The Cursed Dragon

Chapter 15: Taken

I have been writing up a storm and very inspired for this particular work. I hope you enjoy it and are enjoy the frequent updates. <3

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"Don't you understand? I can't let you go."

Airne slumped in his arms and turned her face away. Her expression didn't say she was giving up or giving in, just that she was fed up with fighting for the moment.

Relaxed, she suddenly felt so soft in his arms and Cadimus became acutely aware of how his body was pressed up against hers and pulled back before she could notice his body's unabashed physical reaction to being pressed close to such a stubborn, passionate, warm blooded woman.

A swift desire to pick her up and carry her away from the horrors of his life and this castle stormed through Cadimus. A part of him wanted to leave this place and escape with her.

You can't walk away from your family, and you can't walk away from this war, he told himself dismissing the notion.

It would have been one thing for him to go missing for a day and return her to her people and it was another thing now that they were bound to each other. Thanks to Abeloth his hands were tied and his options gone.

He would have to stay here, and he would have to keep Airne here too.

"I'll send someone else clean up the mess," said Cadimus. He waved the hand and soft grey satin sashes appeared fastening her ankles together and binding her wrists in the same manner.

Airne let out a slight gasp as the satin slid over her skin.

"Stay," he ordered, purposefully ignoring that little sound. He held up his hand as if hand gestures would get through her head better than words alone.

She gave him a look that would wither a plant.

Cadimus went out into the hall to try and just breath and focus. He needed to think.

He needed to get a handle on the situation and figure out his next steps-that was how he had been raised, that was how he and his family survived the politics of their world.

As he calmed down things began to align in his mind.

He had brought her was where he had been ordered to.

He wasn't just going to leave her tied up in the middle or rubble surrounded by dead bodies.

That would be fucking monstrous.

She was hurt, True it was only a few scratches and bruises. Small or not he didn't like seeing her hurt.

He would go and get something for her injuries.

And what if she tries to escape?

Try and convince her to stay put so she doesn't get more hurt while you try to fix what you can.

Cadimus turned and went back down the stairs.

Airne, who had been leaning her head awkwardly to the side against the twisted remains of the iron bars that had stood between cells, lifted up back up as soon as she heard him return. She eyed him up and then looked away refusing defiantly to look at him.

Cadimus sighed and picked her up. She struggled and squirmed and nearly caught him in the jaw with another one of those wild elbows of hers.

 Finding a better, cleaner dry spot he laid her down gently.

"You can't escape," he said. He waited a beat expecting some kind of a response.

With that stubbornness he was beginning to associate with he she remained silent.