DPOV

We made it down to the forest again, Viktoria skipping all the way down. She seemed chipper. I am not sure who she was more excited to help, Rose or me. She had been ecstatic when I asked her to help me with Rose's training. It isn't often the highest ranking General asks you for combat advice. And honestly, I think Rose could take her. Viktoria was trained in combat, like all Dragons from our family, but because she was the baby and because she had such a sweet demeanor nobody had really pushed her very hard. But Viktoria and Rose did have a similar body type, well at least when Vika was in human form, and she could show Rose a move or two to expand her repertoire.

That is if she could keep her mouth shut long enough to teach her. The first thing out of her mouth when she came in had almost given me away. She had called me Dimka. For the love of God, I couldn't understand why I couldn't come up with another name this morning. I could have used any other name. My middle name. Christian's name. Really any other name would have sufficed, but it was done. Rose believed the Dragon was called Dimka, so I couldn't have my sister calling my human form Dimka, now could I? Luckily she had said it while she was turned away from Rose, and had spoken it softly against my neck, so I was able to nip that in the bud. But it was a close call.

I wasn't sure why I still kept my true identity a secret after this morning. At first, I didn't want her to be frightened, but she seemed annoyingly relaxed in my true form's presence. I told myself I didn't want her to know to protect other Dragons as well. We were vulnerable in our human form, and although we were still stronger than your average human, it would be a lot easier to kill us when human than Dragon.

But I knew if Rose found out she wouldn't abuse that knowledge. I knew she could be trusted and would never intentionally hurt a Dragon or pass on that knowledge. She seemed to respect us.

All because of the black Dragon. I wondered why he was hanging around. In a sense, I was grateful she had someone looking out for her. But I also disliked the Dragon because he wasn't there when she needed him the most. What did he want? Who was he… or she; I doubt Rose could tell our genders apart in our Dragon form.

I noticed Rose had mentioned people looking at her funny and treating her differently. And in my opinion, she was different. Her fast healing proved it was also on a physical level, but I doubt the town's people were familiar with her healing rate. Maybe it was simply because she looked different? Her skin was a bit darker than what was typical in this region, making me believe she inherited some Middle Eastern traits. Her hair was brown almost black and her eyes a dark brown. She was exquisite and exotic, and people seemed to judge her for it.

But maybe it was more than that. There was definitely something strange about her. Something I had never felt from other humans. Power. She'd displayed so much of it in the town square, and she exuded it from every pore on her skin. She was confident and determined, and perhaps that is what they don't like. She was different and wasn't afraid to own up to it.

But if she had her own personal Dragon guardian, she was special, not just to me, but to someone else as well.

Was she special to me? I was getting in too deep. Another reason I didn't tell her my real identity. What was the point? I would train her to make sure she could defend herself, she deserved that much. And then we would go our separate ways. There was no reason she should know who I am.

But I was beginning to think the real reason I didn't want her to know what I was, was because I didn't want her to reject me. Not fearing a Dragon is something completely different than loving a Dragon.

I stopped dead in my tracks as the thought hit me. Both my sister and Rose turned around at my sudden movement. Yeah, really needed to get her out of my cave, out of my head, and out of my life.

The thought plagued me all afternoon. I was glad Vika was here to take over some training sessions because I was too distracted. Rose was able to flip me a few times with the technique I had been showing her. Now, she was doing it right, because otherwise, she couldn't have flipped the immobile mountain I was at the moment, but I was surprised once I was on my back. I had barely registered the move. She had bested me because I was distracted and I provided hardly any resistance. I should have been pissed at myself, or at her. I should have at least been humiliated that a human had been able to flip me. But all I could think was how cute she looked with the large smile on her face and doing a victory dance. Cute! I was a lethal warrior Dragon. I didn't think anything was cute!

The two girls chatted all the way up to the entrance of the cave, me lagging behind. I noticed how easily Rose was talking with Viktoria and I was pleased to know she got along with my family. Why that was of any importance, I didn't know. It wasn't likely she would meet any of my family. In a few training sessions, we would be done.

I had never loved anybody before. Sure I had my interactions with women, both human and Dragon, only human women never knew the truth, obviously. I had found Rose to be attractive from the start. But that was natural; I wasn't blind. I could appreciate her body and could admire her persona without there being feelings involved. But somewhere between this morning and now, my train of thought had changed from wanting her phsyicially to wanting to love her, and I didn't know why.

Because she saw the real you and didn't run.

