The Mate Of The Ice Dragon

Chapter Three

My head was resting on a soft satin like pillow, when I started to take in my surroundings. For a minute I wondered if the last seven years of my life was a huge nightmare, because the only time I could recall the feeling of satin was when I was a child, still living on the rightful land of my tribe and not just a small resistance living in the shelter of the Rikikobi Mountains. But, to my disappointment I was still my eighteen year old self. There is a crackling fire place a couple feet away from where I am laying on a cot. Where am I? I simply lay there and stare for a while as I ponder within my own head. The living room as it seemed to be, held a very distinct smell of a certain type of lilies that only grows in the Rikkikobi Mountains. It was a nice touch to the red and gold room. Weirdly I felt calm and at home with this new place, when abruptly a growl rips out of my stomach with no warning. I sat up, reminding myself that this could be a dangerous situation. Then I noticed that my arm was completely healed, who ever had saved me must have some type of magic. I look around the room for something I could use for self defense. I pick up a fire poker that one would normally use to stroke firewood. If need be it could cause some damage.

"I'm glad to see that you're awake!" A deep, but happy voice exclaims from behind me. Being as on edge as I already was I swung the fire poker at the man's head. It only dented the metal. The surprised look fades from the man's face to laughing amusement as I stand there gawking. I don't know what is more surprising, that this man's head dented a metal bar or that he is laughing about it. This gave me a minute to take in this man's features. He had pale flawless skin, yellow cat-like eyes and shoulder length blood red hair. He was a couple feet taller than me with arms thick with muscle. He's attractive, too attractive. He looked too perfect to be human, this man must be a dragon. I stayed quiet as I watch this dragon in human form, my suspicion was growing.

"You have a lot of spunk, he's sure going to like that." The dragon says mostly to himself with a chuckle, only confusing me further as to why this dragon brought me into his home. According to the legends of my people, dragons always had an agenda for bringing humans in their homes, or they had some sort of bond with the human. As far as I know this dragon and I have never met so there is no way we could share any bond, and just from his comment it's pretty clear that he has some intentions for me in mind. I feel my eyes narrow.

"What is so funny dragon? And what is the nonsense you're speaking of?" I never was one to beat around the bush unless I had to. The dragon just continued to smile as he led me to his dining room and had me sit on a mahogany table as he began to prepare some tea. Neither one of us broke the silence until he sat with me at the table. Up close, his yellow cat like eyes gave much more indication of his age. The brighter they glowed, the older the dragon was;This one is ancient. Then his voice rings out again.

"Well I think the best way I can explain everything is by introducing myself." He pauses and puts out his hands to shake. "I'm Zukian. The dragon of fire if I remember correctly of what humans are calling me now." I take his hand and start to shake it slowly. When I don't respond with my name his face twists with a pang of rejection.

"If you are Zukian the fire dragon, then where is your mate Valsa?" I ask keeping my face straight. The dragon's eyes flash with pain. Alma had always told me the myth of the two dragon brothers Rikikobi and Zukian falling in love with the mortal woman named Valsa. Both of them competed for her hand, thus being named the fire and ice dragon as they were each other's constant opposition.

"I'll get to that part," He says kind of solemnly."But first I would like to know your name."

"And I would like to understand why you brought me here despite knowing nothing about me!" My voice was raised as we both sit and glare at each other. Then he just smirks and laughs at me making me want to punch him straight in the face. Then he speaks up in a calm voice.