he had could be his last if he wasn’t careful. Nothing was certain, even if it should have been, even if the goddess deemed this to be, it still wasn’t certain.
“May I come in?” he asked.
She gave an audible sigh. “Can I just have some time?”
He nodded. Well, it was worth asking. “Of course. Would I be allowed to come back tonight?”
Her head tilted. “Uh. I mean, like a day of time? Come
