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“He will not do it because he is interested in you.” He licked inside his mouth, his eyes squinting. She could tell he was annoyed. “He believes you are a white Witch still. Amalia has used blood magic but has not turned.”

“Has she ever harmed another to do so?”

“Well, no.”

Valerie shook her head. “I have. I have stolen blood and magic from pixies and fairies. I have harmed others. We are not the same.”

“Usually, I would not hesitate to take your life, but you are not my prey, and I can scent you have not become corrupted. I no longer kill white Witches.” Rurik flicked his scaled hand forward. “Go back to Geryon; let him deal with you.”

“Please.” Her heart leapt into her throat, and she bowed down once more. “He will not do it.” She tore at the grass in front of her with her nails. “He has told me he wishes to keep me.”

“And you do not want this?” He snarled as he lowered his head to appear more menacing. “You should consider yourself lucky rather than disgusted!”

“We are not you and Amalia. Geryon is not the great WitchSlayer who killed Strolguil the Vast. I am not Amalia, the Witch who sacrificed herself for a Dragon.” Her eyes slipped along the grass. “No, I have used dark magic with callous actions. The Elders will never approve, no matter how I feel about him.”

“And how do you feel?”

Valerie didn’t answer, refusing to admit anything out loud. Instead, her hands clenched tighter, dirt beginning to mould around her fingers. “It does not–”

“You care for him...” This time, Amalia was the one to speak. Valerie’s head shot up to face her.Is it that obvious?“You fear you will turn, and you wish to protect him.”

“He will not stop chasing me, no matter how much I deny him.” She turned her gaze to Rurik again. “He cannot chase a dead person.”

“No, but he can mourn you,” Amalia said, appearing more relaxed now as she began bouncing the child in her cradled arms.

Valerie drifted her eyes over the black Dragon mark on the front of her throat, making it obvious that Amalia was claimed.

“I am not his mate. He will forget me, and when he has chosen his female, he will be thankful I am not in the way.” She lifted back up once more to sit on her heels. “I am without my magic. I am sure you would not enjoy that. I wish to protect him, I wish to make up for my indiscretions so I can be with my Dragon parent, but I also do not wish to suffer without it in this life. My decision is partly noble, but selfishness also compels me.”

“I do not care. I will not take your life,” Rurik said, turning his sights to the sky in thought.

She thought he was dismissing her. Valerie quickly stood and pointed her finger at him.

“You are not my last option. I would prefer dragonfire, but any fire will do.”

She turned to walk away, fearing at any moment Geryon would turn up and ruin her plans.That sleeping spell will not last forever.

She wasn’t afraid of death, and she wasn’t afraid of the searing pain that would welcome her. She feared him coming along and stopping her.

“What if I were to take you to the Elders?”

She spun around, her lips parting. “You would take me to the Pinnacle of Dragons?”

She watched him shudder.

“It concerns me how much you know of my kind. It is rather off-putting.” He nodded his head. “Yes, I will take you to the Elders and let them decide your fate.”

The disappointment Geryon felt upon waking up to an empty bed only warmed by him was enough to make him want to claw his own face off. Frustration boiled; his stomach was knotted.

He’d fallen asleep satisfied, pleased, and thoroughly content with Valerie in his arms. He knew he’d wrapped himself around her so she couldn’t escape.

How did that sneaky bunny escape me?

With a dejected sigh, he let his head fall against the bed, thinking back on the night. He let out a groan, his nose crinkling on one side.

His shaft jerked in memory, despite his terrible mood.

He would have preferred to wake up and bury himself in her, rather than having to go chase after her. Still, he rose his naked human body from the bed in search of his clothing.