Posted 2024-02-03; Beta'd by Eeyorefan12

Bella was out of practice in signing. As she and Edward ate, she had to pause frequently to find the right word, translating from Sabellian to English to ASL.

Tell me more about Lucas.

Edward nodded, pouring her a cup of bark tea he'd made for her. As she sipped it, the soreness in her throat eased.

"Lucas lives at the matriarcha, as do most Kotravats. The term means broken, though it's hardly accurate. He suffers from the effects of many bites."

Bites?

Edward nodded. "As I said, most boys only experiment with the mating urge once. The effects are usually deterrent enough to prevent a second attempt. But a very few—for whatever reason—continue to crave the pleasure of the mating release, which leads to another bite, and then another, intensifying the problem."

And they lose their voice, and can go deaf.

"Yes."

Bella swallowed, trying to convince herself that the scratchiness hadn't suddenly worsened. Will that happen to me?

"No. Your reaction to it should be brief, much like the initial mating illness. Our bodies"—he gestured to himself—"are not meant to ingest our own secretions, and they fight vigorously against them." He moved his hand from the bite at his shoulder up to his neck, throat, and ear.

Bella nodded. So what happens to the Kotravats? How are they helped?

"They aren't."

Why not?

Edward smiled sadly. "There's no treatment. They are . . . shunned, essentially, which is why they're given to the care of the matriarch."

That's awful! Couldn't they mate? To solve the problem?

"Possibly at the beginning, before the damage is permanent. But prejudices are strong, Bella. No one wants to risk their bloodline."

Bella paused, nodding, thinking of her awkward question from weeks ago when she had wondered who would mate with her. If this was the social response to such a treatable deviation, no wonder they'd been worried about the public's reaction to her seeking a mate.

If Lucas was a pariah for being a Kotravats, then what was she?

So, when I first came here, was that what was making me ill? Because someone had–

She stopped signing, unable to bring herself to make the sign for rape.

"I don't know, but it's likely." He reached over and gently brushed her hair back from her neck. "There was no mark then—my mother checked—so it didn't occur to us that it would have been . . . that."

There was some relief in that, certainly. Whatever else her unknown assailant had done, there was no visible scar. No, the only mark she wore, and willingly, was Edward's. She wondered if it was a relief for him, too. She reached up and touched his cheek. I'm glad it's only yours.

He smiled, looking almost bashful as he admitted, "I am too."

It made her think about what else she hoped would be only his. She frowned. Will the baby be—she paused, wondering how to phrase it—all yours? Only your child, or—

"Yes, it will be mine."

But you said that I wouldn't be able to have other children. Why?

"The seeding prepares a woman's body, but the 'second part', as you put it, creates the pregnancy. Your body will expect—will only respond to the same genetic contribution."

Bella considered this. The child would be theirs, and theirs only. She gave a soft sigh of relief.

"Are you feeling well?" Edward asked.

Physically? Yes. I'm fine. Why?

"I wondered if you'd like to go for a walk. There's a small lake nearby."

Bella nodded. Fresh air and a change of topic and scene were welcome. She hadn't left the mating house for almost five days.

Edward dug through a chest in the small living area, pulling from it clothes for each of them. They changed separately, she in the bedroom, he in the bathroom. She was grateful for his suggestion. It would take some time for her to get used to the many intimacies they would share.

As promised, the walk was short. Bella was grateful. She was a little out of breath by the time they arrived. Edward spread out a blanket and laid out more food. She sat down, leaning back against the trunk of a tree and enjoying the view of the little lake and meadow, these bordered by a band of unharvested glykoblay. Beyond that lay what looked like thick forest.

This was exactly the sort of spot her parents would have taken her to when she was younger—her father to fish, her mother to read.

Aside from the swish of the trees, it was quiet but for the occasional plop from the distant lake. Frogs, she guessed. Edward had promised to show her the creatures that lived there. Bella watched the tall and unharvested glykoblays sway on their thin trunks. Perhaps this grove had been left to go wild? But that didn't make sense. The fruit was too valuable.

Are those your family's? she signed to Edward.

He shook his head, swallowing a bite of food. "No, they mark the start of the Hatzis property."

Ah. That made sense.

"Have you had enough?" Edward asked, nodding to a little plate of sweets.

Yes, thank you. She smiled, then looked back at the scene before them.

"Is the change in scenery welcome? It's been a while since you were outside," Edward said.

She nodded and sighed. It really was. And Edward was easy company, too.

"Can I show you something else?"

Sure.

Taking his proffered hand, she stood, following him around the curve of the lake under the shade of the nearby trees. Their walk was a slow stroll, giving Bella time to take in the sights and smells of the new flora. As they passed the thick trunk of a tree that straddled land and water, a slight opening came into view, revealing a small half-moon of sandy beach, clear water stretching out in front of it.

