CHAPTER NINETEEN

The Ancress

Vek thought never to have Donnova on his back, riding him through the clouds. He had expected never to see her again, but he'd always hoped he would. He'd even thought of venturing out to look for her . . . just to see how she fared. She was a part of his clan, after all. When they knew each other before � seven years ago, if he wasn't mistaken � he was considered too young still to give a human a ride. But the years had changed him; he was mature now. And now, she'd finally come back to him.

He exulted over the weight of her on top of him as he pumped his wings and climbed higher in the sky. Courtesy had called for him to recommend a saddle for the trip, but he was secretly pleased that she had insisted on riding him bareback. He loved the feel of her thighs pressed so securely against him. He couldn't help but smile. He wanted to laugh aloud.

Too soon, they landed gently on the flat expanse before the sloping entrance of the mountain abode. Donnova slid from his back and checked the view.

Wind threw her long ebon hair in her lovely face, and she smoothed it back in place. "It's breathtaking! You can see the whole city from up here." She looked up, reached, and ran her hand through the bottom of a passing cloud. She took a step to keep up with it.

"Not too near the edge, love. Wind gusts can send you right over." Vek sat beside her, anchoring himself with his talons, and put an arm around her. Donnova leaned against him, and they were silent a moment.

Vek took the opportunity to discreetly fill his nostrils with her scent, taking the breath slow and deep. He remembered the first time he'd ever caught her scent. It had been his awakening to the other sex. For that awakening to have happened with a human female. . . . Well, growing up had been rather interesting, to say the least. He didn't know a single other of his kind who had allowed such a thing to happen to himself. Surely he wasn't alone in this, but he certainly seemed to be. And so, he'd never told another living soul.

He breathed her in again. There was only one thing missing � one thing that would make the fragrance even sweeter: a lust for him to match his for her. Oh, she had love for him, but its aroma was more like that a sister would have for a brother.

He suddenly realized the hand he had around her was caressing her! He moved it away and covered with conversation.

"I come up here sometimes and sit just where we are now, looking at the city below and wondering what the Ancress would think of us now � living together in harmony, laughing together, helping one another . . . loving each other." He couldn't believe he'd allowed himself to just say that. He swallowed hard and continued, "Draakhaven is unique in all the Realm." But then he couldn't think of anything more to say.

"Mmm. If only she could see us now . . . up here, together. . . . This was what she lived for," she said, spreading her arms to gesture to the city below, "to bring man and dragon together in friendship."

What about dragon and woman together in� He winced as he cursed himself for having such thoughts in this venerable place. "Yes," he agreed. The scent of her was getting to him.

"If only her message had spread throughout the Realm."

"Perhaps, one day. . . ." But he couldn't finish his double-edged thought in the current vein of the conversation. Best to shift the subject.

"Come." He rose and beckoned her, backed from the edge and turned around. At the cave's opening, he reached inside and took a mounted torch from an inner wall. He held one nostril shut and lit it from the other, shielding it from the wind with a wing. He passed it to Donnova, who was hesitant to take it.

"I'm not sure I understand, Vek."

"You will go inside, of course?"

Her look of amazement made him smile. How he wished he could take her by the hand and lead her within himself.

"I don't�"

"Go on," he urged. "It's perfectly all right. The Ancress was known for her hospitality. She never turned anyone away. I've been inside myself, when I was smaller. All the young ones go in for a good look around before we get too large to fit, and of course humans enter all the time. You must see our history in her painted murals on the walls. Magic paint, they say." He raised his eyebrows for effect.

"Magic paint?" she asked, raising an eyebrow of her own.

Vek nodded, enjoying the look on her face. She looked to the inside of the cave and then back to Vek. She removed her sword from its scabbard and passed it to him.

He took it casually enough, knowing she wouldn't care for him to make a show of it, but he felt like he was being presented with a holy relic. Naturally, he knew from whence it came. His rookery siblings had shown him a little more respect when they learned he was close friends with one who carried a Weapon of Power from The Dragons' Graveyard. Her celebrity for that, and for being a hand-picked Championness of the Realm by the Dungeon Master himself � brought from another world, even � had rubbed off a bit onto him. For a while, at least.

"I wish you could come in with me."

"So do I," he said, looking down, but then he put on a cheerier face. "But do take your time. I shall be here."

She smiled and nodded at him, and then went in. As soon as she was out of sight, he backed away and slumped along the rocky outer wall. Finally. . . . He needed a moment to collect himself. He took a deep breath of the clean mountain air, and his head began to clear, if only a little.

He looked at the sword and remembered the first time he'd held it. She had let him hold it years ago. He'd never felt so special. It was a moment he would cherish forever. He had seen her use the famous sword, too. She was amazing.

The memory took him back to that time. He hadn't wanted his new friend to go away. He'd never been so impressed with a human before. But then, she wasn't entirely human, and he supposed that was part of what appealed to him back then. She was so different. She didn't smell like the others, and she had that voice that could do things even his couldn't do � the story of which she had claimed to have never told any other but him. Everything about her had excited him and filled his young mind with wonder.

He also remembered, shamefully, how jealous he'd become when she'd speak to other young dragons. He hadn't wanted to share her with anyone. He didn't want to share her with anyone now.

And then a disturbing thought occurred to him. What if he'd involuntarily bonded with her? Dragons mate for life. What if he wouldn't be able to mate with a dragoness now? But that was ridiculous . . . right? Just because he hadn't yet successfully attracted the attention of one of his own kind didn't mean . . . did it? No, of course not. He was still too young to worry about such a thing.

An image of little Helen flashed in his mind and he sighed. "I really am a silly dragon, aren't I?" He regarded the sword in one hand and planted his chin in the other as smoke wafted up from his nose.