Chapter Four:
The Void of Anger
James grunted and snarled. It was the third time he had tried to change out of his dragon form and it was the third time he had been bitten on the back of his neck by his new stalker and rapist. Oddly enough, despite everything, James did not feel threatened by the dragon’s actions and was more annoyed than scared.
Regardless he could feel the dragon’s power. He could feel how much he had to hold back in order to not hurt his ‘female.’ He could feel it in the weight of his paw between James’ shoulders. It was something none of the other dragons had achieved. However James found himself unable to ask any questions when the dragon viciously denied his transformations every time, and for seemingly no reason.
When James walked away the other did not stop him, and instead followed behind in silence and only made himself apparent when he stopped the other from changing.
They had been slowly making their way through the forest. James was apprehensive of returning to the house, ashamed of himself and fearful that Roume might hurt himself going after the larger dragon. He had hoped to speak to the other about it first-hand, however that became less and less likely as time went on.
Annoyance finally won over. James lashed out with his deadly tail, intent to harm the other even if it meant he would get hurt himself! The dragon however reached out with a large paw and easily deflected the tail with a smooth movement, rerouting the attack into the ground before he gave a purring sound and pounced on James, knocking him down with a heavy grunt.
The larger dragon began to lick and nuzzle at the sweetly sensitive spot behind his jaw once more and James just sat there dumbfounded. Did the bastard think they were playing? He growled again, louder this time to show the dragon he was really annoyed, however his growl tapered off helplessly as the tongue returned to its licking behind his jaw, followed with a light nip that made him jump.
He snarled and struggled, however the larger dragon seemed to have no desire to care. James was getting frustrated and deeply annoyed, he thrashed again and kicked at the black dragon before yanking away. He took off through the trees at a jog, keeping his head low to avoid hitting any branches. He heard the other following him.
James decided that he would have to swallow his shame and return home, because the only one who might be able to make the dragon leave him be was Roume.
When he emerged from the trees many minutes later he turned to see if the larger dragon was following him. He scented the air, but found his sense of smell still only able to pick up on the thick sex that still clung to him. It was disgusting, he should have bathed first.
He looked to the house and saw movement from one of the windows, then a moment later the back door slid open and Dante came running out, with Roume making his way towards them at a much slower pace. James straightened, looked around, then began to shift…
There was a whoosh and suddenly the black dragon was on his back, teeth biting into James’ neck to prevent him from changing. With a dominant growl James let out a whine and lowered himself, looking to Roume helplessly.
Dante looked panicked, fidgeting and running between James and Roume. Finally the man grabbed the smaller, “Stop your panicking. James tried to transform.” He watched the two before him before the dragon slowly got off and James shoved at him, pushing them away from one another. Roume looked up to James, “You can’t change back for a few days.” He said, “If you try, you’ll kill yourself.”
James let out a snort. It possibly explained a few things, however he wondered why the man did not explain any more. Instead he looked to the black dragon and sighed, “Obane…” He grunted and walked towards the beast, “I take it Rian sent you?”
The dragon nodded slowly, then his figure began to shrink down. James watched a humanoid figure take shape, however unlike he and the others, this ‘man’ was far from human in appearance. His hair was wild, with two long onyx black horns curling out and back from the crown of his skull, black scales littered his agile body and his toes and nails were tipped with black claws. The man turned his head and ferocious golden eyes turned on James, allowing him to see the scales that molded around the shape of his eye and trailed off down either side of his face.
He returned his attention to Roume and when he opened his mouth a very pronounced Italian accent poured from his lips like soft water, “He informed me of my mate’s presence, and informed me that he was under your…watchful eye…”
James caught the sharp edge to his last words.
“The boy ran off without a word to anyone. I’m not psychic.” Roume folded his arms. His muscles were bunched up and the man was obviously wildly uncomfortable to be in the presence of this man.
Obane quirked a scaly brow, “Boy?” He asked smoothly, then let his golden gaze fall back onto James who felt frozen in his spot.
