Claws and Kisses

“Wendy, it’s closing time.” A burly voice rose from above me, softly jostling me awake. “Come on, girlie. Let’s get you to bed.”

I sloppily pushed his helpful hands away, stumbling to my feet. The bar was indeed closed. Every other patron had filed out of the crumbling tavern, either heading upstairs where the inn was or to their own homes in Saltic, the village known for its fish and ice. It was a crummy little town on the border between the human lands and the much larger dragon lands in the north.

“I’m fine, you overprotective bastard.” I slurred, tripping over fallen chairs and spilled drinks to get to the stairs. “Should call you Mother Hen instead of Charlie.”

The forty year old bartender just snorted and corralled me up the steps. We reached the top, only to see a hall of shut doors and one lonesome reception desk. Through a burp, I muttered, “Where’s Barb?”

Charlie was a large man. He didn’t hire any hands to help out with clearing the bar at night because the whole town - and everyone who laid eyes on him - knew he was strong enough to throw out any drunkard who wasn’t willing to leave the tavern on time. He was tall and brusque, but had a kind heart underneath his rough exterior. With tanned skin and hairy arms, he was what you would call a giant of a man. All around a nice guy.

“Barb is making you dinner. She got worried after seeing you passed out at the bar.” He turned his disapproving eyes on me. “For the fourth time this week.”

I tried finding something witty to say but couldn’t find the mental energy to do so. Instead, I slumped against the wall and let out a sigh. “I’m sorry, Charlie. I know I’ve been a bit of a buzzard this week. I promise I’ll be out by tomorrow.”

At my honest, somber words, the older man just rolled his eyes and put one of his monstrous arms around my shoulders. “You don’t need to go anywhere, Wendy.” He kneeled in front of me so that we were eye level. “In fact, I refuse to send you anywhere until you’ve recovered from whatever happened all those months ago.”

Months. It had been months since I’d lost everything. It felt more like days. “No, Charlie. I know you’ve been bankrolling my rent here. I should just get out of you and Barb’s way before I become more than a burden than I already am.”

Charlie sighed and stood up, prodding me toward the room I’d been staying in for the past few months. “You ain’t nobody’s burden, Wendy. Don’t think I don’t see you helping Barbara clean and cook all day. You’ve earned your stay here as much as anybody else.”

There was no point denying that. I’d been working, but not to cover rent. The cleaning and cooking had helped with taking my mind over all that had happened. My days had been filled with avoiding silence. I’d go anywhere just so that I couldn’t hear my own thoughts. Thoughts that let in images of them. All of them. Burning. Burning burning burning -

“Thank you for your hospitality,” I whispered hoarsely. “But it’s far time I go. I promise I’ll be out of here by tomorrow.”

Before Charlie could say anything else, I had stumbled into my bedroom and face planted on the bed. Tomorrow I would move. I would find Rhett.

***

I didn’t bother stopping by my old town. Father wasn’t there and everyone else had long fled. The dragons had taken this land early on in the world. The only humans allowed in were slaves.

Instead of taking the main road, I headed a backway that no dragons patrolled over. It led to the cave that I had found Avel all of those years ago. For some reason, the forest nor the cavern had changed. The hill still curved down, making room for the boutful of stars above. As a child, I remember thinking there was something magical about this place.

Now all I could see was ash.

It was too late to continue on. I would have to make camp here for the night. And even if I didn’t like the idea of it, the best place to stay was the cave.

Sighing, I made my way to the entrance and crept through to the main cavern. It too was what I remembered. Rocky ledges bordering a midnight pond. One desolate window opened up to the sky above, bearing a glimpse of the world outside.

I slung my bags to the ground, frowning at the small pile. Deciding to travel light was both a relief and a nuisance. Soon, I would have to retrieve more food and fresh water. The northern Horde was a day’s journey from here and I would never make it with what little resources I currently had.

My bed was a slab of stone but I didn’t mind. It was directly under the opening in the ceiling, so that I was lulled to sleep by the scent of pine and a perfect view of the moon. Sleep was fruitful but brisk. It wasn’t long before I was awakened. Not by the rising sun, but a prickling feeling on the back of my neck. As if . . .

As if someone was watching me.

I was up and in a crouch before the haze of sleep had fully worn off. My steel dagger was clutched in hand, ready to be used if needed. The damned thing was never far. After the first few initial years of Rhett and I travelling, I’d tried every means under the sun to get rid of it. Burning, breaking, throwing it in the ocean. Nothing worked. Just like the bracelet and necklace, only the dragon who’d gifted me the items could rid me of them.

“Who are you?” I shouted into the darkness, feeling a bubble of panic rise in my throat. “Come out into the light!”

Calm yourself. A low, baritone voice filled my head, running silkily through my mind, followed by an amused, dark chuckle. It would be a shame if you fell. Again.

Again. There was only one person who had been there the night I’d almost fallen into the pond. And he was far deadlier than any mortal I had ever met. Repeating myself, far more quietly, I whispered, “Come out into the light.”

Bones snapped and skin transformed as the beast before me turned into his skin form. There was a flash of midnight blue before the moonlight clashed with pale skin and dark hair. He was nothing like before. Gone was the boy who I knew in adolescence. Gone was the friend who I had trusted with my life. Before me was . . . an immortal.

His height, while impressive before, was now a full two heads above me. There were a new array of tattoos, much more complex than the ones from before. Broad shoulders and lean muscles cloaked his figure, matching well with the intimidating stature he displayed. It wasn’t just his body that had changed. His aura was different. There was a distinct, powerful - terrifying presence about him. It clung to the air around him, as pungent as any perfume. I couldn’t help breathing deeply, taking all of him.

There was one thing that hadn’t changed. His purple, tyrian eyes glowed the same shade they always had. A color that had crept into my dreams for years. That haunted my every waking moment.

“Avel,” I breathed.

His eyes were blank, not giving away any of his emotions. He hung back, not approaching the center of the cave. The moonlight hit him so that I could only see the handsome slant of his jaw and his lips. Lips that were grim. Beautiful.

“I . . . I came for Rhett.” The words were thick and got caught in my throat.

If Avel noticed my discomfort, he didn’t show it. A strange heat had bloomed over my body and now covered my arms and chest in a light sheen of sweat. Seeing him caused an unusual reaction within me. I felt as if I couldn’t breathe. As if the world was closing in around me.

He didn’t respond. All I could see were those tyrian, reptilian eyes. My chest swelled with the intensity of that gaze. What the hell was wrong with me? I had to get a grip. Remind myself why I was here. Lifting the dagger higher, I glared hard at him. “I know Rhett’s here. One of your females attacked the village I was staying in. She killed dozens before taking my brother to use as her personal slave. I want him and the others she took.”

Avel was unimpressed with my speech. In fact, he was standing so still that I only just managed to tell what the look in his eyes were. Shock. He was surprised that I was here. No, not surprised. Unconvinced. He looked as if he was was seeing a ghost.

He finally shook his head before bolting upwards into the air. The dragon landed in front of me with the grace of a dancer, drawing so close that there was barely two feet separating us. Towering over my smaller frame, he studied my features.

In an almost unbelieving way, he lifted one slender finger and stroked my cheek. The words that came next sent a jolt up my spine.

“Hello, traitor.”