Dragon’s Breath

"It's quite rude to show up on someone else's lands unannounced. I find it hard to believe that you are only here so as to lay eyes on a beautiful woman. All dragons have beauty. Why waste time looking for one you've never seen?" I question.

I don't find his story believable in the least. There is no way someone would come just to see me.

"You've caught me," Slyvan says with a crooked smirk, "I've been traveling all across the lands in search of my mate. When I heard the chieftain of the Perilous horde had a young and beautiful daughter, I was hoping to try my luck. Though it would seem to me that you, Princess, have no intention of allowing yourself to be courted. Which is quite a travesty, considering you are so beautiful," he says, his voice silvery, tossing in a sly wink at the end.

I am taken aback by his words for a moment. How is it that he knows I am the princess? I'm sure I've never seen this man in my life.

"Who exactly are you?" I question skeptically, taking a small step back.

"I do believe I have introduced myself, my lady," his sing-song voice rings out as he gives me a wide closed eyes smile.

"What I mean is where do you come from and why are you here? It sounds like a load of shit when you say you're here only to see me," I snap.

Suddenly, the man lets out a bellowing laugh, "You are quite sharper than you look. Actually, I have business to discuss with your father. Though I was hoping to meet a fair maiden during my stay here," Slyvan chirps winking a the end.

Shivers run through my body at the action, but I can't help but be enticed by him. He is so beautiful, and his every moment is done with purpose and elegance.

I stare at him for a moment, thinking. What business could he have with my father? Father doesn't even talk to the people from the horde where my mother was born. So soon after Fafnir dies, a mysterious man shows up having business with my father. Something is definitely going on.

"What business could you possibly have with my father?" I question fiercely.

Walking closer, Slyvan grabs a lock of my hair twirling it around his fingers.

"This is not a matter for children, you'd best not put your nose where it doesn't belong," he says with a smile, but his eyes hold no compassion. The cold from his eyes crept across my skin, cold that seemed mild at first numbed my body, leaving me to stand frozen in front of him.

I tense with fear, forgetting to breathe for a split second. Swatting his hand from me I take a step back. Crossing my arms over my exposed breast, I tilt my chin up.

"I am not a child," I state with a huff.

Slyvan laughs once again, the sounds easing my fear of him away.

"You are still but a hatchling at the tender age of sixteen, which means that you are, in fact, still a child," he states.

I scowl at him, "Like you're one to talk. You're still searching for your mate, which means you have to be younger than fifty, making you still a fledgling."

"That may be true but I am still older than you," he points out.

"Yeah whatever. look it's late I need to head back, you should as well," I say looking away.

Turning away from Slyvan, I faze, taking off into the cool night sky. Soon after I take off into the night, I see Slyvan's large ash white dragon fly above me. I fly around him, taking in his gorgeous beast form. He has two long black horns protruding from the sides of his head pointing forward, and another smaller horn pointing up from his snout.

I don't get to look at him too long before he flies off to another part of the mountain.

Going back to my room, I faze and snuggle into bed. That man is really strange, but I can't help but want to know more about him.

With those thoughts guiding my way, I fall asleep peacefully for the first time this week.

***

The next morning I wake up as early as possible so as to be able to catch the morning meeting with the officials. If Slyvan is here for business, with my father then they'll surely talk during the morning meeting.

I run hurriedly through the halls until I make it to the throne room. The doors are closed, so I press my ear close in hopes to hear what they are talking about.

"I will never do that!" I hear my father shout.

"You really should consider my offer. This will be beneficial for both of us." I hear Slyvan fire back.

That's all I can hear of the meeting before I'm forcefully pulled away from the door.

"Listing to others conversations is quite rude, Nora," I hear a voice scold from behind me.

I turn and face Soren with a pout.

"I'm really curious about what they're talking about. Actually, just last night I met the man who father's speaking with now, he's quite intriguing," I say.

Soren sighs then thumps me in the four head.

"I don't care how 'intriguing' he is, listening in is still bad manners. Come now, or you'll be late for training, you'll have plenty of time to stalk him when you're done," Soren states.

***

After a few short hours of sword and combat training with Soren, I decide to head outside and visit my brother's tomb. As I'm walking through the halls, I spot Slyvan up ahead of me. I walk faster in order to catch up with him.

"Where are you going?" I ask when I'm within earshot.

