She crouched, hands over her head, and wailed, “Don’t eat me.”
“As if I’d ruin my palate and digestion. Humans are the least tasty of creatures.”
A peek through her fingers showed the dragon had disappeared. In its place stood Azrael, wearing his clothes, looking as grim as ever.
“How did you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Go from giant sized to man, and wearing clean clothes. Do you carry a suitcase around with you?”
“You’re babbling again.”
“Can you blame me? You’re a dragon,” was her vehement exclamation.
“You noticed?”
The sarcasm helped with her fear, and she stood. “Kind of hard to miss.”
“My understanding was humans knew about dragons.”
“We do, but the news never said dragons were people. Just that they existed. How is it possible? I mean, the mathematics of it. You were huge. And now you’re…” She waved a hand.
“If you say small, I might revise my stance and eat you.”
Given the quiver between her legs, she almost said please do, but she highly doubted he meant the favorable kind of eating. Why, look at him with his flaring nostrils and glare. He looked quite angry.
And sexy.
She pressed her legs tight. “I’m just surprised is all. I mean I heard the stories about dragons being seen, but none of those reports ever said you can also go around like regular-looking humans.”
“Hardly human.” He sneered.
“Or polite,” was her rejoinder.
“You are hardly one to speak of manners. In my day, there was respect for your betters.”
“In your day, did women get to vote?”
“Vote for what?”
She rubbed her head. “Forget it. Where are we?”
“Somewhere.”
She sighed. “And why are we somewhere?”
“I am looking for something.”
“Your vagueness is really helping,” she snapped.
He frowned at her. “Your disrespect is grating.”
“Did you expect me to bow and scrape?” She arched a brow. “You might be a dragon, but you’re also being a jerk. You’ve tossed my life upside down, scared the hell out of me, and refuse to answer any questions. You’re lucky I’m still talking to you.”
“Feel free to stop. Anytime.”
She glared.
He didn’t seem impressed. But he did mutter, “About time you quieted.” Then he had the nerve to snap his fingers. “Follow me.”
She didn’t budge and crossed her arms.
It took him only a few paces before he noticed. “I said, follow me.”
“I’m not a dog to jump when you command.”
“Then stay here.”
He turned to leave, and it occurred to her that being alone might be worse. She went to follow and winced as the rock underfoot dug into her soles.
“What is wrong now?” he exclaimed.
“Don’t get snippy with me. I have no shoes, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
He eyed her feet then narrowed his gaze on her. “Are you asking me to carry you?”
“No. I want some shoes.”
“I cannot conjure shoes. My magic doesn’t work that way.”
“No, it’s only good for being an invisible bully and forcing people to obey you.”
“The powerful rule the weak.”
“Maybe where you come from. Here, the strong are supposed to care for them.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s the nice thing to do.”
He stared at her. Didn’t reply, but he did glance at her feet then the path down the hill. “Give me your feet.”
She blinked. “I think I’ll keep them.”
“Do you want protection for them or not?”
“You already said you can’t make me shoes.”
“I can’t. But I can shield your flesh to make walking painless.”
The offer intrigued, so she lifted a foot in his direction.
“Lift it higher.”
She arched a brow. “That’s not happening. I’m not that athletically inclined. You want my foot”—she wiggled it—“then get on your knees to work with it.” It was bold of her, and yet he slowly crouched.
His hard glance was softened by a wry smile. “Congratulations. This is the first time I’ve knelt for someone. Don’t get used to it.” He gripped her foot.
Only when it began to warm, did she think to ask, “Will this hurt?”
“Horribly,” was his reply.
She would have yanked her foot from his grasp, but he kept his grip firm, and as the heat intensified, it tickled. Enough that she laughed. “Stop it.”
“See how this feels.” He released her foot, and she set it down quickly.
Then rocked on it. “I can’t feel the ground,” she remarked.
“You’re welcome.” He held out his hand for the other one, and she let him grab it, hoping he didn’t notice the shiver. Another warm tickle and it was done.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Can we go now?”
“Lead the way, oh mighty dragon.”
He uttered a derisive snort as he set off at a hard pace. She did her best to follow, but she wasn’t a mountain goat. While her air cushion shoes didn’t really slip, she couldn’t say the same for her balance. She wobbled quite a bit and eventually took to sitting on her ass to go down the steep incline. Azrael strode as if gravity didn’t concern him.
When a dislodged rock bounced past, he finally turned and frowned. “What is the problem?”
“I’m not keen on falling, and apparently you’re not into offering a helping hand,” she grumbled.
“Never occurred to me you’d need help walking.” His sarcasm didn’t improve her mood.
“I’ve had enough with your insults.” She dug her feet in.
“It wasn’t an insult but a statement of fact. Why must you be so contrary?”
“Why can’t you be nice?”
“I haven’t killed you. That is nice for me.”
“Are those the only choices in your world, kill or not?”
“When you think you’ll live forever, death does become an obsession,” was his cryptic response.
“It would help if you’d at least explain why you’re dragging me along with you.”
“I don’t understand this world.”
“Or women,” she muttered.
He glared.
She smiled because she knew it would annoy him.
“Nothing is as it should be. Which is where I thought you might be helpful, in helping me to understand the vagaries I’m facing.”
“You want me to be your guide to the world?”
“In a sense.”
“How do you not know anything? Have you been sleeping or something?”
“Or something,” was his vague reply.
“For how long?”
“Three thousand years.”
Holy crap. She blinked at the number. “No way. You’re lying.”
“Why would I lie?” Uttered with a terseness that turned into exasperation. “Had I known I’d be locked away for such a long period of time, I might have refused. Especially since dragons appear not to have inherited the Earth.”