DPOV
I stood there fuming as she walked around the corner. How could this infuriating, frustrating girl get under my skin so much? I'll tell you; she keeps petting me like I am a dog or a child. Granted she doesn't know the other time it was me as well, but still, it pissed me off. Because all the power and pride I held inside of me crumbled before her feet.
I admitted defeat and started to walk towards the eating area.
I saw Rose was busy trying to cook something. She looked so natural in there. Not because she knew what she was doing. God no. I saw her make several mistakes in as many seconds that would render the food she was making barely eatable. I wondered how she made it as a handmaiden. Lissa must really love her or she was put on other duties than cooking. But despite the fact Rose shouldn't be in any kitchen, she looked natural in mine, because it felt like she had always been there and will always be there. This playing house with her has got to stop.
She will be gone in a few days. I told myself it couldn't cause any harm to enjoy the last few moment we had together. So I joined her in the kitchen and hoped I could salvage a little of the food she had prepared.
The day she had to leave I had woken up early and had stared at her for what felt like hours, just watching her sleep. I brushed some hair out of her face as her chest heaved up and down with the slow, steady rhythm of her breathing.
How could such a small package have affected me so much? How could a human have wormed her way into my heart so quickly? I realized I didn't want to let her go. If I had my way, I would keep her here forever. She seemed to like it here too. And perhaps if Lady Dragomir wasn't in the picture, and I wasn't a fucking Dragon, it would have worked. But I knew it was for the best to let her go. I did all I could in those five days to train her and show her how to deal with Jesse and the guards and any future threats to Lady Dragomir.
It was time to let her go and let her live the life that she'd fought so hard for.
She started to stir, and I hightailed it out of there. I didn't want her to know I had been staring at her like some creep.
I was preparing breakfast when she came in wearing one of the plain dresses Viktoria had brought. It wasn't like the dress looked bad on her. On the contrary, she could make any garment look good, but the fact she wasn't wearing her blouse and trousers was a stark reminder we wouldn't train today because she would be leaving. So I took offense to the blasted garment for reminding me.
We ate our breakfast in silence.
After that she packed up her meager belongings, the dresses Viktoria had brought, including the gold one and came out of my bedroom.
"All ready to go."
She didn't seem any happier about it than I was.
"You don't have to go."
I told her and was practically slapping myself for it. This was the plan. You saved her; you helped her in defending herself. She should get back to her life and honestly so should you.
I saw she was pleased I asked her to stay, but sadly she shook her head.
"I have to go. Lissa needs me. I have been gone long enough."
I was glad she said she 'had' to go and not that she 'wanted' to go. But was a little peeved she was placing this Royal human above me. Above all else. I had seen her be this vibrant, strong woman and now she would return to the shadow of someone else. She deserved so much better.
"We should head out then. It is at least three hours walk back to the town."
Normally, people would ride those distances. But I didn't own any horses. Not that I didn't try, but horses weren't stupid, they could smell what we really were and knew that if we weren't riding them, we'd probably be eating them. I do love a good horse leg. So walking it was.
"You don't have to come with me. I think I know the way," she said.
"I want to," I wanted to prolong the goodbye as long as I could.
"Is the Dragon sleeping in the cave this morning? I would like to say goodbye."
I flinched. Just one more reason it was good she was going home.
"I haven't seen him, but I can give him a message if you want."
A peculiar smiled came across her face, and I could only determine it was endearment reflected in her eyes. Endearment towards the Dragon, towards me.
"Just… just thank him for saving me and making sure I was alright."
I nodded.
"Oh and if he is ever in the neighborhood in the winter, I could use a nice bed warmer."
That cheeky girl, but I smiled in spite of myself.
"I'll tell him."
With a heavy sigh, she packed up her bag and started to walk towards the exit.
Neither of us knew what to say to each other during the road there. Over the last few days the conversation flowed easily and naturally, but now we were both at a loss for words. I didn't know what to say. Now that wasn't true. I knew what to say; I just didn't have the courage to say it.
With my enhanced eyesight even when human I spotted the town before she did. I subconsciously started to walk a little slower. Anything to buy one more minute, one more second with her.
We stopped at the edge of town. This was goodbye. She seemed to understand this too.
"Well, I suppose I should head back in, see if anybody still remembers me?"
"Who could ever forget you?"
My hand moved on its own, and before I could stop it, my hand had cupped her cheek. She leaned into it and looked at me with big brown eyes, pleading me to make a move. But I couldn't.
It took all my strength to drop the hand back to my side and away from her skin.
But whatever strength my hand had possessed it hadn't transferred to my mind and mouth.
"If you want you can come by the cave on occasion. There are still lots of things I can teach you."
I knew as soon as the words had left my mouth that this is the moment I would remember my entire life. This would be the moment I would remember on my deathbed as the turning point in my life. But whether it would lead to bliss or regret only the Gods knew.
But the sparkle in her eyes told me I made the right decision.
"I would like that."
She sounded a little breathless and realized that she sounded like she just agreed to be my concubine, so she covered it up with some typical Rose bravado.