Can we go in? Bella asked.

Edward smiled broadly, nodding and leading her towards its edge when he stopped abruptly, yanking Bella back.

"Wha—?" she croaked.

Edward held up his hand, the playful expression gone. Bella followed his gaze to the edge of the trees, where a messy pile of dry grass and sticks sat beside a scattered mess of blue fronds and pits.

A tiny breeze brought the smell of bitter . . . no, burnt oranges.

Dragons.

"Get in the water," Edward said, pushing her towards it. He unbuckled his belt. "Bella—now, in the water!" He looked back towards the woods.

Bella didn't see anything.

When she turned to Edward, he grabbed and shouldered her, sprinting to the water's edge, launching her with a powerful throw into the lake.

She landed on her back, gasping at the shock of the cold water, immediately sinking under the weight of her clothes. The lake was shallow, and she hit bottom quickly, thrusting upwards and surfacing, ready to strangle Edward.

Those thoughts vanished when she finally located him at the water's edge, his figure framed in contrast with the inky black body of a huge dragon. Belt in hand, Edward swatted its nose.

Hissing, the dragon flared its trembling neck frill, lashing its long tail towards Edward.

He darted sideways, missing the snap of the tail and barely dodging the whoosh of flame that shot from the creature's mouth.

Bella gasped, reversing her course and moving back into the water.

"It won't come in the lake," Edward called. He jumped aside as the dragon whipped its tail at him again. He batted it back with the belt, earning him a smoking but fireless growl. "It wants more fuel."

Fuel?

"What can I do?" Bella croaked.

"Stay there," Edward barked. He grabbed one of the sticks from the pile, standing between it and the dragon.

Between it, its food, and—Bella realized—its fuel. The long lizard-like creature roared and then unfurled the rope-like fronds at its sides, which flared into—

Wings?

There was one flap, and then another—and then Edward darted under the right wing, launching himself onto the creature's neck, shoving backwards so that he sat over the neck frill. The creature shrieked and shook its head, trying to unseat him. At each attempt, Edward whacked its nose with the stick, using his other hand to try and fling the belt around one of the wing tips.

"I need something to tie it with!" Edward called.

Still frozen in horror, Bella took a soggy lurch forward, looking down at her beltless dress.

Edward flung his belt one more time, getting it to loop over the wing. Nearly lying down backwards, he secured the belt and then grabbed the neck frill from beneath him, yanking it down to the left.

The dragon cried out and went limp, whimpering as Edward twisted the sensitive webbing.

"Bella?"

Bella found a frayed edge on the hem of her dress and grasped it, adrenaline fueling her efforts. She tore a strip off, then another, awkwardly tying them together.

"Throw it," Edward said when she started walking towards him.

What if she missed?

"Quickly!" Edward strained with the belt.

She launched the wet rope, and miraculously, he caught it in midair. He looped it around the dragon's neck, catching the frill, and then ran the other end through the belt, effectively hobbling the creature.

The dragon continued whimpering.

"I know, I'm sorry," Edward said, jumping down to stand beside its head and stroking it from eye to cheek. The dragon closed its eyes and exhaled. "We'll get you somewhere safe." Edward tied the end of Bella's makeshift rope to a tree beside him.

Bella shivered. The heat of the moment had passed, and she was feeling far colder than she should, her legs beginning to jelly with shock.

With a final glance at the dragon, Edward walked towards her, running both hands down her head, shoulders, ribs and legs. "Are you alright?"

"Cold," she said, her voice a harsh whisper. She tried to step forward, but her knees gave out.

Edward grabbed her, sweeping a hand down to catch her legs as he lifted her. He jogged them back to the other side of the lake and the blanket.

"You need to dry off," he said, throwing the blanket around her.

The violent shivering continued.

"It's the pregnancy." He didn't bother trying to save the dress, ripping through and peeling off the back. The corset and slip came off much more gently, intact.

"I-i-s th-a-a-t a w-i-i-ld-d dragon?" Bella asked. Her voice had become a broken, chattering croak.

"Don't talk," Edward said gently, his forehead wrinkled with worry. He wrapped her tightly in the blanket and lifted her, the basket and her ruined clothing thrown over his other shoulder, taking long strides in the direction of the cottage. "That one's escaped from somewhere."

He mumbled something else under his breath and she thought she heard the name Stolos but she wasn't sure.

She had so many questions but gave up on trying to speak, her teeth chattering wildly. She closed her eyes and buried her face in Edward's shoulder, seeking whatever warmth she could find.

