Page 14 of Claimed by the Savage Dragons

My stomach churns and I hope I don’t lose my breakfast.

He tilts his head to the side. ‘I won’t drop you.’

‘I didn’t think you would,’ I whisper. ‘It’s just… I’ve never been… up there.’

He shrugs. ‘There’s no other way, Mari.’

He says my name like a caress and my breath hitches a little. I just hope he thinks it’s the fear.

This guy isn’t a guy, I remind myself. He’s a huge, scaled lizard who’sundressing.

I turn away and hear his quiet laugh. There’s a whoosh of air and when I look over my shoulder, he’s back in his pitch black dragon form. The sun shines on his scales, and I see some of them are iridescent like a sheen of oil and water.

He lurches at me, and I squeal as I throw myself backward. But his long black talons envelope me anyway and I’m lifted off my feet. Unlike yesterday I don’t feel the need to scream. Maybe it’s because I now know what to expect, but as I look at the huge dragon above me, beating his wings in strong steady strokes, I’m not afraid like I was before.

By the time I look down, the trees are just patches of green and I see a river that looks like a thin, blue snake. The wind is cold, and I bury myself deeply into the furs I’m wearing as I look out at the mountains all around us. I feel oddly…safe.Free.

Time passes. The sun rises and then sinks, and the dragons show no signs of stopping, not until the bottom of the sun begins to disappear. They seem to know where they’re going becauseboth of them dip suddenly in the same direction, making my stomach swoop.

Tor waits until he’s just off the ground before he drops me. I land on my feet with an ‘oomph’ and then fall to the side gasping a little.

‘Here, let me help you.’

A very human and very naked Orin holds his hand out to me.

‘I’m fine.’

I get up by myself, not looking at the younger dragon as I scan the skies for Tor. He didn’t leave me alone with his student, did he?

‘I was only trying to help.’

He sounds closer. I turn and find him looming over me. I step back.

‘Where’s Tor?’

‘Circling the perimeter. We’re close to the Barelands here. There are treaties in place, and these caves are off limits, but sometimes they try their luck.’

Orin licks his lips, eyeing me.

I should try to keep him talking.

‘What do they want?’ I ask. ‘TheseBarelanders?’

‘Food. Water that hasn’t been contaminated.’ He gives me a wolfish grin. ‘Females.’

I take a step back and he follows me, stalking me across the clearing. I feel rock at my back and realize he’s cornered me.

‘Your heart quickens.’ He murmurs, a finger trailing down my cheek. ‘Like prey.’

‘I’m not prey.’ I say with forced confidence.

‘I think you are.’

He’s suddenly pressing his body against mine, making the cliffside dig into my back.

‘Females like you are coveted in our mountains. Your hair is like fire. You’ll be popular.’ He frowns. ‘I won’t even get a look-in once Aziel and his side get hold of you.’

I stare up at him with wide eyes, my body shaking as he leans in and takes a long, deep sniff.