Claws and Kisses

“Would you quit it?” Romeo smacked the back of my head, snapping me out of my haze. He leaned back against the tree and muttered, “You’re making me uncomfortable with that glare.”

From across the fire pit, Bear sucked the last bits of meat from her duck bone and said, “What do you got against Jericho anyway? He hasn’t—” She paused to lick her fingers, slurping up the last of the juice before continuing. “He hasn’t done nothing to nobody.”

Before I could open my mouth to reply, Seth was already throwing aside his dinner to turn wide eyes on me. “It’s got something to do with your brother, doesn’t it?”

My eyes once more flickered to where Rhett sat with Jericho. All of the soldiers, nobles, and slaves alike had sat down for dinner, scattered throughout the trees and the bramble. Fires had been lit and watches had been set up all around the makeshift camp. There were even a few dozen dragons in the sky, circling above to watch out for any incoming predators.

After my brief, confusing conversation with Rhett, Avel had led me to a remote corner of the forest in the back of camp where he could easily keep an eye on me. I had scowled violently when he had said that, but he had just smiled and kissed my cheek before walking off, mentioning something or another about getting me food. The rest of the Inner Circle had already begun to eat by the time I arrived.

Instead of joining in on their boisterous conversation however, I had spent my time secretly glaring and glowering at Jericho from across the wood. For some reason, my mind could not wrap around the fact that Rhett was now seemingly okay with being near Jericho. It had not been a week ago since the mere sight of Jericho repulsed Rhett. Now they were in love?

I scoffed. I don’t buy it.

“Aw, is the mortal upset because her brother can’t play with her anymore?” Romeo eyed me from a few feet away, the fire causing the shadows lining his features to dance fleetingly across his cheeks and jaw as he smirked wickedly.

Elora, who sat to my right, placed a warm hand on my shoulder. “Do not be too upset, Wendy.” Her gaze rested on Jericho and Rhett for a time, knowing and wise. “It was bound to happen sooner or later.”

Shrugging off her shoulder and standing up in a rush, I did not speak as I began to prowl to my brother and his mate across the forest, intent on letting Jericho know exactly how I felt about their little romance. Through the trees and the leaves, I could see them, sitting on smooth stone rocks, eating and laughing with each other.

The others confused murmurs rose from behind me. “Where the hell is she going?”

“She’s not . . . ?”

“Oh fuck.”

All of the Inner Circle must have realized my end destination at the same time. I did not have to turn around to know they were tripping over themselves trying to get to me. Fortunately, the camp was packed with dragons and slaves alike. All too soon, I was swept up in the darkness of the woods, packed between warm bodies who did not care to stop me. Only the warm glow of the fire tracked my movements, but even the light of the flames was only a soft, dim glow.

I only had eyes for my brother. Happy and healthy. Deranged, I thought to myself. Thirty feet away. Twenty. Fifteen. Ten—

A tall, brawny figure slid out from behind the trees and stood directly in my path, halting my movements. I looked up into violet orbs, hating the stern look I found waiting for me there. Without waiting for him to speak, I said, “Move, Avel. This does not concern you.”

His eyebrow rose. “You are mistaken, mate. This does concern me.” Turning slightly to peer over his shoulder at Rhett and Jericho, who were still oblivious to our presence, Avel’s mouth curled down into a frown as he watched them. After a moment, he twisted back around to stare down at me indifferently. “You are confused, Wendy. I should have explained their—our situation better.”

“I am not confused,” I growled, ignoring the growing tension stirring between us. It was like my mind could only focus on Rhett and the change in him. Nothing else mattered but getting to him and shaking some sense into him. “Out of the way, Avel.”

My command had his bones locking up, and the unease between us spiked. Any other time, and the coldness in his gaze would have had me freezing on the spot. Now all I did was scowl in boiling, seething rage.

He bared his teeth at me like an animal, stepping close enough so that I could feel the displeasure rolling off him in waves. “Stand down, Wendy.”

I leaned close to him, not caring for the stares that the nearby dragon nobles were shooting at us. “I won’t ask again, Avel.” Mirroring him, I bared my teeth wildly. “Move.”

There was a shift then. Me and everyone in a hundred foot radius of him must have felt it. If before he had been commanding, there were no words to describe the expression that fell over his face then. As if snapped out of a haze, I blinked and the steel determination in my chest withered and died. Instead, I was left with a bone-deep fear that spread through my veins like ice as I watched the indignation light up in his eyes.