I shook my head. It didn't matter how I felt, not that I was willing to admit feeling anything yet, but it could never work. For one, she would be dead in a few decades and two, just because I was entertaining the preposterous idea of loving a human didn't mean she would entertain a similar ridiculous idea of loving a Dragon.

Perhaps I was overreacting. She had definitely crawled under my skin, but maybe if I could just have some closure with her, bed her once or twice, this would all go away?

My mother didn't raise me to bed just anyone. She taught me to respect a woman and to treat them right. But I have learned that there are a lot of women out there that are interested in just sex, no strings attached. And as long as you are upfront about your intentions, and there were mutual agreements, I never saw the harm in a simple toss in the hay. God, I hoped Rose was one of those women. I lived up to my name, Dimitri the honorable, and there wasn't a woman, human or Dragon that could dispute that. That being said, I did tend to have relationships more than I did the no strings attached arrangements. Granted the relationships never lasted very long, and I have never had a relationship with a human before, other than an agreement for a few nights. I never felt the need to tie myself to anyone. My father had claimed my mother, even though she had been reluctant, and it hadn't ended well. But unfortunately, claiming is permanent. I wasn't in any hurry to find myself a mate and wondered if I would ever claim anybody. Sure, not many Dragon females were willing to have hatchlings with you if you didn't claim them, but I am sure with my good name, there would be a few who were willing to spend a century or two with me without feeling the need to be claimed. The claiming had made my mother a prisoner, and I wasn't going to put any female through that.

"Dimitri!"

"Huh, what?"

I looked up at my sister and Rose and noticed they both had a curious expression on their faces. Apparently, this wasn't the first time they called my name.

"We asked if you had supplies for dinner so Viktoria could join us. She wants to stay the night if that is alright. She can sleep with me. That way, she can show me some more stuff in the morning."

Actually, that was a great idea. Not just Viktoria taking over some training, but also the staying for dinner. Right now I needed a buffer between Rose and me.

"Sounds like a plan. I'll head into town and gather some supplies."

The more distance, the better.

Although now I was alone with my thoughts again and all I could think about was that Rose would probably bathe before dinner and would be naked as she did so. The images of the other day came back to me as she swam around in the lake. I tried to quell those images by thinking my sister would probably join her in the lake. There was nothing sexual about my sister swimming naked, so I was able to calm myself down long enough to actually transform and head to the nearest town to gather supplies for that evening and breakfast in the morning.

I had filled the satchel on my back with enough food to feed an entire Dragon army, so it should suffice for two Dragons and a very peculiar human. I landed on the sundeck but wasn't ready to go in just yet. I placed the satchel away from me in the little bit of shade there was and just laid down taking in the sun's rays, letting them warm my scales.

It wasn't long before my peace was disturbed and Rose came around the corner.

She seemed surprised to see me, but there was still no fear in her eyes. It would be so much easier if there were.

"Oh, hello again. I didn't mean to disturb you."

She said and was about to walk away.

"Roza, it is alright, why did you come out here?"

I saw her smile at my affectionate name for her before she replied.

"Dimitri's sister is bathing in the lake, and I thought I would utilize the moment of quiet and sit in the sun. She is a lovely girl, but very chatty."

I laughed. Yes, she was.

"There is room for two."

I said as I scooted over a bit. She looked at me with a bit of mischief and then moved further towards me and settled herself against my side.

"You are much more comfortable than the rocks. You mind me using you for support?"

Yes!

"No."

She laid her head on my side and actually snuggled a little closer to me as she closed her eyes and let the sun illuminate her skin. My head was folded on my front claws, so I was almost touching her with my snout. I could feel her breathing on my side and neck. She inhaled deeply, almost like she was smelling me.

"Hmm. You're warm."

I chuckled.

"I am a Dragon. I am fire itself, I am always warm."

She smiled up at me, holding my gaze.

"Can I borrow you in the cold winter? You would make a fantastic bed."

I just stared at her, was she serious and why did the thought of her pressed against me in the dead of winter appeal to me so much. But I let a bit of black smoke escape my nostrils showing my disapproval of suggesting using a proud lethal Dragon as a bed warmer.

"Oh there, there, I was only joking."

Now she was petting me, like a dog! She wasn't making my wounded pride feel any better. Yeah, definitely would have preferred her to be terrified of me. Instead of…this.

She moaned as she slumped a little further down.

"I love the sun like this, hitting your skin, giving it that slightly burned sensation, warming you to the bone."

