Page 10

FENROTHER

A lice is confusing.

I am confused. She didn’t come voluntarily.

She didn’t come to kill me.

She doesn’t want to go back.

Despite her weapons holster and strange form, I should have guessed such a tiny little scrap posed no threat to me.

Most of the creatures in the Yeavering are smaller than me in my Wyrm form, but most of them either have magic or other tricks which can cause harm should they wish.

Humans need spikes and swords and armor.

This little human has none.

Having used my bath, she has a scent which is very different than before, no longer smelling of the human world.

I shift, filling the bed around her.

I like being in my shifted form, and I like being this way with Alice in the centre of me.

Because if she is a danger, she will struggle to harm me, but also because it feels…

better.

Like I can protect her more.

Alice’s fragile form shudders within my coils.

For a while, her tears continue to drip onto my scales, until her breathing changes and her body goes limp against me.

That she has ceased crying heals my soul in a way I didn’t think needed healing.

Having her in my bed makes everything right.

Despite my usual routine being completely destroyed, with the little female in my coils, I drift off into the arms of the Yeavering which calls to me, as much as the Night Lands haunt every moment of my existence.

I wake with a jump, my form shifting back and finding my bed empty.

If it wasn’t for her scent, I’d have thought I might have simply magicked up the little creature or my fevered imagination born of all the time spent alone made her for me.

A soft swishing sound attracts my attention, and it seems she has decided to leave my bed and instead spend time in the window alcove.

My scales flicker in irritation she did not stay with me.

Also, she has wrapped herself in a blanket she has obtained from somewhere, which also irks me.

“You should be in my bed, female.” I prowl up to her.

“Fuck! !” She looks up at me and then looks away, clapping her hand over her eyes.

“Put something on, even if you don’t want me to wear anything.”

I put my hands on my hips.

She must be admiring my pizzle, given she doesn’t have one.

“I believe if I wish to gain your trust as you must gain mine, we should remain in the same state,” I say, to gauge her reaction.

“You really, really don’t need to do that,” Alice says urgently.

“ Please , put something on.”

Maybe she is trusting me because she is with young?

From the few books I have read which touch on mating, once a mated pair have shared a bed, the young is forthcoming soon after.

I probably don’t want to stress her further if she is in this delicate state of being with young (as my books have told me).

As she has also said she will not run, perhaps I should allow her to wear clothing too.

My weapons are safely locked away in the armoury, and she has no magic to disable the locks.

I have much to think about.

“As you wish, my lady.” I give her a stiff bow, like the ones in the illustrations.

Alice drops her hand and stares at me in alarm before she clamps it back.

I retrieve my trousers, heave them on, and open the wardrobe.

It flings something at me with an annoyance I don’t believe I deserve.

The garment is vast, consisting of multiple layers and folds.

It will cover her completely, which somehow irritates me.

The only thing which pleases me is the colour, one which matches my scales.

It seems the wardrobe has made a decision for me.

I growl at it, but I already know it has no fear of me, given I have no fire.

I carry it over to Alice, holding it in one hand before dropping it at her feet.

“Wear this.”

She uncovers one eye by opening her fingers slightly.

It is a brilliant blue I hadn’t spotted yesterday.

Her gaze ranges over me carefully, and she removes her hand from her face before she spots the dress.

“You don’t want me naked?”

“I believe what you came for has been done and”—I lean closer—“I’ve checked for weapons. There are none you can use,” I growl.

“So, you can cover yourself, unless I say otherwise.”