Chapter 62: Sarn

I almost step in, but Sierra clocks him in the muzzle with her fist and shouts, "Yes, it is my business if it makes you so unhappy. Our parents wouldn't want that and they won't love you any less." After a short hesitation, she releases him and places her hands on her hips. "You are a chicken shit. I don't see a mate for either of us hanging around. You will never have a chance if you don't admit the truth and decide to live your life as the person you truly are. Now get out of here and only come back when you want to apologize for being such an ass to Sarn."
Roland turns in my direction and bares his teeth. I have no trouble deciphering that he isn't giving me an apology just yet. He suddenly turns his large body in the direction of the door where several bear shifters are peeking inside. He sweeps past them without another glance at me or Sierra.
"Close the damn door and all of you mind your own business," Sierra shouts at the gathering crowd. She doesn't give them time to do more than pull their heads back before she marches to the door and slams it in their faces.
Her stormy eyes turn back in my direction and her gaze travels to my cock, which is hardening again at her display of dominance. Not that she will ever dominate me, but even without her virginity, she is a sight to behold.
"And you," she shakes her finger in my direction. "Cover that thing up if you can't control it. The last thing I need today is a penis without manners flapping in my face."
Her words cause my cock to stiffen further. I'd love nothing more than to flap it against her lips until she opens them wide enough for me to slide inside. My hand goes to my belly. Of all the Gods-be-damned moments, this is a fine time for my stomach to rebel and shivers to rack my body.
"For goodness' sake sit down before you fall down. You're bleeding and even though I can tell that you've bathed, you're sweating again and you need to clean up."
Her loud voice doesn't help my pounding head either. The backs of my legs hit the bed and I sit down so I don't fall.
She storms to the closet door and returns with a pair of sweatpants. She tosses them at me and I snag them before they fly over the bed to the floor on the other side. "Put those on." She heads into the bathroom and comes out with a wet washcloth in her hand. I snag that too or it would have hit me in the face. "Clean yourself up. I'm going to make you something more substantial to eat and see if you can keep it down." With that, she turns to the small kitchenette and begins pulling items from the refrigerator and cabinets.
The cabin has a great room with the kitchen area separated by a center island, a small table barely large enough to seat two people, a bathroom, and a closet. It's small and comfortable; a complete step up from the bedroom I had at the club.
For the strangest reason, I'm so homesick it hurts. My thoughts turn to my lair high in the mountains. So high the clouds float around the top of my tower. When I launched myself from the highest tower perch, the clouds gave way to clear skies and I could see in every direction for miles. My realm, where no one dares attack me. They'd be dead if they tried.
With these thoughts, Calista's beautiful face fills my mind. I miss her terribly. I miss her sweet smile and the needy sparkle in her eyes when I'd land on the perch of my bedroom. I'd shift and stalk close enough to fist her hair and pull her closer still. At least that's how it was in the early years before age turned her bones brittle and pain flashed in her eyes even when I tried to be gentle. The later years of a bride's life are all about companionship with long talks late into the night. She'd fall asleep in my arms while I stayed awake as long as I could. I tried to imprint her image on my brain. I needed it to keep me for all the lonely years I knew would come when she died.
A pot slamming in the kitchen jerks me from my daydreaming. And it couldn't be too soon because those thoughts will have me a sobbing mess if I don't control them. I wipe the blood from my arm and thigh before pulling the sweats over my legs. I toss the washcloth on top of the pile of dirty sheets on the floor and lie back against the pillows. I watch Sierra as she prepares food and desire floods my veins. I feel unfaithful to Calista. Even worse, Calista would understand. More than anything, she wanted me happy.
Losing each bride is devastating. After Bastian's mate, Acasia, transcended to dragon, the pain became more unbearable the closer Calista came to passing. I prayed, begged, and bargained with the Goddess to spare her. Even if she remained old and frail, I would take Calista as mate and live with her for eternity. My knees were raw from subjugating myself. And none of it mattered. She took her last breath in my arms as my tears fell on her paper-thin, wrinkled skin with her beautiful, pain-clouded eyes staring into mine.
"Are you okay?" Sierra asks softly.
I wipe tears from my face feeling deeply embarrassed that Sierra sees me at my weakest. "I'm fine. You need to leave. Whatever you think will happen won't. I don't want to be your friend. I don't even want to fuck you anymore."
She ignores my request to leave and goes back to the kitchen area. Damn she is one frustrating woman. Within a short time, the smells coming from the kitchen make my stomach growl. I watch as she sets the table. A few minutes later, she carries the food to the table. She sits on one of the chairs and glances my way. "If you want the food I prepared, you may join me at the table. If not, I'm hungry and I'm sure I can manage to eat yours too." She takes a bite and gives a slight moan. My cock likes the sound. The damn gurgling noise in my stomach rumbles louder and gives me away. I heft myself off the bed, walk over, and pull out a chair. My hair is barely wet now and it falls into my eyes.
Sierra watches each move I make. "I can trim that after we clean up if you want."
I grunt, which is the best I can do because I've stolen a piece of meat from the center dish on the table. The flavor consumes my taste buds. Delicious. I'm not even sure if the cook at my castle could create something this delectable.
I glance back at Sierra and she drops her gaze pointedly to my plate. I decide to play nice so I can eat more of the delicious food without causing her ire to rise. I've kept only a little soup down, but each day the consistency has been heartier, thus preparing my stomach for solid food. I really know very little about beastkind metabolism here in their realm but Dragons usually need lots of calories because they burn quite a few when they shift. I haven't shifted once since coming to the earth realm. Because of our size in dragon form, we register on radar as aircraft, which is dangerous for our kind. Well not really dangerous for dragons because we can easily take out any human threat, but, it's chancy for beastkind. It would cause problems with the government that rules the surrounding beastkind territories. The shifters here don't have the ability to escape to another realm if things go bad.
As far as I know, dragons are the only shifters capable of jumping realms without suffering a consequence. From time to time we take human children across if their parents give them over to save their lives. These children are critically ill. Once they cross, they're free from their illness, but they lose their ability to speak. These children are raised by adults who once crossed over as children. They remain in the dragon realm and serve our needs. I have no idea how many of these servants I have. They quietly go about their day and mostly stay out of my way. I give little thought to who prepares my meals or changes the bed linen. I've watched Sierra do both. I shouldn't like that she performs these menial tasks, but I do. I never felt the humans of my realm took a personal interest in me other than to see my needs met. They appear neither happy nor sad. It's obvious Sierra finds enjoyment in caring for me even with my sour disposition.
I take another savory bite of meat and barely manage to hold back another groan. It melts in my mouth with the taste of herbs left floating on my tongue. I chew slowly before swallowing then try the rice next. It's just as good.