He turns around to face me with a smile, "Hello to you too, princess, I'm on my way to go pay respect to your dead. I heard the chieftain's son passed away earlier this week, so I thought I should pay my respect as an act of goodwill."

"I'm heading that way if you'd like to follow me," I offer.

"Lead the way, princess," he says motioning his hand.

I lead Slyvan through the mountain down to the base where the tombs are. I greet the guard at the tomb entrance by placing a fist over my heart and bowing.

Slyvan bends down to me and whispers, "Why is it that you have a guard at the tomb entrance?"

I glance up at him with a small scowl, "You don't need to whisper. It's ok to talk. We have a guard because it is a great honor of our horde to protect the dead."

"Oh, I see," he replies back thoughtfully.

We walk the rest of the way in silence. I lead him down a long hall that has large stone caskets lining each side of the wall. Walking to the end of the hall, we reach the part of the tomb that is used to bury the chieftains family members.

I head over to the stone casket with a sealed top. Gently, I place my hands over the cool stone, caressing it. Silently, I get down on my knees in front of the casket, push both hands together, and I bow, placing my head on the ground.

Slyvans piecing voice breaks my concentration, "What exactly are you doing?"

"This is how my horde pays respect to the dead. We must get on our knees before the one that has fallen, place both hands together, and bow before the burial spot three times," I tell him.

"It's strange to see you doing this. I haven't seen the old dragon practices implicated in a long time," he comments.

"Strange or not, this is how our horde does things. My grandfather was the one who created the Perilous horde and it was he who wished to keep the old ways alive," I say softly.

After I say that, we go silent once again.

"So, I heard some interesting rumors about how you were the one that killed your brother," he comments snidely.

Turning towards Slyvan sharply, I scowl.

"Don't believe rumors. My brother was killed by humans. I was there, so I would know," I snap suddenly feeling irritated.

"Since you know the truth, don't let the rumors bother you. From what I know, you don't interact with the horde very much, so they don't know you very well, meaning in their eyes, you could have killed your brother in order to gain more power in the horde," Slyvan says thoughtfully.

"I wouldn't do that," I say through clenched teeth.

"I figured as much. You don't seem like the type to be interested in power, but in the defense of your horde, they don't know you very well. To them, you could be the type that's after power," he points out.

"I...I never thought about it like that," I say with a soft smile.

***

After the day Slyvan went with me to visit my brother, we started seeing each other often when he wasn't in meetings with my father. Slyvan enchanted me with stories of all the places he visited while in search of his mate. He's been to nearly every part of the world and has met with almost every race. Besides the fae, who are known from hiding themselves.

With every story he told me, I found myself becoming more and more attracted to him. His beauty, grace, and overall charm simply pulled me closer to him.

Then, the night before Slyvan had to leave, we stayed up late together in my room talking, and that's when I confessed to him my feelings. When I was with him, I forgot about everything: my pain, my sorrow, all of it.

When I expressed to him my feelings, he kissed me and for the first time, I was taken, not a girl, but as a woman. He was gentle and kind with me, holding me dearly in his arms.

***

The next morning, I awoke to the sound of Slyvan shuffling about my room, picking up his discarded clothing.

Sitting up, I pulled my blankets over my naked body.

"You're leaving already?" I ask.

"Yes," he states coldly.

"Will you be coming back?" I ask earnestly.

"Come back? Why would I come back?" He states sharply.

My chest clenches in pain at his harsh words. What does he mean why?

He turns to me with a sly grin, his eyes no longer holding warmth, "I have a mate I must return to, so I won't be coming back."

He...he has a mate?

"I thought you felt the same way for me," I say tears stinging my eyes.

I will not allow myself to cry in front of him, he doesn't deserve my tears.

"I never once said I loved you, you only thought I did because you were so desperate for attention. Maybe next time don't be so easy," he laughs mockingly.

In a moment of uncontrollable anger, I shift into my dragon form. Before Slyvan can do anything, I shove him to the ground, placing him under my claws. I rake one of my claws down his chest, splitting the tender flesh open, then I proceed to throw him across the room.

"Leave, now!" I seethe.

Slowly, Slyvan stands, clutching his chest in pain. With no further comments, he shifts and flies away from my horde's territory. Shifting back to human form, I collapse to the ground in tears.

I can't believe I allowed myself to be used. How could I be so naive? Pulling my knees to my chest, I sob quietly to myself.