Page 29 of Monsters In Her Head

Chapter 16

Once I made sure thatDesmond was back to sleep, I left the infirmary. Walking down the corridor, I let my fingers trail across the dirt walls, letting the cool feel of it soothe me while I fought with my inner turmoil.

When Desmond’s patrol party had come back with him bloodied and unconscious, I didn’t know what to think. My heart raced in my chest and a sense of helplessness came over me. I still felt that way even though I’d been able to do my part just now.

Desmond got hurt because of me. The sweet drake who’d gone out of his way to help me with the marketplace and even went and convinced Aryn to teach him our sign language had been bleeding because of me. Anyone who could change Aryn’s mind about them should be held at a higher standard in my book.

Of course, I should have known this would happen. I’d come to the drakes for their help after all. I should have known that it would mean they would get hurt on my account, some would even, I swallowed at the thought, die.

Coming to them had been a quick plan that I hadn’t thought all the way through. Though, I’d told Aryn I had. It seems I was mistaken.

I hadn’t thought of the drakes who would put their lives on the line for me. Or that I would come to care about some of the drakes and even befriended them. Which made their sacrifice even harder for me to swallow. I’d only been thinking about my pain and my people.

You’re doing it again.

I jerked and spun around, finding the source of the voice in my head.

Scowling at the one eye drake, I pushed past him and walked toward the baths. I had to get the stink of blood off of me before I threw up.

Desmond doesn’t regret fighting for you. You should stop blaming yourself for it.

Snarling, I twisted around to face him. “I’m not. Go away.”

Ira’s shadow fell over me not caving to my demands.If you keep beating yourself up about it Desmond will only feel worse about getting hurt. He really is far too noble for a drake. He probably would have made a great knight in your castle.

I tried my best to ignore Ira’s words in my head but they made me think what it would be like to have the drakes in the castle.

Outwardly, the ladies would all be appalled but on the inside they’d be leering at the exposed scaled muscles and daydreaming about the large bulge between their legs. That was until the ladies realized the drakes used those tails of theirs for other things than battle and balance.

Giggling to myself, I caught the smirk on Ira’s face and huffed, facing forward. I picked up my pace, hoping to discourage him from following me. Sadly, even when I reached the hot springs, it didn’t deter him.

Spinning on my heel, I poked a finger at his chest.I want to bathe. So do me a favor and find someone else to annoy.

Ira glanced down at her, his eyes heating. Go ahead.I’m not stopping you.

Your mere presence is a disturbance.

Stepping closer to me, Ira reached up — I froze, afraid of what he would do and almost salivating with what he might do — except he only brushed a bit of my hair behind my ear.Are you saying you did not enjoy our last session?

I shivered against his claws scraping along my cheek. To my horror, desire pooled between my thighs. Licking my lips, I shoved away from him, glaring firmly at his smirking face.No. It was wrong. I’m with... I belong to Ryu.Not you.

Ira’s brow arched.Is that your only argument? That you belong to my brother? I was under the understanding that you were a person and belonged to yourself. Perhaps I was mistaken and you are a broken toy after all.

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