"What are you doing here?" Draco bit out, subconsciously positioning himself between Hermione and Greyback. The Death Eater didn't miss the movement, his eyes narrowing in on him shrewdly. "Looks like the pup finally found his voice," Greyback mocked. "Nothing like the cowering little scamp he was back in the day," he told Hermione with a vicious smile. "Shut the hell up," Draco warned. "Uh uh uh," Greyback warned, waving his wand mockingly. "Or you'll be at the mercy of more than my wand tonight." "I've already been bitten," Draco scoffed. Not that Greyback needed to know he didn't transform. "Yes, but she hasn't," his eyes wandered to Hermione predatorily. "It's been a while since I've enjoyed a woman's flesh in both senses of the word... at the same time." "You won't lay a hand on her," Draco growled, sheltering Hermione behind him more overtly. He'd pulled her closer with a firm grip on her wrist, a little surprised that she didn't even resist his handling. If anything, she pressed closer against his back, as still as a door. It was the slight quivering he felt at his back coming from her anxious form that sent red hot rage flooding his senses like nothing before.
Inferior to the Dark Lord as a Death Eater, and now inferior to your alpha as a werewolf." "I don't belong to your pack," Draco spit out. "Besides, I wouldn't let you within a foot of her." Greyback quirked an eyebrow in amusement. "Oh you won't, now? You're awfully protective." "And you must be awfully stupid to target the golden girl- she has the protection of the entire ministry at her fingertips, if not the whole Wizarding London," Draco smoothly deflected. Damn, he'd revealed too much to Greyback. "Makes it all the more fun for when they fall," Greyback flashed his canines dangerously. "And mark my words, they will fail. Not even you will be able to
Trembling lips, high cheekbones in a sweetly curved face. But what arrested him the most were her eyes. Brave amber eyes with ochre flecks. She was afraid, he could smell the fear-scent mixing in her musk, but she was facing what she thought was certain death with an intriguing nobility. He was surprisingly appreciative. She fascinated him, but he still couldn't decide what to do with her. Should he leave her tied to the wooden post, or should he take her to be his mate? She seemed strong enough to bear his sons, but he wasn't sure if this lust for her beauty was the overwhelming 'mating instinct' his father told him would overcome him when he found the right maiden. While he was deciding, she did something unprecedented. She smiled at him. His instinct screamed at him to take her then, to take her immediately, so he did. Fortunately, his instincts seemed to be spot on. The more he
She was softening towards him. So why was she so unwilling to mate? She stiffened when he came into her presence, her senses sharpening as if she were prey. Well, in a way she was, he supposed, but he planned to devour her much, much more thoroughly than his usual quarry. Hermione wasn't terrified, but she wasn't receptive to him either. He knew from his father that the maiden needed to make the first move when it came to mating, else she would be too horrified to complete it, because of his dominant Dragon nature. His female was as beautiful as a trembling doe, and just as easily startled. So he studied her, as he would any other coveted object out of his reach. What did she want? The stories gave him a clue. He listened avidly every night, delighting in how her anxiety lessened as she spoke. She would usually start sometime after the evening meal and then
Protection, but she was too angry at this arrogant, demeaning, rude, condescending creature to care if he used her for a toothpick. She hoped she got stuck in his teeth. She smiled wickedly at that, and shot Evil Father a nasty look. Surprisingly, he wasn't sneering at her, but contemplating her with a rather serene expression on his face. "You shouldn't smile like that to another male." Hermione blinked and said, "What?" "My son won't like that, especially because you are still unmated. He would even attack me, his father, if he felt threatened." Hermione's movements stilled, incredulous, as she heard this appalling speech. Setting her knife down, she strode over to the large man. "Surely he would not attack his kin? I don't believe it." "Believe it." Lucius' words were flat, cold. "Dragons are naturally covetous, girl. We seem
Home. She remembered all of the little things that she had repressed. Her father's soft humming as he polished his sword and scent of lavender in her mother's solarium. Her way of giggling like a girl when something tickled her fancy. The smile-lines at the corners of her father's amber eyes... The sob exploded from her body, clenching her guts, stealing her breath. Mum, Dad. Oh, how I miss you. She collapsed on the trunk, and wished fiercely that she would be in her mother's arms, just one more time. "What is this?" Draco roared. "What has harmed you?" Hermione just looked at him and then sobbed harder. She threw herself into his arms, and twined herself around his lean frame. Burrowing her head into his warm chest, and clutching him close, she abandoned herself to the tears leaking steadily down her cheeks. Draco was aghast. He stared at her trembling
Answering reached out to toy with her curls that were spread wildly amongst the pillows. Annoyed at his silence, Hermione snatched the hair away. "Well?" Draco smirked slightly, but replied, "I don't know. But all of the males I have met are of the transforming breed. Perhaps others exist, but it is unlikely." Eyes bright, Hermione asked eagerly. "Males?" "All Dragons are male." "Really?" "Yes. Which is why we capture maidens to breed strong Dragon sons for us." Hermione flushed and turned away from his heated stare to look at the lacy canopy instead. Just ask him, Hermione. Don't be such a coward! "If I'm your, erhm..." Hermione felt her skin flame, and was sure her blush extended all the way to her toes by now. Gathering her courage, she continued, "If I'm your mate, like your father says, why haven't you been more... um