"I mean, it would benefit my position in protecting Lissa, so I would be grateful for any guidance."
"Sure."
"So I guess this is goodbye for now." She sounded a lot happier than she was a minute ago. A minute ago it had seemed like a farewell, and neither of us seemed to be able to accept that. But being away from each other for a few days or weeks seemed more doable.
"Goodbye Rose. See you in a while."
"See you later Comrade. Don't read too many dirty books."
She winked as she turned around and started to walk towards the town's gates.
She had taken a few steps when I heard her say 'Oh hell.' She dropped her bag, turned around and ran up to me closing the difference of a few paces between us in record time. She threw herself at me, and I had no choice but to catch her. But I didn't mind because the moment I had her securely in my arms, she pressed her lips to mine in a searing kiss.
I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her closer as she put her arms around my neck. One staying there for support, the other traveling to my hair. Her soft lips opened up in invitation, and I greedily took it. I licked her bottom lip and explored her tongue with my own. She tasted amazing, like Jasmine and fruit. Okay so maybe the fruit was from this morning's breakfast. The kiss started out timid, she had given me access but seemed uncertain what to do, but after I showed her what a searing kiss meant, she reciprocated and started to tangle her tongue with mine, battling for dominance. She pressed herself closer to me if possible and lifted my head down by pushing on my neck.
With every stroke of my tongue, she seemed to gain more confidence to take from me what she wanted. And at that moment I would have given her anything.
She pulled back suddenly, and I was confused until I noticed her ragged breathing. I noticed I had a similar breathing pattern, and was trying hard to bring it back to normal.
Her forehead was resting against mine; her hands were on my chest. She just stood still for a moment as if committing me to memory. She pulled back out of my arms and took a few steps towards her bag.
"See you around Comrade."
And with the biggest grin on her face, she turned around and heading in the direction of the town's gates once again.
I think I stood there watching the gates for at least an hour after she had disappeared from sight.
I reconsidered my earlier thought. This was the moment I would think back on, on my deathbed. The moment my heart no longer belonged to myself but now belonged to a human girl.
Then I realized I would probably die about seven or eight centuries after she was long dust.
I didn't want to go back to the cave. It felt strangely empty without her, so I transformed into my true form and took to the skies. Viktoria had said Mamma was getting a little impatient and had been whining I wasn't visiting. So I thought it would be nice to see the family. I can't believe how desperate I was to get away from Rose and reminders of her that I was actually choosing to visit my family. I liked my Mother, and even though she still babied me from time to time, she was my mother. Viktoria was the only annoying sister, the other two I could tolerate, especially Karolina. It was my cousin I was dreading. I assume Viktoria's mouth had run away from her and he would have learned of Rose. I wasn't looking forward to this.
I let the small breeze flow beneath my wings as I hoped the wind would take all these wayward thoughts about Rose. But of course, the wind was mocking me. The whole way to my mother's residence, her red, swollen lips kept popping into my head along with those dark brown eyes wanting so much more.
I arrived at my mother's in the late afternoon. Unfortunately, my mother had taken up residence in the palace from the moment she was claimed by my father. So entering her home meant going through guards and gates, and by the time I reached my mother's chambers, the whole palace had known that General Dimitri, the Honorable, had returned.
My mother gave me a hug when she saw me and slapped me playfully on my breastplate.
"You would let you poor mother worry about her only son like that? I haven't heard from you in weeks."
I rolled my eyes. Viktoria had probably told Mamma I was fine. But she loved rubbing it in. Also I had on occasion said I was fine while communicating to her directly. I just didn't allow my family free rain in my head all the time. That would make me crazy.
"I missed you too, Mamma."
I first had to endure questions from my mother about how I have been, if I have been eating properly and sleeping enough. But I was glad to know she wasn't asking any questions about Rose. That meant at least Viktoria hadn't told my mother. I just hoped she hadn't told anyone else.
But as the door to my mother's living room opened and my best friend and my annoying cousin, who on a good day I could barely tolerate, walked in with big grins on their faces, I knew Viktoria had spilled the beans.
Christian and Adrian practically dragged me out of my mother's chambers. She didn't help me or try to stop them. She just waved at me.
"Don't hurt him too much," she yelled at us.
They dragged me to Adrian's chambers, sat me down on a rock and poured themselves some ale.
They sat across from me and looked at each other before looking at me. I didn't like the way they were conspiring together. Christian and Adrian tolerated each other, mostly because they were both associated with me. They understood they traveled in some of the same circles, and reluctantly accepted each other's presence. So, them actually teaming up on me, had me scared.
"So?" they both asked simultaneously.
"So?"
"So, I heard an interesting tidbit of gossip from your youngest sister."
I groaned. She didn't. Having told Christian is one thing, but Adrian? I was doomed.
"What did you hear?"
I asked as I was looking at them over the edge of my mug filled with strong Ale. I wasn't much of a drinker but decided I really didn't want to be sober for this.
"That you had a human in your bed for about a week and it wasn't just a fuck either."
