“It took years. They have separate lives, and at first when I was around it interrupted their joy. They don’t mind me now.”
I had to ask, “Have you been to the earth realm for children?”
Sadness passed over her features. “Yes. It helps the transition in bringing them here, though I no longer attend. The pain from crossing has grown since I’ve aged. My last time was five years ago, and I spent days in bed afterward.”
“I’m sorry.” I looked at Megan. “Do you attend?”
She also looked sad. “I cry for days afterward, but Tahr continues to take me. It is the hardest thing we do.”
“I’ve been on the human side of Bastian’s lair, but have seen no children. Do either of you know if they’re cared for properly?”
Calista stopped walking. “If we turn left up ahead, it takes us to the children’s wing. If it worries you, it might help to see them.”
“Oh, could I? Bastian wishes me to stay out of his humans’ lives and I haven’t pushed it.”
We turned left. The rooms we entered were quiet, and I saw toys on the floor before I noticed a large table where five children sat coloring. I walked closer and one looked up and smiled. She drew a tree with a bird flying above. The picture startled me when I realized it was a purple dragon like Sarn, not a bird at all. I smiled at her.
A young woman across the room rocked a baby in her arms. I felt better. The silence was difficult, but the children were well cared for and seemed happy.
We went to the kitchen. I hadn’t cooked in almost a year now. In three days it would be the first anniversary of my claiming. I wondered if Bastian remembered.
We laughed and talked while preparing the meal. Calista and Megan kept me too occupied to miss Bastian. But that night, as I shared a bed with Megan, I longed for him. I didn’t cry, because I didn’t wish to wake my bedmate, but it was a long night filled with little sleep.
The following day, we were playing cards when Sarn bellowed from the other room. Calista rolled her eyes and we waited.
Sarn marched in clearly agitated. “Laryn enters my territory. I have a feeling he knows Tahr and Bastian left their brides with me. Bastian needs to kill him or I might.”
Sarn’s anger scared me even though I’d become accustomed to Bastian’s. “My lord,” I said, “Laryn is lonely and he did not harm me while I was in his care.” It was only a small lie.
“I will see what he wants. Stay in this room until I return.” Sarn kissed Calista’s weathered cheek and strode away.
“I worry about Laryn.” The women looked at me strangely, so I continued, “I fear for the time I am gone and Bastian is alone.”
I could see they understood, and Calista spoke in her gentle way, “I always resented the claiming until I understood the price the dragons pay. To live forever and lose Sarn would be harder than dying first. I worry for him too, and it shall not be much longer. If I am lucky, maybe five or ten years.”
I couldn’t keep my feelings to myself. “The dragons are very selfish in not helping each other, though I know Bastian tried. He could do more for Laryn. They could do more for each other.”
Megan added her knowledge, “Tahr once told me it is in a dragon’s blood to collect treasure. If someone does not protect what’s theirs, the dragons have a compulsion to take it. They fear each other and for good cause—Laryn kidnapped you.” She gave me a hard look.
The women hadn’t asked about what happened with Laryn but I felt compelled to defend him. “He wanted companionship only. Wished for me to talk with him. When I wouldn’t, he spoke to me and told me of his lost bride. I was angry at him because I worried for Bastian, but I felt great sadness too.”
Calista looked at Megan. “After I am gone, you will be the age I am now. Do you think Tahr would allow you supervised time to speak with Sarn? I would rest easier knowing he had someone when things are at their worst.”
Megan gave a soft smile. “I will try, and usually in the end, I get my way.”
We laughed. It was the same for all of us.
A few minutes later, Sarn returned, his agitation even stronger. He paced the length of the room before turning and gazing steadily at me.
“He wished to know how you fared. He’s aware Bastian and Tahr return tomorrow and he wished to speak with you. I could not grant that for it is Bastian’s decision.”
I nodded. “You are correct, my lord. Bastian would be displeased. I will discuss it with him upon his return. Thank you.”
