Chapter 4

Chapter Four

She was alive.

When Derek had caught a glimpse of her in the village, he couldn't believe his eyes. He wondered how he could get near her to talk when she followed him. It was easy enough to lead her out of the village and get her alone.

But now that he had her, now that she was close enough to confirm she was the same woman he had carried to the top of the mountain, he only had one question: What was she?

Magic was seen as something evil and malevolent by the majority of Zora . Anyone who possessed any kind of unnatural abilities was an outcast. Some were even killed. Whatever she was, she would likely keep it to herself. He hadn't been there to see her get up and walk away. There was no reason for her to willingly tell him anything. So , he didn't ask.

He stared at her. She held his gaze, unflinching. Who was this woman who'd warned him about the soldiers and then stood against five alone, only to die, come back, then follow him without hesitation?

Only someone who didn't fear anything did that. If she couldn't die, then she had nothing to be afraid of. He should know.

" All right," he said.

One delicate brow arched. " What ?"

" You can share my bed."

She slowly ran her gaze down his body. He grew instantly, painfully hard. But he was always hard. No matter how many women he took to his bed, no one filled the empty hole inside him. He got a moment's pleasure before needing more. Always more.

Hunger lit her eyes. The pulse at the base of her neck beat erratically. She swallowed, her tongue peeking out to lick her dusky lips. She hadn't followed him to be bedded, but she wasn't turning away from the offer either. He wanted her in his bed.

And he would have her there.

" Tempting ," she said, her voice husky with desire.

It was his turn to quirk a brow. " Is that no' why you trailed me?"

" Nay ."

" Then why?"

Her gaze briefly lowered to his chest. " I … I'm not sure."

He took a step toward her, and she retreated. Derek inwardly smiled. She might not fear him, but she sensed there was more to him—something leashed. Something primal. And she was right to back away.

Women begged for his touch, but if they knew him—the real him—they would run in terror. They would try to hunt him if they knew what he had done and would do again. It would end in their deaths as it always did, but humans never learned.

This woman had tried to help him. She hadn't known he didn't need it. He had wanted to return the kindness but had only watched her die. She was everything he wasn't. Everything he couldn't be. His future had been mapped long ago. There was no changing it.

And he wouldn't want to even if he could.

" Leave ," he said and turned to walk away.

She made to follow him. " Wait ."

Even though he knew better, Derek paused and swung his head to the side. He said nothing, just waited.

" It was me yesterday in the forest."

He faced her then. " I know."

" Did any other soldiers come?"

" A small contingent. I gathered they were searching for those chasing you."

She nodded absently. " I see."

" What did you do to incur their wrath?" He shouldn't ask, but the words were already out.

" They were tormenting a boy. I took offense."

" Against Stonemore soldiers?" he asked in shock.

She shrugged, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. " Someone has to stand up to them."

" And that someone is you?"

" No one else was."

When he stepped toward her this time, she held her ground. He closed the distance between them until only a foot separated them. He wanted to rip away her tunic and see if there were scars from her injuries or if she healed as he did—completely.

Instead , he stared into her eyes, noting the amber and gold mixed with the deep brown. His hand rose as if to run his fingers along her cheek again. He lowered his arm to his side.

" You presume a lot," he said.

She looked up at him, her eyes searching, prodding. He wondered what she saw. Did she see the emptiness, the vacuum that was his soul? Did she glimpse the beast? Could she sense the death that trailed in his wake?

" I do," she admitted with a shrug. " It's a flaw."

He found himself reaching for her again. Derek fisted his hand. " Get far away. Never return."

" I can't. Who are you?"

" Didn't the village tell you?"

She adjusted the bag that held her food. " They said you're called Derek ."

" What else did they tell you?"

" That everyone wants in your bed."

He let his eyes rake her body, from her full breasts and small waist he hadn't noticed yesterday to the flare of her hips and long legs. His gaze slowly traveled back up her body. " Not everyone."

" I'm not someone you want to know."

