Claws and Kisses

“Avel,” I huffed, clenching my fists at my side. “Is this . . . really necessary?”

His fingers were deft and quick as he tightened the golden armor hugging my limbs. Apparently, he had ordered the armor to be made as soon as news of Loch’s death had been heard. When I questioned him on how he had known my measures so well, he had only flicked my nose and told me he had used his ‘magical Drachen powers’.

As if.

He ignored my question as he adjusted and re-adjusted the straps and buckles on the aureate armor. The last few days, he had been tense and agitated. I did not know whether it was because he was still irritated at his Inner Circle for taking me to the lagoon or because he was worried about the funeral.

Either way, he had been so busy and stressed during the day with all of the preparations for our journey that I had only ever really gotten to see him at night when he would slink to my chambers, shuck off his armor, and climb into bed next to me. He was gone by the time I awoke in the early morning.

My days had been filled with exploring the mountain and reading anything I could get my hands on. Avel had a humongous library at the base of the mountain. It was almost always empty because none of the dragons or slaves every really went down that far. One night, I had even fallen asleep on one of the couches down there. I had woken up in my bed the next day with a note from Avel to never do that again. He had apparently gone on a mini rampage when I was not in bed after he had come to my rooms. So, now I always made sure to leave the library before sundown.

The Inner Circle had also been too busy to keep me company. Even Bruce could not be spared as they were all in the throws of getting ready for our trip. I winced as I thought about the fight Avel and the Inner Circle had had when we first got back from the lagoon.

There was a loud, booming crash from the other room. Avel had told me to stay put outside of the lounging room where all the dragons now convened. I had tried to force my way in but Avel was not having any of it. I was forced to sit and listen as Avel reprimanded his Inner Circle. The walls were thick however, and I only caught bits and pieces of their conversation.

“ . . . my permission!” There was another loud crack from inside. “Found my mate . . . naked as a newborn . . . Giselle of all mermaids!”

Romeo and Bear were the most outspoken of all the Inner Circle, and tried explaining their actions. “Safe with us . . . mermaids . . . practically harmless.”

At some point, Avel had gotten physical. The rough smack of bodies crashing into one another was deafening as they destroyed the room. I had been shouting for them to stop from outside like a lunatic, banging on the doors and screaming with all my might.

When Avel finally exited the room—without the others—his knuckles had been scarlet red with blood and his face might as well have been carved from a mountain. I had tried scrambling past him to go check on the others, but he had captured my arm in his and spun me in the opposite direction before I could so much as utter a word of reluctance.

When I had proceeded to curse him out and damn him for treating them like so, he had merely lifted one midnight blue eyebrow and said, “Are you quite finished?”

Oh, how angry I had been. Storming up and down my room, shouting out my anger, worrying over the others, shutting some more. Avel had only been able to shut me up the next day when he allowed me to see the Inner Circle. Only Romeo and Bear were really banged up, and their bruises were shallow at that.

They had all found it unbearably adorable that I had worried over them. Even young Seth had patted me on the head and told me not to worry about such things. I had glared at the lot of them and told them that they could all forget speaking to me for the next few months. They had laughed and shook their heads.

Now we were all preparing to go. Avel was worse than a mother hen, fussing so much that even the maids were sliding him curious looks. He was worried about every minute detail. If I had enough clothes, if the carriages were comfortable enough for a human, if there were enough slaves and guards to care and keep a lookout on me. He was not even allowing me to dress myself, he was so anxious.

“Avel,” I pushed at his hands, stepping away from his kneeling figure. He glared as I evaded his touch. “I think my armor is on well enough. Can we please go downstairs now?”

He stood and scrutinized my body, head to toe. He looked like he wanted to reach for me again but I moved farther back, eyeing the door. The dragon stood with a grumble and followed me out of the room. “Wait, what if we forgot about—”

“Avel,” I said, exasperated now. Whipping around, I placed my hands on his shoulders and locked eyes in an earnest manner. “For the love of all that is holy, please stop worrying. I promise: we have everything. And when I say everything, I mean everything.”

The dragon frowned down at me. “But what about—”

In a bold move, I pressed my body lightly up against his. The armor between us kept any real contact from happening, but I still felt the shift in him nonetheless. The tension in his shoulders eased, and he relaxed slightly as I palmed his shoulder. Keeping his gaze, I leaned my head against his sternum and said, “Everything, Avel.”

As if in a trance, he cupped the back of my head and kissed my hair, nodding slightly. “Alright. Let’s go.”

It was like a parade outside. Carriages upon carriages were lined up around the outskirts of the mountain. There must have been thousands of slaves, servants, nobles, guards, dragons and humans alike running around and making sure everything was ready. The whole horde was in rambles trying to load the coaches, saddle the horses, locate all the dragons who were supposed to join our entourage. In the middle of it all, the Inner Circle was ordering people about and making a show of looking important.

The crowd parted for Avel with an effectiveness that seemed impossible. Where he walked, the ground trembled. When he spoke, everyone in a thousand-foot distance would shut up to listen to what he had to stay. It was as if the whole world was at his feet, ready and waiting. I found myself feeling an odd pang of jealousy at the type of power he possessed. All this for just one man?

As I looked at Avel, with his broad shoulders and dark blue hair, I think I could see a million men dropping to their knees before him.

No, I did not think it; I knew he could stir that kind of devotion and loyalty in men with the mere blink of an eye. It was who Avel was. A leader. A warrior. A man worthy of being followed.

Fussing or not.

