Chapter 51: Roxanne

He asked for my name. My brave, brave dragon. He took me to steal my first treasure and had no qualms about me fighting bad men with swords. In his eyes, I'm as capable as a man. I love him more than I can ever put into words. It's hard to remain unselfish and not want his love in return.
We have many good years ahead of us. Great years. I just can't help worrying about what will happen when I die. My heart breaks over the thought of any pain he will suffer. To wait thousands of years for a mate to transcend is cruel. The time he has already waited crueler still.
I gather my hair back and prepare for a visit from Acasia and Ashrac. My stolen piece of jewelry proudly adorns my throat on a piece of leather that matches my outfit. My dragon likes the stone and I enjoy seeing pride in his eyes when I wear it.
Sir Orifice only had one goal and that was to remove my dress and fuck me. Hitting him over the head with a large vase from the nightstand beside the bed was easy. Repeatedly stomping his fingers beneath my boot satisfying. My thirst for blood began as a child when I planned to kill the dragon. I will never be a normal bride. Had never been a normal child. Somehow the gods matched me with the one man who would see my savagery as a bonus.
Bastian and Laryn are planning to fly around and discuss dragon business during my visit with Acasia. Laryn gave permission for me to use a section of the castle I'd never seen before. He also explained that his servants wouldn't speak to me. I was to inform them of what I needed and they would obey instantly. The entire discussion was difficult to come to terms with.
Certain humans from the earth realm give up their children to save them from a fatal illness. Bringing them into the dragon's realm cures them but takes away their voice. They owe servitude to the dragons and live their lives fulfilling the debt.
I'm not sure how I feel about this and plan to discuss it with Acasia. I also have another train piece to add onto Ashrac's engine. Laryn wanted me to give it to the child. He loves the boy. I see it every time he speaks of him. I never point it out, though. Laryn needs to keep his heart free of love for me. If thinking he can't love at all helps, so be it.
They finally arrive and Laryn's manservant, Peter, fetches tea and sweet cakes for me and my guests. I hold off giving Ashrac his new toy until he jumps around from one piece of furniture to the next. He brought his train engine and the combination of the engine and new gift gives his mother and I a chance to speak in hushed tones.
"I had many questions about the earth humans too," Acasia replies to my first question honestly. "It seems so strange that they lose the ability to speak. If I hadn't seen it with the child we carried over from earth's realm, I too would have trouble comprehending what happens."
I can accept this without actually bringing a child across but I must ask about what bothers me most, "Did Bastian hide his servants as Laryn has?"
She takes my hand and squeezes it. "Yes, he did. It's very difficult for brides at first. I do not understand all the strange rules of this land and I've been here twenty-five years. I may be dragon, but I am still a bride. The ability to shift to another form has not changed my mind on many things. When I was restricted from entering my home realm, I had a temper tantrum to rival any Bastian has thrown."
I can't help laughing. "Your dragon throws tantrums?"
"Worse than his son if you can believe that after witnessing Ashrac kicking Laryn."
We both laugh.
Acasia looks to her son with a loving smile. He's across the room making train noises and driving the engine and new car through strategically placed pillows. She turns back to me. "I was lucky not to get several dragon traits after I transcended. I do not need to steal in order to maintain the sense of superiority that the male dragons live for."
I finger the piece at my throat.
"It's gorgeous."
"I stole it," I say unable to help the pride in my voice.
Acasia spews her tea and places her hand at her throat. "Please tell me it wasn't from Sarn or Tahr."
"No. It came from another realm, the coffers of a Sir Orland Locksy to be exact." My grin widens when I say his name.
"I've heard of him. Laryn truly took you to steal your own treasure?"
I nod. "I've found that my dragon does not enjoy sharing. He says I must steal what I wish for, which I would have done with or without his permission."
Acasia begins laughing. "You have wrapped your dragon around your fingers." Her gaze sweeps over my outfit. "Your clothing and attitude suit him. I found Laryn quite childish before you came along. He's changed with his love of you."
I immediately stop smiling. "Laryn does not love me and he won't."
The grin on Acasia's face disappears. "What nonsense is this? Of course he loves you. I see it in every glance he casts your way. The man would die without you."
I shake my head knowing this will be difficult to explain. "No. He will not die without me. He will live to choose a new bride. I don't want him suffering great pain when he loses me. We have developed a friendship that will be hard enough on him when it's my time to die."
Acasia's eyebrows arch in thought. "But that is not the curse." She glances toward Ashrac. "My son may suffer the same curse. We do not know. What I do know is that I will teach him to love with all his heart. He must. It is the only way to spite the Goddess who placed the curse. Love and live on. Search for the one who will transcend and be with you for all eternity."
I refuse to think of young Ashrac paying for the sins of some unknown dragon. It angers me greatly. Give me this Goddess and I will cleave her head from her body. An internal awareness tells me to never speak these words aloud. I just shake my head. "No. I can't wish that for Laryn. I also want you to promise that you will watch over him after I am gone."
Acasia's long, steady gaze makes me feel uncomfortable. "I have a soft spot for Laryn. I think the both of you are foolish. You should love while you can. With that said, I give you my promise to watch over him."
The remainder of the visit isn't as solemn as the beginning. We go to the highest ledge of the tower so Ashrac can show me his new skills at breathing fire. Apparently, this trait is a celebrated rite of passage in a young dragon's existence and the true extent of the ability will not manifest until he reaches his one-hundredth year. It saddens me that I will not be around to see it.
I watch the small, red dragon dive and swoop through the clouds while expelling occasional puffs of smoke. I finally send him to the kitchen for the cookies Laryn ordered cooked in anticipation of Ashrac's visit.
"What did you think of my fire?" he asks me in his haughty way with arms crossed and head held high.
"I think you will be the mightiest fire breather of all the dragons if you continue to diligently practice your finesse. I doubt Laryn had the talent you possess when he was your age."
Ashrac turns to Acasia. "You hear that, Mother? She is a lady who knows a magnificent dragon when she sees one." He shifts once more and flies down to the kitchens as we hold back laughter until he's inside the castle.
"I also didn't inherit the arrogance of dragons. It's sad that I must put up with two of them."
"Sad indeed. One is enough for me."
We both laugh until our sides hurt. All in all we have a wonderful visit. I've never had a female friend in the village. The other brides avoided me. They didn't want to be in a position where they felt guilt over my father's inability to provide for us. I didn't care. I even understood. The village was at the mercy of the dragons. What I hadn't understood was that the dragons were at the mercy of a vengeful Goddess.