The Dragon's Distrust by Eva Weston Read Free Book Online Page A

speak to him, but it
would be a one-sided conversation so she merely smiled and
continued stroking his long neck. Her fingers flowed over him just
as water would flow over her hand. It was an odd sensation to pet
liquid but the gesture was heart-warming.
    She couldn’t contain her excitement, “I
was worried. I was scared I had lost you.”
    The dragon jerked his head back and
managed to raise a scaly eyebrow. Even in dragon form, Tania could
see his human gestures. She knew there was a man underneath all
that monster. She had always known Patryck was more than just a
dragon—he was a lost soul who needed to be loved.
    She giggled, “I was! I was horrified
that you would never…” she shrugged. She had never been schooled on
showing her emotions. She did not wish to embarrass him by
admitting out loud how much she loved him. In her opinion, men were
very complicated and with her past, she thought being loved meant
abusive behavior, not tender kisses. She was in a new world of
emotions that she didn’t understand. One day she would, but for
now, she was confused—always confused.
    The Water Dragon slithered around her
and splashed along her back. Tania shivered. He was cold and she
was dripping wet. His liquid claw wrapped delicately around her
legs and he pulled her closer, so close that her hair was now
soaked. She shook her head and brushed the drenched hair out from
her face.
    “Has anyone ever told you how difficult
it is to cuddle with water?”
    A low gurgle escaped his throat which
sounded very much like a chuckle. The dragon laid his snout down
beside her and closed his eyes once again. Tania continued petting
his head until his breathing became rhythmic and smooth.
    He was a beautiful dragon. As she was
gazing at the sleeping dragon, Aristo sat down in front of her,
careful to avoid touching any part of Patryck. He was looking much
better considering the amount of torture he had recently suffered.
The swelling of his nose had lessened, his jaw was much less
crooked, and of course, the blood that had been caked into his
wounds had finally crumbled away. He looked much less the vagabond
and more like the dashing rogue she had first seen in her father’s
dungeon a little over a week ago. Even then, he had been badly
bruised. She had never seen him fully healed.
    Tania reached out for him and he took
her small hand in his large hand. He placed a kiss on her palm and
closed his eyes. She could feel his pain. He wasn’t in physical
pain, he was emotionally hurt, “I am sorry,” was all she could say.
They had already spoken about her betrayal, about the duty of being
a Dragon Mother. She had hurt Aristo and she did not know how to
remove that hurt.
    “No,” he said, “I am sorry. I know this
has to happen. I just didn’t want to share you so soon. I want you
to be all mine. I know I’m being selfish, but I don’t want to see
you love anyone else. You’re mine…”
    “You know I am.”
    “I do,” he sighed, “I just want to be
angry for a little while. I know one of these days or nights you
will choose him over me and I will have to accept it. I just don’t
want to.” He faked a smile then leaned in close, “Follow
me.”
    Aristo was nearly out of the wrecked
clearing before Tania found her footing. She tiptoed around Patryck
and quietly snuck toward the thick underbrush. Aristo had managed
to crawl through easily but Tania was having a difficult enough
time following. Where was he taking her? After their conversation,
she was slightly nervous but she trusted Aristo so she dragged her
body through the thorns and jagged branches.
    She stumbled over a felled log and fell
face first into a small brook. She was about to get up when
something heavy pressed her back down. Aristo’s smooth, hot voice
lingered on her neck, “Stay down, lover, there are some things I
have been itching to do to you. You are mine, now and forever. And
I will make sure you know that. I will make sure you always scream
my