In a sorry attempt, I backed off him and breathed in heavily. “Avel,” I choked, sensing the wrath that slid beneath his skin, as tangible as the roots beneath our feet. “I didn’t mean . . .”

Rhett and Jericho were looking now. My brother and I looked at each other at the same time, and I think we both knew what was about to happen. In a scrambling, desperate jerk, he shot to his feet and was about to sprint to me, but Jericho stopped him. Hooking an arm around his shoulders, I watched as the Dragon Lord whispered a few hushed words into his ear, both of their eyes resting on Avel and I. Rhett did not sit down, but he did not struggle to jump to my rescue either. A piece of my heart cracked at the sight.

Avel, without laying a hand on me, jerked his head forward in a clear, silent message. Staring down at the ground, I tried to not notice the sudden silence of the camp and the curious, somewhat knowing eyes that rested on me. I reluctantly followed Avel as he marched through the forest, his eyes communicating his vexation. No one dared to meet his eyes as he strode through with me trembling behind him.

Even the Inner Circle—the usually loud, joyous bunch—were standing to the side, heads bowed with their hands crossed behind their back, legs shoulder-width apart. Avel only paused once to bark out, “Romeo.”

It was odd to see the emotionless expression on Romeo’s golden face. The dragon dispatched from the group and stood to the right of Avel, not looking at me. For some reason, that one act alone had my mind going wild with fear. What the hell was going on?

Our walk was a dimly lit blur until we reached the carriage. Avel roughly opened the door and waited for me to climb in. I did so shakily, stepping into the dark chamber with shivers running down my spine.

As soon as I was in, Avel followed next. Romeo had gone off somewhere else, but the door was still open so he must have been coming back soon. After lighting a candle and filling the space with some light, Avel turned back to me and his gaze alone was enough to have me dropping heavily onto the bench and clasping my clammy hands tightly.

Avel had always had pride, that much was true. It probably had not gone over well in his mind for me to publicly challenge his authority in front of his entire horde.

I would have been angry too, but he did not understand that I was not trying to challenge him. I just wanted to speak to Rhett, and in the midst of trying to get to my brother, I forgot who exactly I had been speaking too.

Hopefully Avel will listen to my excuse of an apology.

“Avel,” I murmured hoarsely. He still stood above me, arms crossed and staring blankly out the open door. Raising my voice from that of a whisper, I said, “Avel. I . . . I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make a fool out of you or to call your authority into question in front of your horde. I don’t understand what happened to Rhett, and I—”

“I know what you were thinking, Wendy.” Avel replied, his tone cool and smooth, contrasting greatly to the fire in his eyes.

I opened my mouth to say something else, but closed it again when I once more assessed his stance, his face. He was angry. Angry because I had fought him in front of his soldiers, his nobles, and everyone else that he needed to stay in charge of. Not only had I fought him, but he had given me away out. He had told me to back off several times but I had refused, and instead had kept fighting and snarling. What leader would tolerate that?

And yet, even as I understood his anger, I loathed it. Rhett was more important than his pride. I could not be sorry for trying to get to the one other person in this land that I could call my own. My family.

Romeo appeared once more, a metal box in hand. His silver armor in comparison to the rough, banged-up box proved polished and refined. I gulped as he stood next to Avel, both of them towering above me and locking eyes with each other. Speaking telepathically. Based on Romeo’s tight features, I was almost sure that they were arguing.

Avel cut off the connection and started towards me. Over his shoulder, he said, “Close the door, Romeo. And don’t turn around unless your want your eyes gutted out of your head.”

The dragon did just that, closing the door before going to the farthest corner of the carriage and facing the wall. He hesitated before murmuring, “Avel . . .”

“Quiet, Romeo.” The Dragon Lord did not look at me as he placed his heavy hands on my shoulders, lifting me up before turning me around on the bench. I bucked as he began unbuckling my armor and sliding the golden metal off my body.

“Avel!” I jerked again as he threw aside my metal chestplate, leaving me in nothing but a thin, white cotton tunic and the purple amulet hanging around my throat.

“Silence.” He ordered, continuing to the metal plates on my legs. “Both of you.”

All three of us fell quiet. The only sound in the coach came from the screech of armor sliding along armor. Avel undressed me until I was left in nothing but my shirt and a pair of warm, woolen leggings. Even my feet were bare and open to the cold air of the carriage.

Avel, despite his obvious displeasure, picked me up gently and laid me across the blanketed bench with care. He shifted the pillows so that they were tucked neatly behind my head, before carefully peeling back the edge of my tunic so that the cloth bunched beneath my breasts. I whimpered as he laid the blankets so that my entire body was covered, save the bare expanse of my stomach.