"Why he . . . someone would leave an untrained dragon's wings unclipped, I have no idea," Edward muttered. "It's incredibly stupid and dangerous." He shook his head. "We were lucky we were near water. Otherwise—"

Bella shuddered violently, her imagination filling in the rest.

"Bella?"

With her teeth still chattering, Bella's nod was swept up in another convulsion.

Edward broke into a run.

He kicked open the outer door and then the one to their bedroom, where he gave an exasperated "Weaver's threads" at the sight of the cold hearth.

Unwrapping Bella from the damp blanket, he put her in the bed, layering the dry bedding on top of her. The shaking became violent.

Through the blankets, Edward rubbed her arms and legs between furtive glances back at the still fireplace.

Not able to talk or sign, she stared at him, his worried expression troubling enough, her ignorance of what was happening even more so.

"Your body temperature is already low from the pregnancy—but your body's still adjusting, and the cold, it's shocked your system. I just didn't think it would happen now." He made a worried grimace, tightening the blanket and wrapping part of it over her head, continuing to massage and rub. "I shouldn't have taken you anywhere near that lake."

Bella shook her head forcefully, untangling a hand from the blankets and pressing it to his chest. He couldn't have known.

Edward tucked her hand back in the blankets, wrapping his entire body around her.

Her toes and fingers went numb. Staying still, wrapped up as she was, wasn't going to help warm her. Movement would—or direct body heat. She struggled against the blankets, squirming, trying to free herself.

"No." Edward rewrapped them tightly around her.

Bella shook her head, finally freeing her right arm. Fingers useless with cold, she pressed against his chest, trying to force her hand into the space between his shirt buttons. She sighed and then winced at the heat as it began to spread to her fingers.

Edward nodded, quickly unbuttoning and removing his shirt so that they were both bare-chested, skin to skin, the blanket around them. Rewarming was painful, and she twitched and shuddered, Edward faithfully continuing to rub her arms, her back, her hips, and her thighs.

Her body felt like it was fighting her, parts of it aching and warmer one moment, frozen and numb the next.

She needed more.

The furrowed lines on Edward's face remained. He kept glancing from her to the empty fireplace to the door and the bell, where he could summon help. That he didn't leave to do so told her he was very worried, and that only increased her own anxiety.

It occurred to her there was an activity that had warmed her before, one that would share Edward's body heat with her both inside and out.

Still shaking and unable to talk or sign, Bella stared at him, hoping to communicate this to him.

Edward looked away guiltily. Yes, he'd thought of it, too.

The only noise she could make was a whimper, and she did, drawing his gaze back to her. With a clunky, awkward movement, she bent and lifted her leg, half-landing it over his, trying to communicate her point.

Edward stopped moving his hands, closing his eyes and swallowing—like he was in pain. "Bella, if you—" he breathed out a long shuddering breath. "I need to help you get warm—"

She moved her leg, barely feeling it, hoping she hadn't just kneed him in her frozen attempt to seduce him.

He dragged his hands down her arms, pausing at her hands before releasing them.

She couldn't get her arm free, so she pressed her hand against his chest to circle a spasming "please" there instead. She repeated it twice, staring at him. Then, because she could barely control her lips, she simply pressed them to his, hoping they didn't feel as frozen to him as they did to her.

His entire body went taut, and as Bella collapsed back from kissing him, she realized the key and potentially disastrous assumption she'd made: that he would want to mate with her in this state. There was nothing sexy about her in this moment.

There was another wave of convulsions, and Bella curled inwards on herself and away from him, her hoarse "Sorry" barely audible.

What was I thinking? He can't possibly feel attraction to me right now.

She closed her eyes, clenching her jaw and doing her best to will herself through the misery of her shaking body, mortified when she felt Edward's hands on her legs again, moving as if to massage them.

Noble to a fault.

The massage moved from her calves to her thighs and then—

Oh.

There was a flood of heat, as her own arousal bloomed and the convulsions lessened marginally.

Edward kicked off his pants and resettled the blanket over them, nuzzling at Bella's chest and then kissing her still downturned head. He continued the motion, moving to her chin, her neck, grinding his hips into hers. At first the warmth was painful, with stinging sensations wherever her circulation returned, but then it became faint pinpricks, and finally a comforting heat wherever his hand or body pressed against hers.

With her hands and feet still icy cold, she grabbed clumsily at him, every touch seeking the comfort of his warmth. Finally, she felt not just his arms wrapped around her, but the assurance of his wanting as he pushed inside her, first between her legs, and then sinking his teeth into her neck. Heat and pleasure flooded over her and from him, as the frenzy of their mating continued and finally completed.

They lay in the bed, her fingers and toes tickling with growing warmth, their bodies tangled together as one.

Warm at last, Bella slept soundly the rest of the night, wrapped in the comfort of Edward's embrace.