Sacrificed to the Dragon: Part Two by Jessie Donovan Read Free Book Online

also get pregnant and have babies, how about asking me something related to human ways?”
    One of the boys shouted, “I heard that humans like to collect dragon teeth and talons and wear them around their necks. Is that true?”
    “Hundreds of years ago, yes, it was. However, since then, things have changed. These days, there is a type of truce between most humans and dragon-shifters.”
    The boy looked unconvinced. “Then why do some humans hunt us?”
    Tristan was keen to hear her answer. Melanie took a second, and then said, “Because just like with dragon-shifters, some humans will always be jerks and will ignore the rules.”
    “Are you one of the jerks?”
    Melanie smiled. “No, I don’t think so. I’ve actually studied dragon-shifters for years. Someday, I want to write a book and help get rid of the nasty rumors.”
    That piqued Tristan’s curiosity. Was the female being sincere or just saying what the children wanted to hear?
    One of the other boys said, “Which rumors? Like, do all humans think we’re strong and fierce monsters? Or I’ve also heard they think we steal their belongings in the middle of the night. And there’s the one about us breathing fire. Or...”
    As the boy rattled off all the old stories and rumors about their kind, Tristan watched as Melanie calmly answered and dispelled most of them. Considering how tight-lipped the dragons were, she knew an astounding amount about them. He wasn’t sure if that made him more or less suspicious of her.
    But by the time the lunch cart was being rolled toward the students, it was clear that she’d won over his pupils by being honest and open. She never dismissed them as too young to understand or said their questions were silly or daft.
    Tristan started to wonder if Bram’s words were true and that his mistrust of her was unfounded.
    But he would talk with her in private before making any final decisions on what to do with her.
    He raised a hand in greeting at the middle-aged dragonwoman rolling the lunch cart toward them. The scent of warm roast beef hit his nose and his stomach growled. While dragon-shifters weren’t carnivores, their beasts always loved the smell and taste of meat.
    He turned to dismiss the students for lunch when he saw Melanie holding a hand to her mouth and looking rather pale. He glanced around, but he didn’t see any threats. He moved to her side. “What’s wrong? Are you ill?”
    She nodded and dashed for the far side of the clearing, leaned over, and dry heaved. He asked the lunch attendant to keep an eye on his students and he went to Melanie’s side. Without thinking, he rubbed her back as she lost what must’ve been her breakfast.
     
    ~~~
     
    As soon as the smell of roasted meat had hit her nose, Mel’s stomach had started churning right before the nausea hit her. Apparently, her early morning sickness had decided to rear its ugly head in front of Tristan of all people.
    To avoid embarrassing herself by getting sick all over him, she rushed away from Tristan and the children to a spot near the wall of rock. She dry-heaved for about thirty seconds before her breakfast finally came up, burning her throat. At some point, a warm hand caressed her back, and the reassuring, warm touch made her feel a little better.
    When she had nothing left to vomit, she stood up and a blue reusable water bottle was thrust in front of her face. Tristan said, “Here. Take it.”
    Wanting to get rid of the awful taste in her mouth, she took it without a word, rinsed out her mouth, and spit out the water. After a few sips of water, she started to feel somewhat normal again.
    And to think, she had months of this to look forward to. At least she had Samira and Liam to help her through the worst of it.
    After one more inhale and exhale, she looked up to thank Tristan for the water, but her words died in her throat at the fierce look in his eyes. The look kicked her temper into gear, and before she could stop herself, she said, “What