Chapter 136: Flora

My eyes peel open to sunshine. I'm in Ashrac's room, in his bed, and he isn't. I look around and still no Ashrac. I stretch my arms and I'm about to rise from the bed when a shadow passes in front of the window from the balcony. Dragonbreath went for a flight without me. We'll be discussing this after he comes back to bed and welcomes the new day with me like he should have.
The dragon's shadow shifts to a smaller human than Ashrac and before I can put together what human it is, Jewel pops her head in the window. She looks at me questioningly. I pull the cover over my bare breasts that were perky and waiting for my mate. "Come in," I say because what else can I do? The strange expression on her face isn't what I'm expecting, and for a moment I wonder if I should have read more into her friendship with Ashrac.
She sits on the end of the bed and continues staring at me.
"Is there something you need?" I ask.
She gives a small smile that in no way reaches her eyes. "Ashrac sent me to get you."
Strange, but I'll go to wherever he is. I whip back the cover and jump from the bed. "I'm ready whenever you are."
"He wants me to return you to your realm."
She couldn't have said what I think she said. "What?"
"He flew to my home this morning and told me you're returning to Earth and he needs me to take you."
Now I understand her expression. It's pity. "Where is he?" I ask with hurt I can't hide in every word.
She turns her head toward the window. "He flew away and left my realm. He said he had things to do and wouldn't come back here for a while."
It's sinking in. He doesn't love me. We're mated. It hits me. I'm mated and Ashrac's dick is satisfied. I pull the tears in and lift my chin, refusing to give into my pain in front of Jewel. "Take me home please."
* * *
I barely remember the flight. I flew in eagle form until we reached the crossing. Jewel tried to talk but I didn't bother answering. I couldn't. She left me at the crossing and I flew back to my apartment.
My life is over.
My apartment is stale, and I open a few windows to let air in. My personal belongings are exactly as I left them. My heart is not. I go to my bedroom and lie down. I have swords displayed on the wall and I don't even want to look at them. It takes an hour of rehashing every minute I spent with Ashrac before the tears fall. Grief overwhelms me and I eventually fall asleep.
My ringing cell phone wakes me sometime later. At least I left the thing plugged in when Ashrac kidnapped me. I check the screen and it's Beatrice. I almost don't answer. "Hello," I say in a throaty, sleep-filled voice.
"Ah, Flora?" she asks.
"Yes, Beatrice, it's Flora." There's no inflection in the words. They're cold and hard like my heart.
"I was only leaving a message for when you came to retrieve your belongings. Please tell me that's what you're doing."
I'm too heartsick to do more than give the outline. "He kidnapped me. Held me in his castle. I fell in love, we mated... no, I mated, and he sent me home.
Ten seconds of silence is my immediate answer before her rough, angry voice fills my ear. "I'll hire someone to take out that no-good, rotten son of a bitch. I promise."
"You set me up didn't you?" The thought's been puzzling in my head and now I've said it aloud.
"You should have been the perfect match. I'm sorry are not the words I expected to say to you, but I'm incredibly sorry."
"I'll be okay, Beatrice." Liar, liar, liar.
"I know you will, sweetie. Is there anything you need?"
"Yeah, there is. Don't go after him, don't ever say his name in front of me again, and never hook me up again."
More silence.
I disconnect that call, knowing I'll feel guilty later about treating her this way. Right now I just need peace to clear my mind and figure out how I'll explain all this to my family. I'm mated and that won't change. The only way I will be free is if Ashrac truly dies, and that thought breaks my heart even more. The tears start falling again. I'm a survivor, and that's what I will eventually do.
***
I stay in bed for two days. It's now the evening of the second day. I don't bathe or eat. I know I must do more than take a sip or two of water, but I can't bring myself to do it. I'm stronger than this. Or maybe I'm not. I stare at the ceiling without moving.
The sound at my window only makes me roll away so my mother, father, or brothers can't see my face. I know they're worried about me. They've been calling and I haven't answered, which is another thing I'll feel bad about later. Right now, I just want everyone to leave me alone.
My body jerks when strong arms lift me from the bed.
I look up to see Ashrac cradling me against his chest while I just stare in shock. "You're being kidnapped, my lady. Please don't fight it. I'm taking you to my lair, where I'll have my wicked way with you and you'll fall deeply in love with me."
He's crazy. Anger burns inside me so suddenly and bright, I will most likely explode. "Put. Me. Down."
"Good, I was hoping you'd play along. If you struggle a bit, that will put me in a better mood."
I'll kill him. If I don't succeed, Beatrice will have the deed done. If he wants me to struggle, it's the last thing I'll do. I go limp in his arms, wishing I had a sword in my hand to slice his lily-livered throat.
"Like that, is it? I knew you would be a touch upset and I planned on being here yesterday but I was waylaid at my alma mater by one of my professors who was interested in how my experiments are coming along."
He's a dead dragon walking, he just doesn't know it.
"This kidnapping thing is tricky business and we'll come back another time for your clothes and any belongings you want to take to my realm. I need to get the having my wicked way with you and you falling in love with me out of the way."
Dead.
He carries me to the window and tosses me high. He shifts before I can even attempt to call my eagle, and he grabs me in one large talon. I ignore his magic that courses through me. I ignore how good it feels to be with him. I ignore my heart, which wants to melt into him and wrap his warmth around it. The sun is coming up when we reach the crossing. My mind is beginning to function past murder.
He planned this. He had Jewel bring me back knowing how devastated I would be and then he delayed his arrival because of some stupid professor. He is the most stupid, unfathomable idiot I've ever met. And, he's my mate. My anger lowers from fury to rage, which is to say it lowers a millimeter. He actually starts whistling in my head when we cross into his realm. Enough of that. The power words flow softly from my lips and the energy pelts Ashrac's tough scales.
"Hey," he shouts into my mind. "What is this?"
I look at the color of his talons and it's perfect. "They call it baby shit yellow. Get used to it." This is the first time I've spoken since he threw me from the window.
The asshole laughs.
I'll give him something else to laugh about at the first opportunity.
"Ah, oh," he says when his castle is in sight. I can see where we are through his talons. He changes course to his lab.
Stupid, stupid move, dragon.
"We have company. You're about to meet my parents."
What? Oh hell no.
It's too late. I roll from his talons after he lands and I jump to my feet. I'm only wearing Ashrac's shirt, which I took with me when Jewel took me to the Earth crossing. My hair is a greasy mess and I stink. Goddess, do I stink.
His parents are nicely dressed in casual clothes. Ashrac lands and shifts before stepping in front of me. "Mother, Father," he says.
His mother doesn't look happy. Beautiful but very unhappy. "We just had a word with Jewel and I think there's something you need to tell us."
Ashrac looks at me with the exact expression you would expect when someone is scolded by their mother. Like I would help him.
He turns back when I offer no support. "Mother, Father, this is my mate, Flora of the Baby Shit Yellow Clan."
His mother looks him up and down before turning her eyes to me. "I'm sure the color suits him from time to time, but please tell me you'll turn him back eventually."
"I'll take your concern under advisement," I reply, each word precise.
She steps forward and places her hand out with a soft smile. She tries to hide it but I notice the wrinkling of her nose. A slow death by boiling oil is awaiting Ashrac. I'll light the fire that boils the oil with a smile. I place my hand out.