Avel led us to the center of the mass where the Inner Circle was waiting. They were standing around a total of three carriages, all adorned with the same symbol that marked my bracelets. I leaned toward Avel and asked, “Mistake me if I’m wrong, but the last time I checked, you had the ability to fly.” I glanced at the carriages. “This seems unnecessary.”

He snaked his arm around my waist, pulling me close to him as we walked. “We can fly, but balancing luggage on our backs for the entire trip would be uncomfortable. Plus,” he murmured, nodding at a soldier a few feet away. “If all of us flew into the territory at once, on the day of a funeral no less, it might be taken as a sign of hostility. They would be able to wage war if they really wanted to, whether or not we came in peace.”

Before I could reply, I was being swept up into slender brown arms. “Thank the gods!” Bear exclaimed, pressing my head extremely close to her generous chest. “You are finally here! We’ve been waiting near an hour to get this show on the road.”

Avel grabbed my waist and placed me back in front of him, close enough so that our hips were connected. I flushed as the rest of the Inner Circle followed behind Bear, their eyes zeroing in on Avel’s hands on my waist.

Romeo whistled. “Did not think Mr. High and Mighty would be one to skip the whole ritual thing—”

A growl rumbled through Avel’s chest, sufficiently cutting off the grinning dragon. From behind me, I could feel Avel jerk his head at the carriages and order, “Get in. We are leaving now.”

Seth waved at me as they all winked and left to go get in their assigned vehicles. Avel caught my hand in his and led us toward the coach in the middle. It was not like the other ones. It was forged out of iron and wood and steel. The thing looked less like a carriage and more like a military fortress on wheels. The bloody coach didn’t even have windows!

“Avel . . .” I stopped short, pointing at the metal contraption. “What am I looking at?”

He cocked his head, playing at innocent. “Hmm?”

“Oh my gods,” I rolled my eyes, groaning into my hands which were now covering my face. “Do you not remember the eight years when I was on my own and completely fine? You are being ridiculous.”

He feigned hurt, placing a hand on his chest like some wounded puppy. “I’m being ridiculous?”

“Yes,” I stuck my finger into his chest, walking backwards. “You are being totally, completely, utterly, wholly ridiculous—”

The Dragon Lord, moving quicker than what was probable, wrapped his fingers around my hips and hoisted me into the carriage, which had been opened by two servants who now stood on either side of the double doors.

I was sat on a bench overflowing with fur throws and feather-stuffed pillows. The inside was nothing like the outside; it was lush and cozy, filled with dozens of small trinkets and tiny luxuries. The bench was easily long enough to count for a bed. The other side of the coach was not composed of another bench but had been fashioned into a shelf. There were baskets bursting with food and drink, as well as stacks of books lining the walls. Candle holders had been built into the sides to provide lighting at night. Drapes hung from the ceilings to the floor, hiding the metal plating of the walls. A tiny bell hung from a rope near the bench, obviously meant to catch a servant’s attention.

I turned wide, accusing eyes to Avel, who was grinning from ear to ear. Gaping, I asked, “Did you . . . how am I . . .”

His smile widened. “I helped the workers build it. I wanted to make sure you were alright for the next few days. The journey is long and tiresome and I knew from experience it can be hard at times.” He pointed at the shelves where the books rested. “I know you have been visiting the library, but I didn’t know which books you wanted. I ended up just getting some you have already read and new ones which you might want. The librarian helped me pick them out, but if you want, I can still run down there and get you different ones—”

He was cut off as I flung myself off the bench and into his arms, embracing him so tightly, I might as well have cut his air circulation off. He hugged me back just as fiercely, and I almost started crying, I was so touched.

“You silly man,” I leaned back and kissed his cheek affectionately, smiling wide at him. “I would have been fine riding bareback on a horse for all I care. But this . . .” I shook my head, my vision blurring with unshed tears. I quickly wiped them away and kissed his other cheek. “Thank you. I . . . this is the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me. And—thank you. Thank you so much.”

He wiped a rogue tear from my cheek, smiling warmly down at me. “You don’t have to thank me for anything. And you certainly don’t have to cry about any of it either.”

I laughed, burying my head into his chest. He held me close, still softly smiling into my hair and rubbing my back with steady, firm strokes.

“I know,” I whispered. “Thank you anyways.”

Oh my Lord. I think I just made myself cry.

For real though, get you a manz who knows how to treat you right. All of you deserve someone who can be strong and brave as well as someone who can be kind and thoughtful. To any of my male readers, get you a girl who is worth treating right. To all of my LGBTQ people - get you somebody who are all of these things and more!

Sorry for the rant. I just adored that scene. In other news, I am for sure writing the Elora/Romeo short story! Woohoo! You all gave me a resounding yes, so as soon as Claws and Kisses is finished (don't worry, that's not going to be for A WHILE) I will for sure write and publish it.

As always, thank you so much for reading, voting, commenting, reviewing, and just generally being such a wonderful group of people. All of the feedback I have received from you (even the critiquing stuff) has been polite and kind. You all are impossibly sweet and thoughtful and I cannot just get over how amazingly awesome you all are.

Alright, that is all of the adjectives I can squeeze into one A/N for the day. On a more somber note, I don't think I will be able to update until next Saturday (ew :P). The next two weeks are going to be insanely busy and I am not going to have enough time to write as I usually do. Apologies in advance!

That's all for today folks. I hope you all enjoyed and are excited for Avel and Wendy's coming adventures!

~Elaine