This seemed to calm Sarn. I turned to the women, and Calista winked at me. If “my lord” worked for her, I had no problem using it with the disgruntled dragon. We returned to our card game and talked Sarn into playing with us. He finally handed equal numbers of gold pieces to each of us. A few hours later, I’d won them all.
“You are most definitely the cause of Bastian’s luck,” Sarn spoke while shaking his head.
“No, we just make a good team.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Bastian
It would have been a better trip if I hadn’t worried about the trouble I knew Acasia was capable of finding. Tahr teased me endlessly because I moaned and groaned about how long we waited before sneaking into the castle we’d planned to steal from.
We’d stolen from King Sturpas before. I’d had my eye and thoughts on one of the crown sets I hadn’t managed to steal before. Our patience paid off and I had what I needed for Acasia’s one-year bride anniversary. Tahr also gathered some items to make his journey worthwhile.
I worried about Acasia until I wrapped my arms around her the afternoon of the third day. We said our goodbyes to the others and left so I could get her home and into my bed. Three days was too long, and I needed her. I flew as quickly as I could.
“Bastian?”
I didn’t like her tentative tone. “Yes, female.” I knew using the word female would bother her.
Just a touch of the angst I’d grown to appreciate entered her voice. “Laryn came to Sarn’s lair.”
Rage exploded within me. Fire roared from my throat. I would kill him, should have done it already.
“Please, Bastian, listen to me.”
She rubbed my neck, but it took several minutes for her touch to penetrate my fury.
“Bastian, please.”
“What did he want?” My voice was too loud, but I couldn’t control it.
“To assure himself I was well.”
“It is no concern of his. I should have killed him weeks ago.”
Her voice was no longer comforting. “He is lonely. He is also your friend and he returned me without harm.”
“No, he did not,” I bellowed. “He struck you, bruised your face. He needs to die.” I discharged more fire. “What are you doing?” Acasia was now standing in the saddle.
“I do not like your attitude. I stabbed him, his strike was reflex. You suffer just as greatly when your brides die. The four of you should be helping each other instead of allowing your protectiveness of your women to harm your friends.”
With that, she jumped. I should allow her to fall and only catch her inches from death, the stupid female. I didn’t, though. I had her in my talons within a second. She stubbornly refused to say a word and continued our journey in discomfort. She truly drove me mad.
I released her on my bedroom perch, dropped my treasure bag, and flew around my lair a few times to calm down. When that didn’t work, I flew into my eating tower and roared because the sound echoed and made me feel better.
When my rage dissipated somewhat, I made my way back to my room perch, shifted, and entered. I could hear water in the bath. I needed to wash too, and my bride would not deny me what I needed even more than a bath. I stormed in, angry all over again, and stopped at the sight of her nakedness.
She looked at me with needy eyes. “I do not wish to fight, dragon. You’ve wasted time in your tantrum when you could be deep within my body making me scream.”
The anger left, completely replaced by desire
so intense it hurt my cock.
She raised an arm from the water and splashed me. I was in the tub with her pulled on top of me in seconds. Over the next hour, I completely forgot what upset me so though my sleep that night was restless. Eventually, I needed to take care of Laryn so he never endangered my bride again.
***
Acasia
The next two days were blissful. I wish we hadn’t argued, but Bastian seemed to forget about Laryn and that was good. He didn’t mention our anniversary, and I had nothing to give him, so decided to keep it to myself.
I woke up feeling poorly. This hadn’t happened to me since I was young and ate undercooked meat, which made several people ill for a few days. My bones ached, but I refused to dwell on it.
“Picnic with me today, Acasia,” Bastian whispered in my ear.
“That sounds lovely. When are we leaving?”
“I will have food prepared and we can leave after breakfast if you wish.”
“Perfect.”
The day was beautiful. We swam in the cool waters of the lake before eating our lunch. Not bothering to dress, I stuffed my stomach and felt sleepy. My aches from the morning were still there, but I wouldn’t allow it to ruin such a grand day. We lay back on the blanket and gazed at the clouds. Bastian moved from beside me and rummaged through the food basket. I thought he sought water.
