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Valerie was wild, extremely difficult, and it made him undeniably and irrevocably smitten, in a crazed sort of way.

Unlike Rurik, Valerie wasn’t predictable, which made her exciting.I do not think I will ever tire of her.

Chasing after her was more problematic than Geryon anticipated.

He thought, with her witchcraft locked away, she would be easy to find.How hard is it to chase a human-like woman on foot?One who would have needed to climb down the side of his mountain cliff, which was not an easy feat.

Very.He was finding itextremelyhard.

The moment she hit the forest, her scent faded, as though she’d rubbed it away, right before it disappeared completely at a passing road. He’d been able to smell horses and the polished wood of a carriage, but not her.

Valerie had managed to hitch a ride.

When he followed it to the end of its path, her scent wasn’t there, and he realised she’d hopped out of it earlier than its end destination.

Since then, he would pick up trails of her scent and then lose it.

She’d taken the sword she threatened him with. It at least brought him comfort, knowing she had something she could use to protect herself. He’d seen it the one time he managed to catch up to her and then, somehow, lost her again. They’d managed to have a conversation, though.

Her scent had been masked, dulled by a sickly sweet perfume that tickled his nose. Human-made and pungent, it was near impossible to smell through. Unfortunately for her, he’d taken in her scent directly; not just through his nostrils, but also with his tongue, his mouth.

Geryon would never forget it again.

Tracking her to just outside a town she must have stayed in for the night, he found her walking through the forest, rather than along the road.

She didn’t hear him approaching as he came near on foot, knowing she’d run if she heard his wings. They created heavy, loaded whooshes that could be heard from a distance if one understood them.

Instead, he’d flown in his smaller size until he was close enough, then shifted.

Like any smart Dragon, he’d been carrying a flying pouch, something that could carry clothing, human weapons, and anything he desired. He slung it over his torso when he was medium, and carried it in his paws when he was small or overly large.

Knowing that approaching her naked may spook her – plus, the idea of chasing her unclothed while she had a sword wasn’t wise – he donned his trousers.

He only got a few metres away from her before she swiftly turned to him, her short sword poised. She paused upon realising who had found her.

A loud trickle of water could be heard in the distance, and she’d been heading towards it.She was intending to wash in the stream to clear her scent.

“Have you come to finally do what you promised?” she asked, refusing to lower her weapon.

“What are you doing out here?” He watched her warily, his brows furrowing with deep confusion.

Why was Valerie choosing to run through the wilderness? She only occasionally stayed in human towns.Would she really prefer this to me?

“I can do whatever I want. You do not own me. You also did not answer my question.”

For some reason, Geryon thought she would try to return home, but she never had. Her scent never went near those woods, and he’d been unable to find her family home by himself. He knew he must have gotten close a few times, considering he constantly got lost in the powerful magic surrounding it.

He stepped closer, shuffling his feet forwards, and she raised her weapon higher.

With his hands raised in submission, despite it being a façade, he twinkled his fingers at her. “I can grab you, you know,” he chuckled, humour crinkling his eyes.

“Try it, and my sword will cut you. You can heal, so as long as I do not slit your throat or cut your heart or lungs, you will survive.” Her eyes darted to his feet when he came just the tiniest bit closer. Her grip tightened on the hilt of her sword. “I know I am your prey, but I will not willingly be your prisoner.”

“I told you: what if I do not want you to be my prisoner?”

Her eyes squinted for a split second before she schooled her features. “I have no idea what that means.”

Geryon stepped forward, and she swung that sword dangerously fast, like she truly would cut him with it.