Chapter 22: Acasia
I woke up in a soft, unfamiliar bed. It took me a few minutes to remember what happened. I looked around. There seemed to be only one room and one bed. I could smell the dragon, but it wasn't my dragon. This was no good.
The door slammed open against the far wall and Laryn entered carrying a stack of wood. There was a fire in the hearth and a cool current of air passed through the room from the open door.
Where the hell was I?
I pulled the covers closer to my neck and waited for Laryn to turn my way.
He didn't smile and his voice was surly. "How do you feel?"
Should I answer?
No, not yet.
He walked closer and I gripped the covering tighter.
It didn't stop him. He grabbed a handful of the material and whipped it from the bed. I screeched involuntarily. The only thing I was thankful for at this moment was I still had my clothing on from earlier. Or yesterday. I had no idea where I was or how long I'd been here.
Tears swelled painfully behind my eyes as I tried to stop them.
Laryn bent at the waist and put his face two inches from mine. "I asked you a question."
I decided right then and there that Laryn was not a nice dragon. Suddenly, I couldn't remember the question. "Umm."
"What good are you if you can't talk?" His warm breath washed over me, but it didn't matter. He was not Bastian.
"I... I can talk. I don't wish to."
He moved away, a not-so-nice smile playing on his lips. "Well, my lady, if you don't talk, you don't eat."
I could live with that. If I ate at this moment, it would come back up. I didn't think Laryn would be as understanding as Bastian was if I puked on his feet or in his bed. His one bed. Maybe I was wrong. If I puked in the bed, he might not get other ideas. Not that a lack of bed ever stopped Bastian.
My heart hurt. It was a pain greater than I'd ever had. Bastian was alone. My poor, poor dragon. Even if he was an ass, he didn't deserve this.
Laryn walked away and started rattling pots. I guessed he was hungry. A pleasant smell permeated the room ten minutes later. My stomach growled. Wonderful, I couldn't even keep up a pretense of not being hungry. It didn't matter, I wasn't eating. I also refused to let the quiet get to me. I wasn't very good at keeping my thoughts to myself but I wouldn't give in.
I knew Laryn was lonely. If I'd learned nothing else about dragon brides, I'd learned they were companions, but it was something I refused to be for Laryn. He needed to return me.
I didn't eat even after Laryn fixed a plate for me and set it on the table by his bed. He ate his food, giving me prying looks every so often, but he didn't say anything. When finished, he left the cabin, slamming the door in his wake.
I needed a weapon, and I didn't know how long he'd be gone. I also had no idea if I could hurt him, but if he came near me again, I'd try. Scrambling from the bed, I ran to the eating area and found several knives in a drawer. I chose a small one that I could easily conceal but would still do damage if I stabbed it in the right place.
My stomach flip-flopped. I'd never stabbed anyone, not even an animal. For Bastian, though, I could do anything.
I have no idea how much time passed. I realized it was probably stupid to have not run away a few minutes after he left. But I had no idea where I was and I think I'd already proved I should stay where I was put.
The door finally opened and Laryn strode in, looked at my uneaten meal, and grunted. He poured water into a cup from a bladder on his belt and carried it to me. I turned my head.
"You're a stubborn one, but I don't think you'll make it more than a day without eating or drinking. But have it your way for now." He pulled a wooden chair from the table closer to me. "Tell me something of yourself," he said after sitting down.
If my eyes could flash fire, he'd be incinerated. I watched him stand back up and move closer so his face was inches from mine. For some reason he seemed to think it intimidated me, but he was wrong. It made me angrier.
"I like a strong female, but don't be stupid."
Well, if I was stupid, I might as well establish it permanently. I stabbed the knife blade upward through the thin bed covering while pushing up with my body. It wasn't easy and I didn't have a lot of force, but I connected.
He gave a loud grunt, twisted my hand while tearing off the cover, and threw the knife across the room. I could see blood welling beneath his shirt.
"You little hellion." He backhanded me and I fell flat against the bed.
I covered my stinging cheek in shock. I'd never been hit in my life. Of course, I'd never stabbed anyone either. His hand went to his shirt and came away bloody. I think he might have been more shocked than I was, but I could see when anger took over. My entire body started shaking.
He stared at me for the longest time as his muscles clenched. He was going to hit me again, or kill me. I looked into his eyes as dispassionately as I could. He'd kidnapped me and I'd be damned if I'd apologize for stabbing him. Bastian would kill him anyway. It was only a matter of time.
Very slowly, he moved away. I watched him find the knife and then look for others. He left, taking the weapons with him. Now I really started shaking. My hunger didn't make it any better.
Bastian, please rescue me.
It was a silent prayer; I needed him. I turned on my side and closed my eyes.
