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you no good motherfucker,” I
bellowed from above his lair.
    He didn’t keep me waiting. His claiming
bride died recently. He covered his grief well, but I knew he
burned with sadness on the inside. His roar thundered through the
air, his smoke and fire close behind.
    “You dare enter my territory without invite.
I will kill you, Bastian.”
    “You will try, you lily livered blue
bastard.” I expected the impact, needed more pain. Something to
take the ache from my heart.
    Our clash knocked me back, spinning us both
through the sky, our talons locked into the other’s scales. No
serious damage done, but it hurt and yet felt wonderful at the same
time.
    “You moron dragon, I thought you claimed
your bride this week. Has she rebuffed you so early that you run
from her with your tail between your shaking talons?”
    My roar exploded as I twisted free and rose
higher. I dove, taking him from above, carrying us both downward.
He tore away, but managed to slice my wing, ripping a large gash in
the unprotected inner flesh. I could still fly, still fight, but my
anger receded with the agony. I landed in the soft grass, hanging
my head.
    Laryn shouted from above, “It’s no fun
killing a pathetic dragon. Is there something I can say to bring
your anger back?”
    I watched him land twenty feet away. “Why
are females so difficult?” I mumbled.
    His blue head flew back, smoke and fire
shooting from his mouth, bellowing laughter. “To expect anything
different, Bastian, makes you a foolish dragon. Go back to your
female and talk her to death, woo her, as is your want. But stay
out of my territory.”
    I shook my head, softening my armor, going
out of fight mode. “Are we on for cards next week?”
    “Yes, Sarn’s place, same time. Bring your
female so I can meet her.”
    I gave a grumpy growl. “Steal her, you
mean.”
    “If you can’t protect your bride, then it’s
always a possibility.” His blue eyes shone brighter.
    “Humph, you could try. You would die.”
    “Save your poetry for your bride. You will
need it, you ugly, red-spawned demon from hell.” He turned away and
flew off.
    The sun was full up when I saw my lair in
the distance. I pulled magic within me, healing my wing and
alleviating the pain. She wore a long flowing gown of white similar
to her claiming dress but far more luxurious. She stood on the edge
of my perch outside my bedroom. My heart dropped. I was too far
away to catch her if she jumped. I pumped my wings, eating up the
space between us.
    “Do not jump, Acasia,” I shouted. It was a
plea, but I didn’t care.
    “Did you kill them?” Her sadness swelled
within me.
    “I killed no one.” At least I hoped I
didn’t.
    “Can I trust you, Bastian?”
    I was closer now. Close enough to catch her
if she jumped. My brain registered her use of my name at the same
time she dove over the side.
    What the hell? The woman was crazy, no…
insane.
    I caught her easily, my talons closing
around her body, pulling her close to my chest. “You stupid
female,” I growled.
    She actually giggled. “I knew you would
catch me. I lied last night. No man has touched me. I was angry and
wanted to pay you back for keeping the truth from me. I realized
after you left that you would kill them. All the men. But none of
them ever even looked my way.”
    I took us higher, my heart swelling with
joy. “They looked at you, silly female. I wanted to kill them but
couldn’t. I may have left a building at the center of town in
flames, though.” She burst into full laughter and made my heart
swell near to bursting.
    Her palm opened against the scales on my
chest. “You used my name earlier. May I stop being ‘female,’
‘human,’ or any of the other things you call me?” She caressed me
with her fingers as well as her voice.
    I would give her anything at this moment.
“Yes, Acasia, I shall use your name unless you are acting like a
stubborn woman, stupid human, or foolish female.” I flew us to a
clearing with