Dragon Matchmaker

Chapter 14

   Another few hours ticked past and it still didn't look like they were getting any closer to finding Ceruleo. Kinsey groaned and sat down on a rock beside the stream they'd been following. "This is hopeless. He's probably asleep in his cave, unaware that we're even out here."

   Aldwin nodded and sat down, but then he grabbed her hand desperately and looked her in the eye. "Before we get distracted again. I want my answer. Why did you marry Audrey for me?"

   Kinsey sighed and nodded. "Alright. I'll tell you. It's because I didn't want Audrey to hurt you because of me. I wouldn't be able to live with that guilt."

   Aldwin's hopeful eyes didn't stay hopeful for long. That obviously wasn't the answer he had hoped for, because his face fell for a moment before he nodded and let her hand go. She didn't know what exactly he wanted to hear. She thought that would have been enough to please him, but it obviously wasn't.

   What did he want as an answer? She really wanted to make him feel happy, but she didn't know how. What was she supposed to do, fling her arms around his waist and proclaim that she loved him? She didn't want to do that. She wanted their relationship to be slow and more subtle. Audrey had dove in with the first kiss, then the necklace, then proposal. That was just a bit rushed for her. She wanted a more loving courtship.

   After a few minutes of sitting in awkward silence, Kinsey decided that she could try and spark up another conversation. "So what do we do now? We can't go back and the chances of finding Ceruleo are slim?"

   He threw a rock angrily into the water and huffed, leaning back into a rock. "I guess we start new lives. I can travel and you can go find you a new Audrey that won't be so evil."

   Kinsey glanced at him and saw he was back to his usual surly self. She growled and stood up, stomping her foot and shoving him in the chest with her hand. "What is your problem?! I just saved you from being killed by Audrey, but you've given me not a hint of a thanks."

   He looked up at her and stood, clenching his fists. "You wanna know what's wrong?! You wanna know why I'm always so hateful to you?! Fine, I'll show you!"

   He grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand up, giving the ring on her finger an ugly glare before yanking it off and chucking it behind him. He looked like he was about to grab her other hand, but suddenly a roar sounded from above them. Kinsey gasped and looked up, smiling at the huge royal blue wings above her. Ceruleo landed in the forest beside them, his wings knocking over full grown trees and stirring up small animals that ran for cover from him. He smiled down at her and held up his takin, showing her the fully healed claws.

   "Ceruleo! We were looking for you."

   He cocked his head  an  his eyes glow orange in confusion. She quickly explained everything that had gone wrong and when she finished her story, his eyes glowed pink and he shook his head  at her. "I know. I know. You told me so. Now can you hide us long enough for Audrey to lay off. He'll give up eventually. He has to. It's not like I'm that big of a deal."

   Ceruleo let out a sort of chuckle and then he lowered his claws. Without hesitation, Kinsey crawled on and then turned to Aldwin who stood fearfully away from the dragon. "It's alright. Come on. You haven't flown on a dragon before. It's fun. Don't worry."

   "What and you've rode how many? One? That makes you an expert now?"

   "Just get on!"

   He sighed and walked  over, taking the hand she held out. As  soon as he stepped up, Ceruleo lifted them up to his neck, where Kinsey sat down and Aldwin sat behind her. He awkwardly put his hands around her stomach and then kept his head turned away so her hair didn't get in his mouth. She laughed and patted his thigh. "It's alright. Just hold on tight."

   Ceruleo snorted and then spread his wings, flying into the air. Aldwin yelled and his grip tightened on her as he hauled himself to her back. She laughed, holding onto the spikes at the back of Ceruleo's head. "It's okay, Aldwin. Calm down."

   He shook his head and trembled as he held her waist. "No no no. No! I don't like being this high when I'm not in control. Couldn't we have just walked?"

   "Yeah. And waste another three days getting there."

   After about ten or fifteen minutes, he managed to loosen his grip, but he didn't back off of her. She didn't know why, but being this close to him in this position was very nice and it felt like a purposeful embrace. Maybe it was. Maybe he wasn't backing off because of the fact he liked her.

   Her hands eventually left Ceruleo's spikes and they dropped down to touch Aldwin's forearms. He jerked, but then he relaxed and held her tighter again, but it wasn't a panicked move. It was calmer and a little more loving. She smiled. It actually made her feel good knowing that he wasn't mad at her anymore. Eventually, she yawned and leaned back to sleep. Aldwin accepted her into his chest and held her still while they flew onward. She was awoken an hour later or so when Aldwin shook her by her arm. "We're here."

   She sat up and nodded, rubbing her eyes as they dove towards the cave. Ceruleo landed gently and walked into the opening, traversing the tunnels with ease. They eventually emerged into the beautiful oasis, but on the other side of the valley was a light purple dragon.

   Kinsey sucked in a sharp breath and hid behind Ceruleo's neck, but he glanced back and shook his huge head, letting them down with his talons. He gestured them over and they followed cautiously. Aldwin took her hand and held her back with him behind Ceruleo's front feet. He came to a stop beside the other dragon and he gave a gentle purr. The other Dragon raised its head and judging from the long frill along its neck and back, it was a female.

   She gave a purr in return and regarded the humans with a friendly glance. Despite her friendly nature, Kinsey could tell something was off about her. She didn't look injured, but her demeanor and yellow eyes said she was in pain. Ceruleo prodded them up towards her and as they neared her upper body, Ceruleo nosed her belly. She gave a sort of chirp and lifted her front leg off the ground, exposing her slightly burgeoning stomach.

   Kinsey gasped. "She's pregnant?"

   Ceruleo nodded and then gestured to himself. He nosed the female's jaw and she purred back, nuzzling him in return. Aldwin asked this time. "So this is your mate?"

   Ceruleo nodded and laid down beside the female, letting her rest her head across his neck. She whimpered and groaned, her yellow eyes clenching shut as she winced. Kinsey held her hands to her mouth. "Oh my God! Aldwin! She's giving birth! We're gonna watch it!"

   He paused and sat down. "Then let's watch then."

   Ceruleo nodded and let his head rest on the ground. He gave a low snort and smoke blew from his nostrils. Aldwin shrugged and looked at Kinsey. "We should name the female. How about Iris?"

   She glanced at him as she sat beside him and cocked her head. "Why Iris?"

   Aldwin sighed and looked down at his feet, audibly gulping. "You know how I always said that I hated my family for ditching me and that I'd never go back."

   She nodded, watching as he pulled a locket from his shirt, clicking it open to a tiny drawing of a beautiful woman's face. "This is my mother. Her name was Iris Chaling. I lied about my family not wanting me. It was my dad who didn't want me, but my mother loved me. She tried and tried to get dad to keep me, but he didn't want to. Before I had to leave, she snuck me the locket, telling me that one day she'd find me and we could be a family again."