King Beast - Vicious Flames

Chapter 9B

Conciousness came back with scaly sparks.

I had fainted! I passed out after he... even in my dizzy state I blushed.

I could feel that I was on my back, or I would be if it weren't for the thick tail around me propping me up off it. Drops of what I hoped was water dripped all over my exposed skin.

A massive, blurry figure loomed over me.

Blinking, my mouth parted as the fog siltered away from my head. A turquoise eye with a very thin pupil surrounded by a red ring stared back at me. Dragon.

Dragon! On the verge of a panic attack, I squeezed my eyes shut and choked on shallow breaths. A wave of hot air flooded me from above as a deep grumble followed.

Something changed.

When sparks grazed my cheek, I peered one eye open. The scaly tail was still around my waist, still supporting me. This time, the handsome man was there, as naked as he had been created who knows how many centuries ago. The dragon was not where to be seen; the lump of anxiety was swallowed and I exhaled with difficulty.

His hungry gaze, coupled with his long tongue licking his lip, made me light-headed.

¨Welcome back, mouse."

I staggered back when his tail released me, still hoovering. He watched me, arms crossed over his chest.

How dare he treat me like that? Use me like that? Who did he think he was to tell me how I feel about my boyfriend, about myself and, and....

A fire I didn't know I had in me rose to my chest. Magna. It was magna that turned into lava. 

I didn't know what he saw, but it seemed to me his silver eyebrows lifted ever so slightly. Was that a spark of surprise crossing those inhuman eyes? That gave me courage.

"I will always love my boyfriend, you lizard captor," I said between gritted teeth.

I threw my shoe at him and began to run. With a glance behind, the look in his eyes told me I was in trouble.

I ran faster, away from what - my childhood's biggest fear, a monster, a soulmate, I didn't know exactly. All I knew was...he could be all that, but mostly my biggest fear. 

My legs were becoming very sore from the previous runs and climbs. But run was my safety. I ran all my life. I prepared during all my free time.

This time however was for nothing.

He didn't chase me.

And that was... unsettling to say the least.

Was he giving me a head start? Was he frozen with fury or shock and was he going to pounce on me at any moment? He looked like someone short-tempered... but maybe all lizards were.

He was from a different species compared to mine. Just because he could talk and understand me, that didn't mean we were the same.

To my right, I spot a dark gaping mouth. Bingo!

With relief, I skidded on the wet grass and threw myself into it, expecting at any moment to be snatched from behind or, worse, from above.

Ducking down, I barely made it in with my size.

A smile curled my lips. His enormous size would never fit in. I was safe!

I crawled a little then slowly stood up, but I had to turn my shoulders sideways.

The walls were narrowed, ivory-coloured and streaked with iron-red; my fingers brushed one. Damp, as if I stood in the throat of a giant crocodile about to swallow me alive. I glanced toward the darkness to my right – it seemed to be breathing.