He kneeled next to me then as Romeo came forward, setting up his box and rummaging through it for tools. I tried glancing past Avel to see the objects he was handling, but the Dragon Lord grabbed my chin and locked his gaze on me, not relinquishing an inch of space.

“Wendy,” he gritted out, his lips pursed and his posture rigid. “I am not . . . angry at you.” The words must have been a lie, but he seemed sincere enough. Romeo was still rummaging in that box, and I could not help but start to twitch and fidget as I thought about what he could be planning. Avel’s grip tightened, and his tyrian orbs urged me to stay focused. “I was wrong to wait this long to begin the mating ritual. I tried waiting for your sake, but you will be in more danger at Loch’s funeral without some type of mark from me. It is better if we get it over now then when we arrive there in a few days.”

Now I really started to shake and tremble. I shook my head violently as I fought against his fingers claiming my jaw. “No. You said I had until the Blood Moon. You promised—”

“And if you still want to leave then, you will. Understand?” Avel looked over his shoulder when Romeo questioned him about something or another. I could not hear their conversation. My mind had gone muddled at the thought of the ritual. He said that I would have until the Blood Moon. He promised me I would have until the Blood Moon.

“No,” I rasped again, shaking my head harder. I tried rising from the bench, but Avel only pushed me back down again. Panic and fear collided in an overwhelmingly harsh manner in my chest, and my voice rose to hellish octaves as I wrestled to get out of the carriage. “No! I don’t want it! I don’t want you!”

Instead of lashing out as I thought he might, Avel only tackled me once more unto the bench and took hold of my shoulders, keeping me in place. “Listen, Wendy. Listen.” He kept his eyes on mine as he spoke. “You need to have my mark on you. The jewelry and the dagger is not enough. When we get there, you need to be protected in every way possible. You don’t understand what kind of dragons are going to be there. If one of us isn’t near you for a second—just a damn second, somebody will hurt you. Do you understand?” He shook me a little, his eyes peering and almost desperate now as he stared down at me. “Do you want someone to take advantage of you? Do you want someone to hurt you when I’m not there?”

Tears, hot and heavy, gathered at the corner of my eyes as I slowly laid back down on the bench, now clinging to him instead of trying to get away. “No,” I whispered, broken.

His shoulders dropped, and in that moment, he looked so desolate and alone that I immediately regretted ever upsetting him. For some reason, seeing him kneeling there with that look on his face . . . it made want to scream and thrash and cry.

Romeo had left some time ago, and now it was just us. When he spoke, the words were almost too soft for me to hear.

“I don’t mind you talking back or voicing your opinions,” he said, peering back up at me under long dark lashes. “Hell, it’s one of the things I love about you. But things are different here and in the mountain with my horde than when it is just me and you. I don’t know how to explain it . . .” he glanced away for a moment, gathering his thoughts before returning his eyes to me. “At least, if we began the mating ritual, they would not just see you as my plaything but as my mate. As you are, just a human girl, they expect you to be punished and to be dealt with for insolence. It would be different if you had my mark. They would recognize you for what you are.”

Clenching my jaw, I stared at the ceiling as I thought over his words. There was truth to be had in his claims. As we had not started the mating ritual, I was not known throughout the horde as his mate. However, if we started it, I would not have to hide anything from him or the horde. They would respect my opinion as they respect his.

Still . . .

“Okay,” I murmured, squeezing my eyes shut. “I’ll do it.” I opened my eyes to stare at him, shaken and scared but resolute. “I will begin the mating ritual with you.”

Happy Christmakwanzakah!

So . . . this week was horrible. I basically did not eat, sleep, or basically function as a human being the past five days. And, when the weekend finally arrived, I woke up sick with the flu.

I hope you all had a better week than me. For all of you celebrating the holidays, please note that I am celebrating right along with you. I love winter and could not be more excited that December is finally here! Woohoo!

Regarding the past chapter, what did y'all think? I have mixed feelings, I think. It is weird being a writer and not liking some of the things your characters do. I did not like how Avel treated Wendy in the beginning, and I hated that Rhett listened to Jericho instead of trying to save Wendy's ass. But when I was writing, I knew that was how they would react. Avel is brash and Rhett is in love at the moment. How could I write them any different?

Anyways, that's all for today folks. I hope you all enjoyed and are excited for the upcoming chapters.

~Elaine