His shadow came over me and the coolness of a gold necklace with a large ruby landed on my belly.
“For our claiming anniversary.”
He’d remembered. “Oh, Bastian.”
“There’s more. Sit up.” Now I heard the excitement in his voice.
He pulled me up and first clasped the necklace at my throat. Next, he pulled a crown, with similar rubies studded throughout the gold, and arranged it on my head. The look in his eyes had me clenching my thighs. I wanted him and he never failed to make me feel beautiful.
“This belonged to a king?” I asked with reverence.
“No, it belongs to my queen. I found it for you.”
My laughter bubbled up. “You stole it for me.”
“Yes, human female named Acasia. I would steal the world for you.”
I was so happy. His fingers ran gently across my jaw before he kissed me. Slowly, he lay me back against the blanket and in our own special glade we made love. The crown fell from my head, but we didn’t care. Afterward, I fell asleep on Bastian’s chest, his arms tightly around me, his breath ruffling my hair.
Stomach cramps woke me up. I couldn’t stop from crying out. Bastian released me as he rolled to the side, and I curled into a ball.
“What is it, Acasia?”
The pain was so intense I couldn’t answer.
“What can I do?” I heard his fear.
The pain began easing and I managed to whisper, “This happened when I was a child. It was tainted food. I shall be okay in a while.”
He moved my hair from my face, concern showing in his eyes. “There has never been tainted food in this realm. What hurts?”
I took a few deep breaths so I could speak again, and also to think about where the pain centered. “Everything. I hurt on the inside.”
“Define everything, bride.” Worry sounded in his voice.
“Please give me a moment.”
He waited, his hands running through my hair. It was the only thing on me not in pain. Eventually the hurt lessened. Finally, I could breathe normally, but I was exhausted.
Bastian gathered our belongings, shifted, and carried me back to his lair in his talons. I hated traveling this way, but I also didn’t want the pain to return while in the saddle. He placed me in his bed. I fell asleep shortly after our return only to wake up a few hours later in worse pain. I tried not to cry out, but whimpers escaped my throat.
“This is not right. Something is wrong.” He stopped pacing and ran his hand across my forehead. “You are burning up.”
I didn’t feel the heat; I was freezing, and my teeth chattered. Bastian gathered me in his arms putting off heat, which helped. I drifted off again.
Two days later, I hadn’t improved. Bastian placed me in a bath to cool my body even when I cried that it was too cold. The pain didn’t leave as often and I was no longer able to sleep. I lay suffering trying to keep Bastian from knowing how bad it was.
He wasn’t fooled. “I’ve contacted Dmitri and there is a doctor in the earth’s realm who treats shifters. We do not know if your internal organs and blood chemistry are different from earth’s humans. It’s our best chance to discover what’s wrong.”
The thought of moving was terrifying, but I also knew whatever was wrong was serious. “Please, Bastian.” I had no idea what I was asking because the pain intensified again.
“Sleep, Acasia.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Bastian
I’d been afraid to keep her asleep because I needed to know how bad she hurt. But I could no longer take it. I carried her to the realm crossing and placed her back asleep when she woke up directly before we entered the earth’s realm. Brunya waited and didn’t waste time with greetings. She drove us to the airport, and then an airplane flew us to a place known as Texas. This was followed by another car ride. I held Acasia the entire time, fear burning in my gut. This was wrong. Her illness was entirely wrong.
Acasia woke up in the car and because we were so close to our destination, I didn’t put her under again. I needed her able to speak with the doctor. Dr. Stevens waited; a middle-aged, small female with an air of confidence that I badly needed.
I followed her to a small room. “Lay her down here. It would be best if you waited outside.”
There was no way I could breathe fire in the room, but I put enough anger in my voice to burn her. “Stupid female, I will not leave her.”