I grunted in agreement. The sensation was actually different to when the sun was heating my scale or when it was heating my skin. The darkness of my scales meant I would absorb the rays faster. Because of that I almost felt like there was a barrier between me and the sun when I was in human form, cutting off part of my connection with the sun. I still loved it, but these moments in the sun in Dragon form were very precious to me.

A soft snoring alerted me that she had fallen asleep. She looked so peaceful, so innocent. Her hair was tickling my side a bit, but I didn't have the heart to move and risk jostling her.

I think I was almost asleep myself for a much needed afternoon nap when my sister came around the corner.

"Ahh, you look so cute together."

Again with the cute. I didn't do cute!

I merely growled at my sister.

She had never been affected by my growling before, and I assumed by the relaxed way she sat down on a rock in front of me taking in some sunrays herself, she wasn't about to start now.

"I like her", she said as she was looking at the sky.

"Good, I am glad."

She looked over at me and a smirk was plastered on her face.

"You're glad because I am a good judge of character and have made a friend or are you glad I like her because it is important for you that she is liked by your family, so we will approve of her when you take her home?"

I growled again.

"It isn't like that, Vika. Now come and scratch me on my side. I can't reach the spot without waking Rose."

She gave me a pointed look as she scratched me and simply shrugged as she sat down.

"Could have fooled me", she said under her breath as she rolled her eyes.

Now I groaned like a four-year-old.

"I am helping her so that she can take care of herself, after that, I will send her back to the village, and I will probably never see her again."

"Why does she have to go back? Why can't she just stay here? Or she can come to my cave. I don't mind having a roommate I could keep her safe from that cruel Royal."

I smiled a little at the eagerness of my sister. Viktoria was such a nice girl. A little naïve maybe, but a nice girl.

"She has responsibilities. She has a friend she wants to protect. That is why she is training so hard to protect her while keeping those idiot's guards at bay."

"You are not worried she is going to get hurt or worse if she goes back?"

I looked down at my talon. Honestly, I was petrified this boy would retaliate again and that this time I wouldn't be around to help her. But I had seen her determination in wanting to protect Lady Dragomir. She was too wild and stubborn to convince, so I had settled for handing her the tools she needed to have a chance at survival.

"Of course I am, but that isn't my choice to make."

Viktoria didn't seem to understand why I wouldn't just strap her down to keep her here. But I knew Rose would only resent me for it. Rose wouldn't be Rose unless she were free.

"Mamma is going to be so thrilled when she learns of Rose. I am sure she would love to meet her."

All alarm bells were going off.

"You can't tell anyone Vika. Especially Mamma, or Sonya or Adrian. You know what, just don't tell anyone!"

My sister was looking at me shrewdly.

"Why wouldn't you want me to tell anyone? It isn't like anything is going on with her, is there? You are simply helping a human out."

I sighed deeply and used my free talon to rub the scales on my brow.

"They wouldn't understand. To most of them, humans are beneath them. They will wonder why I rescued her in the first place. It… it will just mean a lot of explaining, and I am not in the mood to do so."

She kept that shrewd smile on her face. I wasn't fooling anyone, least of all my sister.

"Sure, sure. I won't say anything about the great General taking time out of his busy life to rescue a human girl. I won't say anything about him helping her heal and train so she could be safe in the future as well. I won't say anything of the sort."

I was beginning to get a headache.

"Good. Then we are in agreement."

It was another half hour of Vika goading me before Rose started to stir.

She had been beautiful when she was asleep, waking up, however, was a different story. She was not particularly attractive when she yawned. Then again, who was? I did appreciate when she stretched her arms over her head, and she was pushing her back hard against my side and pushing her chest forward. It did provide me with a lovely view.

Rose blinked a few times and rubbed her eyes of sleep.

"Is Dimitri back yet with the food? I am starving."

Vika chuckled. She looked over at me and had a wide grin on her face.

"Why don't we head inside? I am sure he will be here any minute."

Vika led a still yawning Rose back into the cave. This gave me time to transform back to human, put my clothes back on and come inside after a few minutes. I didn't want her to get too suspicious.

Rose lit up when she saw me, and for a moment I felt a warm sensation spread from the inside out. That was until I realized she wasn't beaming at me but was excited about the food.

I couldn't help the disappointment leaking onto my face. Rose seemed oblivious, but Viktoria noticed and was giggling.

"Vika, you can start dinner. I will just have a quick bath."

I walked out of there as soon as I could.