“Maybe you should have done your research Obane. Outside of those scales he’s a man.”
He snorted, “I care not what she is beyond those scales. These forms are simply…masks at best. I will keep her healthy and happy, that is where my care lies.”
James lifted his head and growled. Theoretically he could crush or eat Obane while he was vulnerable like that… He considered it…
“Happy? James grew up a human, a male human. What you did constitutes as rape. He’s not going to be happy, I can promise you that.”
Obane stepped forward, and while Roume held his ground he pushed Dante out of the way and James saw every muscle in his body tighten and prepare to flee. “Rape you say? He is your kin, Roume… Do you plan to show me the error of my ways? Will you stand between us, or will you cower in your trees like you did earlier?” There was a smug smirk on the dragon’s lips as he watched Roume’s face turn stunned.
Roume struggled with himself for many long minutes before he looked to Dante, then glanced back at the house. He sighed, “I’m not one for suicide Bane. But I’m warning you, you won’t keep him happy after what you did.”
“She was quite receptive to me last night.” He mused. Attention once more returned to James and he turned, slowly striding over. James backed away and growled low. “You are shrouded in mystery though… The first female dragon born in over two thousand years. I did not believe it until I scented you. Tell me, how did you come about? A stray egg that never hatched?”
James looked over to Roume for he could say nothing in this form. The man sighed, “Yeah,” he said in a smooth lie, “One of Rian’s old clutch. He clung to the unhatched eggs after his old mate died.”
There was skepticism in Obane’s eyes but he seemed to ignore it for now, “Fascinating. All of our people owe his loyalty a deep debt of gratitude.” He stopped finally and James backed up a few extra steps, “Do you fear me,
mio prezioso?”
James lifted his head and snorted, then growled.
“I will banish those fears. But you must realize…the thought of another male having you angered me so much. With my scent now entwined with yours, no male would be stupid enough to attempt to lay claim to you. You will have peace.”
James snarled loudly. He tried to transform but Bane was upon him swiftly, his claws grabbing the back of James’ neck and holding with a power that rivaled his jaws. He was once more denied his transformation, “M
io prezioso, you must not try and change shape. My essence is locked inside of you, too much for your human body to handle. Until your body absorbs it properly, you must not change.”
James looked to Roume with a pleading look, but the man only sighed, “He’s right unfortunately. Once he put his seed in you, he plugged you. That plug has nutrients in it to help encourage pregnancy and it’ll give you strength as well… It was meant to fight off any other males who might try to lay claim. Until your body absorbs it, you’re stuck like that. Probably about two days at least.”
He would be stuck like this for two days?! He shook his head and neck angrily to try and throw the man off of him, but he was infuriated to watch him roll onto his feet a moment later. James snorted and growled, he felt once more as if he were reaching the end of his rope.
His claws sank into the ground and he growled again. Roume was going to do nothing, he was going to stand there like a bastard. His throat felt hot…burning like his belly after what that monster did to him. James’ eyes were focused solely on Obane, and he watched the man’s expression slowly change…
A roar filled the air and everyone jumped back and away from him. Obane’s form changed swiftly as he fled from James’ sudden charge.
James’ body felt as if it were on fire. All he understood was rage and discontentment, shame and fury. He lunged suddenly and his claws latched into Obane’s flank, digging in and wrenching him back. The black dragon swung his head around to watch as the smaller crawled on top of him and jumped for his throat, his teeth barely missing the soft underbelly only to get a mouthful of scales and spikes. James did not care as he tore, raked and bit at whatever he could reach.
He was aware of yelling, roaring. Roume had changed form and was attempting to pry James from Obane’s back, but James whirled around and to his surprise the furious, raging heat that had been building erupted in a glorious plume of fire that sent his uncle flying back. He struck the ground with force and James took another breath, but Obane shifted and bucked, throwing James from his back at last.
