Chapter 3
1280 Words
~Everett~
I couldn’t believe she kissed me. Her lips were soft and full. I wanted to kiss her forever. I wanted to explore her mouth with mine and kiss every inch of her skin. I felt my breath hitch in my chest and pulled her tighter to my body. I wanted our bodies to mold together as one; her mouth permanently pressed against mine for eternity. The slow burn of our lips grew hotter.
“Ah, young love,” came a gravelly voice from the darkness of the nearby alley. “How sweet it is?”
I felt Elle freeze against me; lips still on mine but her eyes were open and scared. I pulled away from her lips and peered into the darkness. Having dragon eyes, I could see into the depths of the black inky shadows and make out the crouching figure. I pushed Elle behind me as I turned towards the threat. Orange eyes glowed softly, and I felt Elle begin to shake.
“My my, you’ve grown Sir Everett,” the voice said and I stiffened my whole body. He knows my name. He laughed softly from the shadows. “It’s been quite some time since I’ve seen you, I’ll admit. But your father and I used to be good pals before he banished me.”
A growl ripped through my chest and I felt Elle cower against me. Artemis, he’s the only dragon who’s ever been banished from the Black Wing tribe. He was an old friend of my fathers who went haywire and left our tribe because he felt dragons should rule the world and enslave the human population and feast on them.
“Artemis?” I snarled at him. “What’s the meaning of this?”
“I’ve heard the Great Cowardly Dragons son found his mate. And something else about a prophecy?”
“You should watch what you say Artemis,” I warned him. “Not everyone knows what you’re talking about.”
This was not how I wanted to tell Elle about dragons. But Artemis was talking as if she would know what he’s saying. He doesn’t know she’s a human yet. I saw his orange eyes widened when he understood what I was saying, and he smiled. His teeth were green and yellow. The smell of rotten death flowed off him in waves. Eyes closed, He deeply inhaled, and they popped open with delight when he caught Elle’s scent.
“A human?” Artemis laughed and laughed hard. “Our whole existence is relying on a coward’s son and a human?”
“Everett?” Elle spoke up. She looks terrified and confused. “What’s he talking about?”
Artemis laughed even harder at that making her jump in surprise. I didn’t know what to say. I wasn’t ready to tell her but here we are.
“And she doesn’t even know?” He said to me. “She has no idea what you are does she?”
“Shut your mouth Artemis,” I snapped and turned my attention back to her. She was sending glares at Artemis but looking at me with concern and fear. “Elle, I’m so sorry you have to find out like this,” I whispered to her.
Her eyes froze on me for a second and confusion raged around. “What? Find out what?”
“Remember those legends I told you about, about the dragons?” She nodded. “They’re true. Every one of them. Dragons exist. I’m a dragon and you are my mate.”
Elle’s whole body locked down when I said this. She just stared. Her eyes finally flicked towards Artemis who smiled and waved at her then back to me. A solution popped in my head at that second and I knew I could get her away from him and now.
“Do you trust me?” I asked her quickly. I pulled her into my arms and hugged her close. Without hesitation, she nodded her head yes. “Good, close your eyes darling.”
I crushed her to my chest and angled my body to Artemis. I leaned forward and pushed my wings out through my back. It hurt like hell ripping through my clothes. The black leathery wings spanned about 10 feet from tip to tip. I stretched them and began to flap. As our bodies lifted from the ground, I heard Elle let out a scream. I held her closer to my chest and faced Artemis who was about to shift himself. Before he could I opened my mouth and breathed a jet of fire, engulfing his body and igniting his clothes. He screamed in pain and started to writhe on the ground. I took off into the sky, cradling Elle against my chest. She had her arms wrapped tight around me and I could feel her shaking and sobbing.
I spared a glance down to see her face staring at me. She was terrified then I saw her notice my wings beating behind me. She looked them over and tried to scream before losing consciousness.
“Elias!” I roared through our mind link. I knew he’d be awake and waiting for us. “Meet me at Elle’s house we need to get her out of here now!”
“What? What happened?”
“Artemis showed up and said something about the prophecy and meeting my mate. He talked about dragons in front of her. I had no choice but to tell her. Then I had to get us out of there. I’m flying to her house now. Grab the go bags. We are going home.”
“Oh, my Goddess you told her?” Elias said. “And now you’re flying - like with your wings?”
“Yes,” I said. “She passed out.”
“Where’s Artemis?”
“I lit that fucker up like a Roman candle. It’s gonna take him some time to heal and find us. We need to get her back home. She’s not safe here.”
“Geez Ev,” Elias said. “She’s going to freak out when she wakes up.”
“One thing at a time, get to her place and start packing her a bag. We will leave right from her place to the jet.”
“On it, be safe. See you soon.”
I ended the mind-link and shortly after, I arrived at Elle’s apartment. I saw Elias race into her building as I slowly descended to the ground. Elle was still passed out in my arms. I tucked my wings back in and rushed into the building. I found Elle’s apartment; the door kicked in. I closed the door and laid Elle down on her couch and sat nervously beside her. I could hear Elias in her bedroom muttering about messes and bags and stupid dragons.
After a few minutes, Elle’s eyes fluttered open and she looked around curiously. The fear was gone from her eyes and they landed on me. She smiled softly.
“Everett,” she said in barely a whisper. “I had the weirdest dream! We went out on a date…..and then…. then….you turned into a dragon?”
- Writer
