Few had ever been kind. Only a small handful of her brothers—Falcyn, Max, Illarion, Hadyn, and Gadryn.
In fact, it’d been her own brother, the bastard Malstrom, who’d sold her to the Atlantean war god, Misos, to serve here in his realm. The last thing she’d ever wanted was to be enslaved as an eternal guardian for the sacred Haxyn where she wasn’t allowed to see anyone or do anything other than rot in absolute loneliness.
She hated this dark, dank realm of eternal night. While dragons were supposed to be solitary, she wasn’t quite the same as others of her ilk. Most females weren’t. They were more social than the males of her species. And she more so than even the average female drakos.
To be enslaved here without family or friend made this more of a hell realm than it already was. Damn the Atlanteans for their cruelty.
The Charonte were the only visitors she ever had, and they came rarely. Maybe once every century.
Urian had been the first “human” she’d seen since …
She couldn’t remember. That was how long it’d been. And she couldn’t remember a more fair, handsome one.
Like her, he appeared young. Though she wasn’t really sure how Apollites aged. He could be older than dirt, for all she knew. Like some of the gods who appeared as children, even though they were thousands of years old.
It was why she preferred to live her days as a dragon. In that form, no one knew she was just a girl. Plus, as a dragon, she was a lot stronger, which was much safer for her as she was less likely to get eaten by something larger or meaner.
Her brother Veles had drilled that into her with iron spikes. Whatever you do, Xyn, remain a drakoma! They can’t harm you easily. Stay strong. Above all, stay alive!
’Course, Veles hated his human form. Just as he hated all humans.
And everyone else, too. Especially the gods who’d cursed them and their mothers.
Normally, Xyn agreed with her brother. She didn’t care for others herself. They were too quick to betray. Quicker still to strike the first blow, and she had no time for that.
But Urian had been a nice, brief distraction from her boredom and loneliness. Seldom did anyone or anything venture here. Not even a cockroach.
Sighing, she shifted back to her alternate body before the goddess happened to spy upon her and catch her away from her post. That would never do.
Apollymi was a terrible mistress. Demanding and fierce. Ever harsh whenever she felt someone was slacking. And in particular she seemed to hold a grudge against Xyn.
Yet this time, Xyn had something more to do than count the pebbles lining the ground around the base of her tree. She had a handsome, fair-haired boy to think about.
One with vivid blue eyes and a beautiful smile.
March 21, 9522 BC
“Don’t eat the boy! While tasty, he won’t be worth the indigestion. And he’s probably gamey-tasting, too.”
Xyn had to force herself not to laugh at Urian’s bold and outrageous declaration in the still darkness. She’d sensed him the instant he’d returned to her grove. There was no mistaking that unique scent of leather and male. It had filled her nostrils the moment he came near her lair.
That was the beauty of her kind. Nothing and no one could hide from them. And it was also their curse given the propensity of many humans to avoid a regular bathing routine.
However, this particular male smelled delectable. He made her want to nuzzle him … which would probably terrify him if he knew that.
Just as it did her. So instead, she wrinkled her nose and headed through the thick copse of trees to see what it was he wanted with her.
Xyn froze as soon as she caught sight of him in the small clearing, holding what appeared to be a rather large crystal. Had he stolen it?
What did you do?
Setting it down, he shrugged. “Do you know how hard it is to find a gift for a dragon?”
No. We’re quite easy. We eat anything smaller than us. That tends to leave a lot.
Her flippant comment made him nervous. “Oh … well.” He cleared his throat as he gestured toward the crystal. “Um, I didn’t go there with my shopping. In my experience, parents tend to get a little cranky if you try to steal their children and use them as sweetmeats for dragons.” Scratching at his neck, he hastened to the large crystal near him. “But I asked around and the elders all said that dragons like shiny things, so I found you this.”
He struggled to carry it closer to her.
Xyn smiled. It’s lovely. Thank you!
“You’re welcome. It was the least I could do since you saved my solren.”
Warmth spread through her at his thoughtfulness. It was remarkably kind. And even more rare. It was my pleasure … for once.
He paused in his struggle to grimace at her. “What do you mean?”
Just that I normally don’t care for the people I help. Yet for you, I’m glad I was able to do something.
“Ah.” There was a peculiar note in his voice. “So I was right. You are lonely here, aren’t you?”
She wanted to deny it. But what was the use? The truth was apparent to even the most dense. And it wasn’t like she had so many to speak to about it, anyway.
Aye. Terribly.
Urian leaned against his gift and sighed in the most adorable fashion. Perhaps it was her loneliness speaking, but she found him absolutely enchanting. And gorgeous.
Worse was the peculiar desire she had to be human around him. To take his hand and stand uncommonly close. She’d never had such a desire before. But she wanted him to look at her the way the men looked at the women they hungered for.
That was something that could be deadly to them both, as the goddess would never allow her to fraternize with anyone.
“Can I tell you a secret?”
Xyn forced her thoughts to return to a more reasonable, and much safer topic. Sure.
Glancing around as if afraid someone might hear him, Urian stepped closer to speak in a soft whisper. “I’m lonely, too. A lot.” He pressed his lips together. “Do you think it might be okay if I come and visit you sometimes so that we can be lonely together?”
She bit back a laugh at his words. He was so unbelievably charming and hilarious. And though she should send him on his way, she couldn’t quite bear the thought of not seeing him again.
So she made a very bad decision that she prayed she wouldn’t one day regret. We’d have to be careful not to get caught. The goddess would be terribly upset if she learned I was allowing someone near her tree, or her waters.
“What do you suggest, then?”
Xyn hesitated. This was a bad idea. She knew it with every part of her being. And yet she couldn’t stop herself. Was it honestly that bad that she wanted a friend?
Didn’t she deserve to have someone? Anyone?
Before she could stop herself, she spoke words she prayed wouldn’t come back to harm either of them. You can come on áreos when the goddess is in mourning for her son. No one disturbs her during that time, and she never ventures out. All is silent in the land.
Neither of them should ever get caught then. It was the one day of the week when Apollymi kept to her schedule and held it sacred. Nobody dared to disturb her on that holy day.
Urian nodded. “Hesperus Hour.” Like the day, that hour was the most sacred time when the goddess would tolerate no interruption on pain of death.
Not even Stryker would dare to encroach on it.
We can visit then and none will be the wiser.
Urian’s smile lightened her mood instantly. “I’ll see you then, my dragon.”
Happier than she had a right to be, and to a level that actually scared her, she didn’t speak as she watched him run away.
I’ll see you, my friend.
But in her heart, she had a terrified feeling that this wasn’t going to end well for either of them.
June 19, 9516 BC
“She’ll be a beautiful bride.”