He hit the ground and rolled, giving the black dragon no time. Obane tried to grab for the back of James’ neck as he had done several times before, but in a flash of foresight James ducked and turned his head, his jaws catching around Obane’s throat this time. He felt burning blood trickling down his jaws from where his teeth had sunk into the soft, unscaled flesh.
He felt his fire. James could kill his rapist with ease, and just the thought of doing so made his jaw clench just a bit tighter around the dark dragon’s throat.
It occurred to James that Obane had not fought back, assumedly because he was a female. He growled and thought about how he was not a murderer. Very slowly his jaws parted and he pulled away, growling and glaring, still trembling with rage and adrenaline. Obane lowered his head and looked to James, and in a final burst of anger James lashed out and his claws struck the dragon’s face, tearing three neat little lines across the side of his face.
James looked over and saw Roume was back on his feet, with a small feathered white dragon hiding behind him. Evran had come running out as well, and stood nearby in his dragon form looking panicked. Behind him was a rather large gray dragon with one wing and scales that appeared to have been made of rocks and boulders. Dorn, he thought in a moment of clarity.
One other figure stood, half-hidden behind the junction of the house. He was tall and proud, with pale skin and violet hair. James just growled, then roared and turned, walking away from everyone. He glanced back in time to see Obane drop to the ground and shift uncomfortably. Blood dribbled down his scales and it made James proud to know that he had gotten some form of revenge.
He made his way to the other side of the house, where the others could no longer see him, and he threw himself to the ground. He was still angry, burning up with rage and malice. He reflected on how his trembling limbs ached for more, how
happy he had been in that moment and finally he noted how good the blood looked on his claws.
He leaned down and began to lick it off, a long forked tongue wrapping around each one. The blood tasted fantastic, almost identical to the scent that burned his nose.
“You know it’s about time someone showed him what’s-for.” A new voice distracted James from cleaning his claws, he looked over to catch sight of the man who had been half-hidden. He snorted softly in agreement and went back to his licking. “Roume told me you were rather impressive. I must say,” he chuckled softly, “I am impressed.”
James wrinkled his nose, unsure and unable to answer.
“I’m sorry, allow me to introduce myself. I am Ytal, a good friend of Roume’s.” So this had been the friend his Uncle spoke of. At least he was polite. “Roume was hoping to see you off to someone he knew and trusted… While he already knows Bane, I’m not sure he trusts him.”
And with good reason! James thought to himself with another dissatisfied grunt.
“Black dragons are known to be cocky, insensitive and cruel. Bane is certainly the embodiment of that. I suppose you should consider yourself lucky, your new mate is one of the strongest creatures alive. I believe the only Omega more powerful than Bane would be…possibly the Red Omega, Hal’dur or the World Dragon, Yar.” He paused, then gave a nervous chuckle, “I hope you don’t mind me talking for the two of us.”
James just grunted, lowering his head down to lay on the grass and try to calm down. He thought about the damage he had done, how it would never be enough to pay back all that the dragon had done to him. He should have killed the bastard when he had the chance. However he realized that the other was still talking.
“…have to. I know Roume wants to be the one to do it, but I’m sure Obane will get in the way of that.” He chuckled and sat back, “You have good instincts, I think. The way you fought for yourself back there.”
James absently wondered where that fight had been earlier…
“So, what do you say? Will you come flying with me after you learn?”
James let his jaw open some, then slowly nodded. This man was being kind to him…
“Wonderful.” He stood up and approached James, reaching out to lay a delicate hand on James’ snout. “And please don’t worry. Roume told me you’ve been having a hard time, I can’t imagine what you must be going through… But once you change back, I want you to talk to me alright?”
James would have smiled if he could, however he settled for a slight nod. Ytal patted his scales gently and turned, moving out of sight. The dragon lowered his head and closed his eyes. His heart was still racing and his mind still turning… His belly still felt hot and full, uncomfortable even.
Eventually however, sleep claimed him.
