The Dragon's Distrust Read Online Free PDF Page B

areas. He winced
while he tugged a particularly large thorn from his
manhood.
    He was upset—this was some rescue. He
had been abused and mocked by the humans and now he had been in a
dragon crash. But his anger quickly faded when he saw Tania holding
the unconscious Patryck’s head.
    Aristo immediately rushed to her side,
“Are you alright?”
    Tania nodded, “I could be better.
Patryck is really hurt.”
    Aristo agreed, “How long had he been
flying?”
    “All day. When I heard you calling, I
had to find you. Patryck was supposed to take me back to the Den,
but I wanted to see you so badly that I forced him to get
you.”
    Not only did she feel guilty cheating
on Aristo, but now Patryck had been physically hurt because she
wanted to rescue Aristo. She was becoming more and more confused by
the minute. She had wanted to free Aristo but she didn’t want to
hurt Patryck at the same time. She had been hurting him enough
lately.
    Tania stroked Patryck’s jaw and he
stirred. She smiled somewhat. At least he was moving.
    “He will heal faster in dragon form,”
Aristo stated, “Had he morphed into a man, he might not have
survived the landing.”
    Tania continued petting Patryck, hoping
just her touch alone would help. After all, she had merely held
Emeril’s hand and he was much better for it. Perhaps the same could
be said with Patryck. It was worth a try.
    Aristo frowned, “You love him, don’t
you?”
    Tania hesitated. She was confused when
it came to Patryck, “I love him like I love all living
creatures.”
    Aristo scoffed and plopped down beside
Tania eying her hard, “Tell me the truth.”
    She shook her head, “I don’t know what
the truth is.”
    “You slept with him, didn’t
you?”
    Tania’s heart sunk. And now began her
nightmare. She knew Aristo would never forgive her, “Yes,” she said
weakly.
    Aristo nodded and took in a slow, deep
breath. His hand kept clenching into a fist. Tania hoped he would
hit her, punish her for her betrayal. She needed to be punished.
But he never raised his hand against her. Dragons were not
monsters.
    Instead, Aristo did something she did
not expect. He reached forward and held her face in both of his
large hands. He brought her lips close to his and he placed a
gentle kiss on her. Tania nearly whimpered.
    “I know you are the Dragon
Mother,” he said, “I don’t like the idea of sharing you…I
will never like
the idea but I know it has to be this way. The magic inside you
will not belong to just one dragon. You are the legacy for all
dragons. You will crave us like you crave food.”
    Tania pulled herself from his grasp and
began to weep, “I know. Stephan told me. I didn’t want to believe
him. I love you. I love only you.”
    Aristo drew himself close, close enough
for Tania to rest her head on his chest. He brushed her long,
matted hair out of her face, “And I will always love
you.”
    “Please forgive me.”
    “There is nothing to
forgive.”
    “Please…”
    He nodded, “This won’t be the last time
you sleep with another dragon.”
    “Yes, it will.”
    “No, it won’t. You cannot control the
magic of the Dragon Mother.”
    Tania yanked back, “Then I don’t want
it. I don’t want to betray you again. I need to find a way to be
rid of it.”
    “You can’t. You are the Dragon Mother.
That is your destiny—your calling.”
    “No!” Tania stood up and slowly walked
backward into a felled log. She tripped and nearly slammed into the
ground but Aristo was fast. He caught her in his arms, “Let me
go!”
    He shook his head, “The forest is
dangerous, Tania, especially for a naked beauty. Predators of all
kinds lurk in the shadows.”
    “I don’t care. Let them hurt me. I
deserve it,” she began to cry again, her guilt bubbling up to the
surface and boiling her heart.
    “No. You deserve happiness. You deserve
to be loved. What is wrong with having several dragons love you for
who you are? Why don’t you want to carry our