The Taming

A Figurine Dragon

"What do you want!" She said venomously, drawing his attention as she nearly vibrated with rage.

He growled in answer.

Storm-tossed blue eyes narrowed on him hatefully. "Go. Away."

"Not until we talk. I thought we could have a reasonable conversation as proper adults over breakfast."

"I won't join you."

As you haven't for months.

"Of course, you won't! Because I wish you too!"

"We can't all have what we wish for..." She shot out. "Like freedom for instance!" Her brows rose in challenge.

"Is that why you did it?"

Her eyes fell and her weight shifted to one side.

That's not guilt. She'll rant or apologize. This is shame...

Shame? She's ashamed of being with me?

But there was panic written over her too.

No. Her shame. She's ashamed of her desire?

Ridiculous. But he was very certain that's what plagued her.

She shifted, disconcerted by the intensity on his lowered face.

Though he hadn't pinned her where she was, he was fully prepared to get ahold of her if she tried to bolt. It was written over his face and obvious in the muscle ticking in his jaw.

"Is it?" He demanded.

"You're a monster!"

What?

"No, I'm not!" He expostulated. Tossing his head in annoyance as he stepped back.

She drew a relieved breath.

"I'm a disgusted, frustrated man." He enunciated.

I'm no monster.

"What do you have to be disgusted with?" She leaned forward. Eyes sparking with beautiful rage.

"The same thing you do."

"You!" She shouted at the top of her lungs.

"Yes, me." His voice dropped until only she heard.

"What did you say?" She gave him a confused look. Posture relaxing as the conversation changed.

He drew quick breaths, fists tight as he tried to control the things writhing under his skin. One reared under his collar. Making the thin bone crunch and jut from the skin. Rupturing the tender skin.

Ouch! He slapped a hand to it.

Ah, shit. He gasped in pain. Wincing, as he took a hesitant step back. Skin peeling around the bit of protruding bone and a small gold paw emerged. Decked with tiny claws. Frantically scratching away his skin. Digging its way out.

Stop! No.

Not right now! Fabric ripped at the back of his shirt. Another miniature dragon burrowed near his spine. A rib fractured and split. Making him put a hand over it trying to hold it together. Huffing, he leaned over fighting the pain. Trying to keep the creatures in, he limped from the room. Leaning left to evade the pain of broken bones on his right.

"What are those?" Elsabet's eyes widened. Glimpsing black marking's moving under the laces at his collar. Shifting like clouds over a night sky. "What's happening?" Her voice became more urgent. Worried.

But Bast was in too much pain to notice. He made it to his chamber and dropped to his bed. Letting those emerging free themselves. Fighting the pain, as they tore free of his flesh.

But two thoughts lingered beyond the pain.

Why was she ashamed of her desire?

She wasn't ashamed of being with me. It consoled the physical agony ripping his body apart.

***

Mane Country

LUCIEN

Lucien Sabias coasted the sky on soundless wings. Protected more by the night sky then the others because of his dark gray coloring. Not easily spotted in darkness.

Why do the others feel this shape is such a curse? They often said as much. Their beasts never far, writhing beneath the surface.

Ah, but this is where I'm different. Even as a mortal, he'd spent many a day staring at a sky he longed to possess. Savoring the feel of a horse racing a meadow.

This, the flying, is special. I cannot regret this. Not ever. Lucien relished his beast.

I don't fear it controlling me. I could fly forever. He flipped to coast backward, changing the direction of his wings to allow him to float on the breeze. Such peace up here.

Ezra, his little sister, had told him often enough that he was too wild for his skin.

She was always right about me. About everything.

If I'd only known. He sobered quickly at thoughts of his sister.

He snorted, emanating a puff of smoke. Spined head moving like a snake as he checked for threats. There's always fear of an attack. For too long, Radix had whittled away their numbers. His minions tearing them from the sky.

Or driving in a sword when our back is turned. Chavias' face flashed in his mind and his jaw tightened.

A sound near the smoky village below drew his attention. A woman's scream.

Dropping, he landed on human feet. A smooth transition. Because I do it often. His boots smashing the grass. Wings falling down his back in cloak that dragged over dewy grass. Cautiously closing in, he drew near enough to see an old woman next to her prancing horse.

She moved in circles shakily trying to climb back atop her horse.

He emerged from the shrubbery to offer her a hand up.

She rose on shaking limbs. Stringy white hair tousled around her flushed face and terrified eyes.

He turned to tend her white mare. But the barest whisper of sound drew his attention. He stiffened. Knowing that sound anywhere. A dagger slipping from its sheath.

He turned quick enough to receive the dagger in the shoulder rather than his heart, as intended. He yelped and reared back.

She shifted her form. No longer a woman but a bleak creature covered in jagged spines and black mottle. A Firoque.

Red snake eyes watched him intently, as she yanked her dagger free of his shoulder. She jumped on him with all the ferocity of a rabid animal.

He managed to toss it into the trees. Leaping to his feet, he tried to change into the charcoal dragon but couldn't. Glancing down he saw dampness pouring over his shoulder and hands. I'm bleeding badly. Weakening too fast.

He already blinked heavily to maintain his focus on the quarry circling him. Glancing up he grunted as the thing rushed him again. Moving so quickly he barely saw it.

He sighed and watched. Waiting for the deathblow.

But his peripheral caught something moving equally as fast parallel to them. It emerged in a hurricane of leaves and brush. Lunging through the foliage and roaring as it ferociously bit and shredded the spines on the Cimmerii's back like nothing more than kindling.

Sebastian. Ever the Great Protector.