I rolled my eyes. Gossip tends to exaggerate everything. It was like it had a mind of its own and always has this desperate need to evolve into something much worse.
"That is not what happened at all. For one, I didn't sleep with her. Some Royal human prick had her flogged for kicking him in the balls after he tried to force himself on her. She was publically flogged, and he would have killed her. I saved her. I had Karolina tend to her wounds and showed her how to better defend herself in the future. She is back in her hometown now, and I doubt I will ever see her again."
Christian seemed to take me at my word, but Adrian looked at me shrewdly. Adrian was useless in battle, which is a big deal for Dragons, but he made up for it in being charming and diplomatic. He could read people particularly well and could convince anybody of anything. The man was dangerous, even if I could take him out in a second.
"Does she know you are a Dragon?"
"No. She thinks the Dragon and my human form are two different people."
"No doubt, she would probably run at the first sign of the real you," Christian said, but he couldn't be more wrong.
Christian was one of my closest friends if I actually had any. I have always kept a distance between me and other people since I lost my best friend Ivan in a battle with the Snow Dragons a few decades back. But if anybody came close to being called a friend by me, it would be Christian. He was lean for a battle Dragon and didn't possess the brute strength most of us did, but his flame was strong and his will to battle matched it. I have seen his flame even crisp a Fire Dragon - and we are made of fire. He had earned his respect in battle by being a great warrior, even if his actual fighting skills fell short of the rest of us. But he was always eager to learn and had made sure he learned where he could.
"She saw me, and she didn't run. She didn't scream; she didn't faint. She just stood there saying that fearing me was silly."
"Really?"
I nodded.
"She petted me after she hurt my pride by calling me a bed warmer."
Adrian raised his head.
"Oh, and here I thought you hadn't slept with her."
"I haven't. Not like that. But she had been sleeping next to me for an afternoon nap and commented on how warm I was. So she asked if she could borrow me as a bed warmer in winter."
Christian and Adrian looked at each other, and both burst into laughter at the same time.
"So this girl asks the great General Dimitri, one of the largest and most feared Dragons anywhere, to lend his body as a glorified heated bottle and you don't kill her, maim her or otherwise punish her? Oh, you have it bad."
"It wasn't like that, she was joking. I found it funny." And incredibly annoying and probably a little cute.
Again the two men looked at each other, but the humor was gone and replaced by a serious glare.
"She sounds like a lovely girl, but you know this can never work."
I nodded. I knew all the reasons they were going to list. I had told myself the same thing over and over again, but somehow Rose, my Roza had made herself a permanent resident in my head and heart.
"Dimitri, please tell me whatever this was with the human girl it is over. Having a fuck with a human now and then because Dragon females have all conspired against you over one little thing that had been blown way out of proportion and were unfairly claiming united celibacy, is one thing. But I can see you falling for this girl, and that is bad."
I chuckled. I remember those few months when Adrian had been very lonely because he had messed with the wrong girl. Her revenge had been brilliant.
"If she finds out about us, we could all be exposed. Besides, in ten years, she will look older than you. In thirty, people will think you are her son, and in six decades, she will be dust and you will have another few centuries to go. You can't claim a human, Dimitri. For God sakes, we eat them for breakfast."
I scoffed at that. Technically you could claim a human. And we hadn't been eating humans for centuries. I had never had one. Sure if they would cross me I would kill them, but I wouldn't eat them. Humans deserved better than to be treated like cattle. Some just barely. Also, I remember somewhere in my grandmother's books there were spells and objects to prolong a human's life. I dismissed the thought. Whatever this was with Rose, Adrian was right; it needed to end.
Adrian shook his head but fell backward in his seat.
"That I would live to see the day Dimitri the Honorable had the ice around his heart thawed. And who would ever have guessed it was by a human."
After a long debate with my male companions, I returned to my own quarters here at the palace. I was trying to find a bit of alone time, but apparently, that was too much to ask.
Christian and Adrian weren't the only ones who wanted to know about Rose. Karolina had seen her and had treated her wounds. She asked about her and showed general interest. To Christian and Adrian, Rose was just human. To Karolina, she was a person worth treating and worth saving. Of course, Karolina worked with humans a lot more than most of us. She worked in villages around the palace treating anybody that needed medical attention.
"Those wounds were deep; I hoped they were at least closed when you dropped her off? Did you give her some extra leaves so she could treat herself? I hope they don't scar too much. Maybe you shouldn't have let her go so soon. I could have helped her heal a bit better."
"Karolina, I didn't reapply the leaves after the first day."
My sister seemed outraged.
"I specifically instructed you to keep the leaves on until the wounds closed, preferably until they were healed. How could you be so reckless? How could you save her one minute and then just so blatantly disregard her health and send her off marred for the rest of her life?"
I rolled my eyes. All my sisters had a flair for the dramatic, although Karolina was usually the most rational one.
"Karo, I did keep the leaves on until the wound was healed. When I was changing them in the morning, the wounds were gone."
Karolina stopped waving her finger at me and simply stared.
"What?"
"She healed within a day."
"That isn't possible for a human."
"I know."
