Coral

He is Drasus, but he is not Drasus. I can see some of him is still present. The desire to protect, the growling and snarling are, but he is not the same Sarkarnii.

He is like Drasus but with added unhinged-ness. Ready for anything, provided that thing is mating or fighting. I've gone from grumpy to scrappy puppy.

I have to accept that without any memory, he will be different, even if he still kisses like he's trying to draw out my soul. (And he certainly makes my insides go gooey enough). Regardless of what he can do, especially if it leaves him covered in something which smells so disgusting, as we can't go back, we have to go forward. We have to find somewhere I can take a good look at him.

And get him cleaned up.

We'd already been walking all day at the point we stopped, and I'd already had enough. Not only does all of me ache, but my foot is also very unhappy. I want to stop, but until we find somewhere safer, we can't. Added to the issue of Drasus' memory loss, we can't go back the way we came to get any help, and with the map cube smashed, not that I could have understood it, we could be walking to the other side of the Kirakos for all I know.

Anxiety grips me, and I can't give in to it. I can't.

What if we never make it back? What if Drasus never remembers? What if they leave without us?

"Sweet jewel," a smoky voice rumbles directly behind me. "I have disposed of the creature, so you should not be afraid."

"I'm not afraid," I say through gritted teeth. "I want to find a place for you to rest. And these tunnels are…I don't like them."

A deep chuckle comes from Drasus. "I am here for you, beautiful. You have no need to fear."

I spin around to face him, wincing at the pain in my foot.

"You're hurt, we're lost, I'm tired, and my foot is sore. Fear doesn't come into it."

Drasus is still streaked with…whatever he encountered, although a lot of it has presumably slipped off. He is naked, as far as Sarkarnii are ever naked, given they have a pocket for their dangly bits. His scales, where they are clear of goo, sparkle in the glowing light, the little neons zapping underneath them, lighting him up like a Christmas tree.

His eyes glitter softly too.

"I am not injured," he says, and his hand takes mine.

It's gentle and warm. Huge too. I'm transported back to the kiss where he tried to take my soul from my body and I withdrew because…

I don't know why I withdrew. Drasus is, admittedly, dirty, but he is as handsome as he ever was. I can't deny I'm attracted to him. Here, in the dark, with everything else closing in on me, why am I denying him? The male who, remembering nothing, still wants me.

"If this is hurt, then I want to stay hurt, if it means being with you," Drasus says, pulling me against his body. "And if you're tired and sore, let me carry you. It is the least I can do for my mate."

I want to give in, so very much. I want to let him hold me and do all the things to me, but I know it's exhaustion which is driving, or not driving, my thought processes.

Drasus lifts his head and scents the air. I freeze, knowing what that gesture meant last time for whatever was in the passage.

"I can smell water," he says. His brow draws over his eyes. "Where there is water, there is rest," he adds, as if repeating something he heard once. "I will take you." He grins at me, fangs flashing white in the dark.

Big fangs. All the better to eat you with.

My head is done. All of me is done. I allow Drasus to pick me up, holding me against a less than fragrant set of scales. We move easily through the tunnel until finally we come out into an open space. The cool air hits me, shaking me awake.

"Where are we?" I ask.

"We're safe, beautiful. It's time for you to sleep properly," Drasus says.

I blink at our surroundings. Here there are bioluminescent plants which cover the walls, the floor, and the ceiling like stars. Glows in so many different hues, from blues to pinks, from greens to reds.

"It's magical," I whisper.

"Magical?" Drasus queries.

I don't know how to explain magic to a species who somehow transform themselves into dragons and especially to one who has lost his memory.

"Amazing," I say instead.

Drasus scents the air again and walks on through the mounds of moss like structures, all brightness and earthy scents, until we reach another damn passageway.

"Do we have to?" I groan. "Can't we stay here for a while?"

Because my instincts were so good at the last place.

"Not much farther," Drasus says, with an even bigger grin than last time, and we duck into the dark.

My glow stick means I can still see where we're going, but as Drasus walks, my eyelids droop, and I'm unable to stay awake.

"For you, my beautiful jewel," Drasus rumbles and I tear my eyes open.

We're in a cave, which is not much of a surprise, but it is lit with multiple glowing plants. To one side is a bed of what appears to be furs. He sets me down on my feet, and I wobble pathetically.

"Whose is this place?" I ask.

"It's mine now," Drasus replies, fangs very evident. "And yours."

I want to argue, but I'm not sure I can.

"Sleep, my sweet. I will stand guard," he says.

"You need to sleep too," I reply, sitting down heavily on the bed, which turns out to be furs after all.

Drasus' face lights up.

"Sleep, that's all," I say.

"I can sleep too, mate," he says enthusiastically. "I'm very good at sleeping."

This is going to be a long night.