On the contrary, she was exactly who he wanted to know. He would brand himself on her body and touch every inch of her inside and out so he would always be there. No one would ever touch her as he had. No one would ever fulfill her as he did.

" Who are you?" he threw the question back at her.

" No one," she said softly. " Take your own advice and leave. This isn't a good place."

" Tell me your name."

She smiled, but it held sadness this time. " You'll forget me soon enough."

Derek heard the women coming toward him too late. He glanced beyond the female to see them coming. She took off running into the forest. He followed. He didn't catch her, even though he could have. She looked over her shoulder. When she saw him, she stopped and faced him. He didn't slow until he caught up with her.

" What are you doing?" she demanded. " There are plenty of women who want you."

She did, too, but he didn't point that out. " You know my name. It's only fair I know yours."

" Why ?"

" Why not?"

" Why are you answering a question with a question?"

" Why are you?"

Her lips compressed. " Names don't matter."

" They hold meaning."

" Kora . My name is Kora ." She looked up through the trees, seemingly lost in thought.

Derek watched her. He had spent thousands of years observing those on Zora . He thought he knew all there was to know about humans and other magical creatures. But he didn't know what Kora was. She kept a shield around her, preventing others from getting close. She had something to hide, but he would uncover whatever it was.

If the village got wind that she had an ability, they would hunt her. If they learned she couldn't be killed, they would likely entomb her so she couldn't get out. Living and dying every day for eternity.

Humans took life easily and carelessly. They were heathens, monsters more depraved than any other created. They saw something and took it, uncaring of the consequences. Look what they had done to the dragons.

He wouldn't allow them to do it to Kora . Derek might be friendly with the village, but he would lay waste to it in a heartbeat if it meant freeing his kin—and protecting Kora .

She looked at the ground before her gaze swung to him. " Be careful."

" You're leaving?" It shocked him that she would walk away. Again .

She flashed him a quick grin. " Your ego will be soothed by any number of women back there."

" You shouldn't walk alone."

" I'm always alone."

She whispered it as she turned her head, probably believing it wouldn't reach his ears. He had seen loneliness in humans before, but something about Kora's was different. Mixed with the stark barrenness was shame. Or was it guilt?

Louder , she said, " I assure you I'll be fine. I got away from the soldiers, didn't I ?"

Derek almost pointed out that she hadn't but held his tongue. Who was he to call out her secrets when he had so many of his own? " Seems so."

" Goodbye , then."

" Goodbye ."

She lingered, and just when he thought she might remain, she turned on her heel and walked away. He watched her for a moment before retracing his steps. He opened his hearing, listening for her movements. He heard the crunch of leaves beneath her foot when she looked over her shoulder to see if he followed. He heard the soft sigh before she continued.

Derek waited half an hour before following her. Her trail was easy to track. When he found the tiny, barely standing cottage, he told himself he had gone too far. He needed to return to the swamp and keep watch. Kora didn't want or need him.

He stayed until nightfall. Then he touched the cuff and returned to the marshlands. He waded through the shallow water. The animals that called it home fell into two categories: the ones who knew he was no threat, and the ammit that swam away using their long, thick tails whenever he was near.

The mist swirled around the knobby trees and hovered over the water. Moss hung from the limbs above him. Humans who came close said the silence unnerved them the most. But the swamp was far from silent. It rang with sound. Silence didn't scare humans. It was the darkness, the ever-present danger just beneath the surface of the water, that did. The same threat that was in their daily lives that they were too blind to see.

Derek walked to the island in the middle of the marsh and stepped onto dry land. He passed through the invisible barrier that had been reinforced numerous times, to the mound of boulders he had created to mimic a cave. The opening was large enough for him to pass through in dragon form. He walked to the two eggs sitting in the middle and put his hands on them. One was a bright magenta. The other a deep forest green.

He had been guarding them for years. Nothing they had tried worked to hatch them. But he wouldn't give up. They would hatch. Just as his kin imprisoned on dragon land would be freed.