Chapter 104: Tahr

Yes, I'm being punished. The Goddess must be dancing with glee at my predicament. I want Pepper so badly it hurts. All the hand jobs in the world won't take care of my erection. I recite the reasons why I cannot have Pepper and "I want her" replaces each one. My want is not important. Pepper is.
She's not Sarn's wolf shifter. They suffered for love and their pain was unavoidable. I'm not Sarn. I would never give up my dragon and I'm not in love. I'm infatuated and turned on. I'm dragon and these are things I can control.
There is a solution to this dilemma. It pains me greatly and I grind my teeth, but my decision is made. We've been back from the lake for an hour and Pepper is in the library reading. I send a telepathic message, "Mikael, Betty, come to my rooms immediately."
I pace while waiting for their arrival. The longer I wait the more my irritation grows. I kick the chair and watch dispassionately as it topples over. I glance up and Pepper is standing in the doorway.
"I'm glad you're here," I tell her and before I continue, Betty and Mikael enter. I look at Mikael and try to keep the fire pushed down my throat.
"Pepper is yours. You will move with her into the couples ward and the two of you will stay away from my tower." I glance at Betty and see relief on her face. That just makes me angrier. I take a step back. If I'm within reach of Mikael, I will kill him.
The crash against my head sends me to my knees. Pepper stands above me with a solid gold lamp held tightly within her fist. Fuck but that hurt. I get to my feet and grab the lamp from her fingers as she draws back to clobber me again. The damned thing is dented. "You brought this on yourself," I yell at her even though I know that it's a lie. I'm losing control and I'm seconds away from breathing fire.
She slaps me and the fire pushes back a bit. She's glorious in her anger and I can't touch her or I'll never let go. I glance at Mikael. "Control your woman and get her out of here." Pepper tries to run, but Mikael grabs her. Just seeing him touch her pushes smoke from my nostrils and small sparks shoot from my mouth. "Take her away," I roar as I head for my perch where I can release the flames.
Her anguish resonates with mine, but I will not stop Mikael from taking her. He's shocked, but he follows my command. He wants her; I've seen it in his eyes. Like a bride, she will settle into her life. This is what's best for her. It's one of the most unselfish things I've ever done. I will not put her through the pain of losing me even though she would make these next years bearable. I owe her more than that.
I turn after I expel a blast of flame and look into the room I just left. Pepper shrugs Mikael's hold aside. Without glancing my way, she marches from the room with Betty close behind. Mikael is the only one who looks at me. He lifts his hands and signs, "I only want her happy. Not this."
"She cannot be here," I tell him. He nods and seemingly understands. I enter the room and start breaking the furniture into small splinters of wood. It does nothing to assuage my grief.
***
It's long after midnight and I'm unable to sleep. My hands are balled tightly into fists as I think of what Mikael and Pepper are most likely doing at this moment. If he's smart, he will take care of her virginity tonight. It's what a dragon would do. Well, fuck me, who am I kidding? We brag to our friends, but the first weeks with our new brides are no fun. Tears and hysterics are the norm. Who of us really wants to have sex with a snot-nosed female? And yes these thoughts are cruel. This is a cruel world. The curse is the fucking cruelest thing of all.
An alarming thought enters my mind. I didn't tell Mikael to tie her to him at night. Shit. I don't like what I must do, but it can't be helped. I could send the thought into Mikael's mind, but I won't receive an answer. I must know she's safe. I climb from my bed and stomp out to my perch.
That's when all the air escapes my lungs. In the distance, I see Pepper standing at the edge of the perch on the human tower. She's naked. Mikael, fully clothed, is standing several yards away.
"Grab her," I yell into his head. He gazes at me from the distance but doesn't immediately move closer to her.
My scream echoes throughout the night at the same time Mikael makes a grab. Pepper jumps and he's too late. I can only watch as she falls to her death. She doesn't fight it and dives head first in a graceful display of insanity. I can't look away because I've done this. I've killed her.
I'm brought to my knees as a strong wave of magic rumbles from somewhere above. Mikael is thrown back as the sky explodes in shifting colors of light. It's so bright I can't see, but I can hear a sound like no other. It's thunder, lightning, and the full power of a Goddess combined. I pull my legs beneath me and stand against the powerful force. I shake my head because my eyes are betraying me. There is a dragon flying over my lair. I rub my eyes wondering if I'm actually dreaming. "What the fuck?" I can't help but glance down at where Pepper's body should be broken on the ground. She's not there.
"No, I'm not there, you damned dragon. I'm up here where I belong."
I know that voice though I never suspected it was Pepper because of her inability to speak. She somehow whispered Meagan's name the night I took Pepper from the dungeon. A blast of fire shoots from the dragon's mouth and Pepper's laughter invades my soul.
She did it.
Or I guess the Goddess did it. That matters not. Pepper is my mate-the woman destined for me according to the curse-she must be.
So why the hell is my mate who I have not yet claimed a yellow dragon!