The doctor gazed at me, rolled her eyes, and mumbled something I couldn’t decipher. We had no illness in my realm and I’d only heard of doctors. “You will explain everything you do,” I demanded.
“I’m assuming you’re alpha?”
“Humph. I am dragon. Fix her or I will burn your home down.”
The woman had the gall to laugh at me. “I’ve been dealing with shifters for years. If you threaten me again, I’ll kick you out on your ass. Do you want me to treat her or not?”
My frustration overwhelmed me; I looked at Acasia and knew I needed to allow this woman to do her job. “Continue, human.”
She rolled her eyes again and began asking questions.
“When’s the last time she ate? Could someone have poisoned her? Could she be with child?”
If the woman hadn’t have been examining her while asking the questions, I’d have breathed fire. Acasia was lethargic and not answering herself. That more than anything showed how ill she was.
“I need to draw blood and take a CT scan.”
I could not keep the impatience from my voice. “Do what you must, but fix her quickly.”
“I may be able to give her something for the pain, but I’m not sure how it will work on her humanlike body. This is my first patient from another realm.”
“Sleep, Acasia.” I felt a great relief when her eyes closed and I could no longer see the pain in them.
The doctor’s steady gaze locked with mine. “I need you on my team. It makes things much simpler if you support me instead of fighting me. I want to help her.”
I didn’t answer, but managed a small nod. Another woman walked into the room and I watched as blood was drawn. Acasia was then moved to another room and placed on a rolling bed that entered a cylinder. I almost lost it.
The doctor had no fear of me. “It will be over quicker if you back off. You are keeping me from finding out what’s wrong.”
I stayed near the cylinder taking deep breaths to keep from tearing the machine apart and removing her. When the test was finished, I picked Acasia up holding her close. I needed her scent to calm me. I was close to losing any semblance of control.
“Follow me and you can wait in a more
comfortable room. Let me check the test results and I’ll be back as soon as possible. Right now, my biggest concern is her temperature. I will give you a cool, wet cloth to rub her down with.”
I held Acasia and used the cloth provided. I had removed her clothes for the machine to examine beneath her skin. I was unfamiliar with the process but I had to discover what harmed my bride. I wrapped her in a light covering, and made her comfortable in my arms while I wet her down feeling her entire body shake. I found it difficult to breathe. She had to be okay; there was no other option. I had no idea how long the doctor was gone, but when she returned, I saw the bad news written clearly on her face.
She sat on a stool, looking to me with sadness in her eyes.
No. This could not happen.
“I’m sorry. Her organs are shutting down and her bones are dissolving. It’s a very fast spreading cancer, one I’ve never seen before.”
“What does this word cancer mean?”
“It is a human disease. If caught early, it can sometimes be slowed. In some cases stopped completely. I’ve never seen cancer come on this intensely. I am so very sorry, she will not survive much longer.”
I looked down at my beloved. The lines of pain did not show right now, but her face was thinner, a gray tinge on her skin. I couldn’t lose her. I buried my face in her hair.
“You can remain here and we can keep you both comfortable, maybe run more tests, but I don’t think anything I do will change the outcome.”
I didn’t say a word. Walking out of the building, I sat in the backseat of the waiting vehicle holding Acasia. I hadn’t bothered dressing her, but kept the cloth around her. Brunya had come on the airplane and sat next to the new driver. She asked no questions.
Traveling home to my lair took longer. I kept Acasia asleep. I never let her go, touching some part of her at all times. If I released her for only a moment, I knew she’d be gone.
Back in my room, I rested against pillows holding her throughout the night. The following day she opened her pain-filled eyes.
Her words were so soft I could barely hear them. “I’m sorry, Bastian, for breaking my promise.”
No, I wouldn’t let her back down. “Then don’t break your promise, my love.”
She smiled so sweetly. “Take me to the glen, Bastian. I wish to see it one last time.”
“No, Acasia, do not say that.” Everything inside me screamed in anguish.