Chapter 81: Claiming: Sarn

I fly to the village without the usual burning joy that I've always felt before. The white gowns of the brides flutter in the light wind. My heart doesn't increase its pace at the sight. I don't want one of these women, I want Sierra.
I wait for the crashing sensation that usually tells me who the one special bride is. And I wait. I fly over once, circle, and fly over again. Sierra wants me to love this bride. Those were her final words. I stop fighting fate and open my heart to my next bride. "I will try," I tell the wind.
I'm not sure what's happening when the clouds above me begin to spin. Several humans are walking toward the center of town where they will kneel to me as I claim my bride. They stop walking. No, they actually freeze in mid-step. Everything but the clouds swirling above my head stops. Not even the gowns of my brides move with the wind.
A beautifully winged Pegasus carries a woman as they charge from the clouds. I shake my head and look again. They're real... I think.
Her mouth does not move as her words enter my head. "Sarn of the family of majestic purple dragons, greetings."
It's a Goddess. I should be kneeling at her feet, though that is impossible when we are suspended in air. "Greetings," I say in a low voice, more in awe than anything else.
She offers a gentle smile. "You have come to fulfill your destiny, though your heart belongs to another."
The heart she speaks of has picked up pace until I'm afraid it will burst from my chest. I don't answer. I can't.
"You have a great choice to make this day. I cannot undo the curse, but I can offer you an alternative. The price of your love for this female wolf shifter is your dragon's form. If you choose this, you will live within the earth's realm and never return here. You shall live as a man without wings or the gift of flight. But you will have eternal life with the one you love." The wind picks up as her arms rise in the air. "I will have your answer now."
I am dragon. There is no choice at all.
***

Sierra
The day of claiming passed a week ago and I know my dragon has his new bride. My wolf doesn't even offer a jealous growl at the thought. We are too devastated to do more than struggle with each breath through our tears. I've decided to give myself this last day to grieve. Tomorrow, I will begin living my life to its fullest. I will do it for Sarn.
I'm in bear territory in the cabin Sarn and I shared. I've spent each night in our bed crying and smiling over sad memories and happy ones. I'm not ready to return home, though I've sent word that I'm okay. I can't handle my family's pity right now. The bears surprisingly understand and give me this time. I eventually drag myself from the bed and manage to drink a cup of hot tea. When finished, I shift to wolf and head to the tall grass where I plan to spend the day.
It is exactly as I remember. I know the spot Sarn and I made love. I sit and then lie back and look at the sky. How many people find a love as great as ours? I doubt anyone. It goes completely against beastkind nature to share that love. But I will share Sarn with his new bride. I just want him happy. I close my eyes and remember the sweet times we spent here. There were not enough, but it's all I have and I shall cherish those memories.
A cloud must have moved in front of the sun because the warm rays are no longer touching my skin. I open my eyes and the daydream I'm having appears real. It's Sarn. He's standing over me with the most incredible glow in his purple eyes. I smile and lift my arms. He kneels. I want this dream to continue forever.
"It shall, sweet Sierra, I promise," he whispers into my mind.
Then he's in my arms and my life begins again. I run my hands over his shirt and wonder why my dream has him clothed.
"Because this isn't a dream and you did not give me time to remove my clothing."
He's staring at me and something in his eyes makes me try to sit up and shake away the cobwebs in my brain.
"You cannot shake me away, sweet Sierra. I will never leave you again."
My wolf whines and that's when I realize I'm not dreaming. "Sarn?" I ask.
"Yes?"
"No wait." I begin struggling until he stands and pulls me up. "What is going on?" I'm insane, I know I am.
He reaches forward and smoothes the hair from my cheek. His palm cups my face. "The Goddess has gifted me life here in the earth realm. I can never return to my realm, but I am here with you and we have many lifetimes to heal the ache we carry from these past years."
"It's you."
He smiles and then begins laughing as he pulls me against his chest and squeezes me so tight I can't breathe. His arms loosen a moment later, but he doesn't release me. "There is more I must tell you," he breathes into my ear. "I no longer have a dragon form. I am but a man, though an eternal one. I have no home... no family or clan. I have only you, if you will have me."
I shake my head as I pull away. "No wings to fly?" I ask with horror and guilt. "No, Sarn, you must go back. You must have your wings."
His smile is glorious. "You are my wings."
"No."
"Yes, my love." The tip of his finger touches my chin. "The Goddess gave me the choice, but it was no choice at all. Wings mean nothing without love..."
"No..."
"Let me finish, love. I flew from the claiming field until I reached the dragon realm crossing. I shifted and walked to Bastian's castle. I needed to say goodbye and I needed a ride to the earth realm crossing. I gave up my wings before I ever reached you. They are of no consequence. I am still a dragon in my soul as long as you are there with me."
I can't stop my tears. He patiently wipes them away until I control myself. "You would give up your wings for me?"
"Yes, you are my heart and my soul. I would give up everything for you."
I wrap my arms tightly around him and begin crying again. We fall to the grass and Sarn slowly spreads my hair around my head. "You cut your hair," I say in a dreamy voice.
"Acasia did. She wouldn't allow me to return to you looking like a savage. Her words."
I laugh with pure joy. "I will take the savage. The man. The dragon. Love me, Sarn. Love me and don't ever stop."
"As you wish," he says as he leans down and kisses me.
He's here. He's mine and I am his forever. Our kisses turn from sweet to hungry. I need him inside of me. I want his fire consuming me. I begin tearing at his clothes so we are skin to skin. He helps, but the clothes rip with our need. He enters me and it's like the first time-perfect. I can't control my wolf who scrapes his back with my nails. Or maybe it's solely me and not my wolf. I want the world to see my marks on him. He bites my throat then licks the marks he leaves behind. His thrust into my body is wild and savage. Lack of his long hair that I can hold onto changes nothing.
The energy builds, but this time I feel Sarn's energy too. His body begins to glow with a dazzling purple light. If my body wasn't craving release so bad, I'd stop just to watch the beautiful colors swirl under his skin. My dragon is beautiful and I will never be able to put what I'm feeling into words. The Goddess might be able to take his wings, but Sarn will always be dragon.