Page 42 of Monsters In Her Head

I wasn’t sure what the plan was. I’d done my part in getting the drakes to agree to help me. Now, it was up to them. They were the battle experts. Not some pampered broken princess.

While Beautine had done her best to teach me to fight — I definitely felt stronger — I wasn’t sure I would do well in a battle. How could I fight if I couldn’t hear someone coming up on me? I would imagine in the heat of the battle there would be too many bodies and vibrations for me to use my usual way of finding those around me.

However... one on one? I think I could hold my own at least until Ryu came to rescue me.

I giggled to myself.

Who would have thought a few weeks ago I was curious but terrified of the drakes like a bedtime story monster. Now, I was hoping they would rescue me if I were in danger.

Leaning forward, I drew my legs out of the water and wrapped my arms around them as I leaned my chin on my knees. I just wished I knew what I was doing. I was tired of the waiting. Tired of the ever present worry gnawing at my stomach until I was sick with fear.

I wanted it to be like back before my mother died. When I was carefree and innocent. I didn’t have a care in the world. Not constantly thinking about being damaged goods. Or having to deal with sadistic princes. I would just dance and play with my mother while the world went by.

My eyes burned and I shoved back the tears. There was no use crying over it. She was dead. Those days were long gone. This was my reality and I had to suck it up and learn to deal with it.

After all, I wasn’t some simpering princess stuck in a castle. I’d escaped the castle and gotten the help of the drakes. There was nothing I couldn’t do.

Tired of feeling sorry for myself. I shoved myself up off the ground and onto my feet. Hands on my hips, I jerked my head in a nod. It was by time I learned what the battle plan was. After all, I was an integral part of this whole operation. Without me, there would be no reason to fight.

Nodding my head once more, I pivoted on my heel, planning to head back inside and demand the drake king and his brothers to let me in on the planning. I would not sit idly by while they died for me. I needed to be a part of this.

“Come on, Tat. Time to go,” I called out as well as signing, knowing the drake wanted to learn by doing as much as possible. When my guide and now friend didn’t appear by my side, I frowned. Where had he gone?

Stomping forward, I called out not bothering with my hands this time. “Tat come on, I’m ready to go back inside. I don’t want to be the reason you get in trouble.” Or me, I added on silently. A shiver ran down my back at the last time I’d gotten in trouble. Maybe I did want to be punished. Liquid gushed between my thighs and I clenched them together tightly. This was not the time to be aroused. What would Tat think when he smelled it on me?

Of course, the drake had been a perfect gentleman. Never once had he tried to take any liberties with me even before Ryu had marked me for all to know I belonged to him. Not that it would stop a human who didn’t have their superior sense of smell and I didn’t plan on letting anyone see the new scar on my inner thigh any time soon.

Pushing that thought aside, I stalked further up the pathway back to the cave entrance. Maybe he’d decided to wait at the door?

My foot landed in something wet and warm. My face scrunched up in disgust, worried it was a bug or something, I lifted my foot to see dark red. My brows furrowed, I swiped a finger over it and lifted it to my nose. The coppery scent made my eyes widen and my heart race.

Blood.

Suddenly, I was on full alert. Spinning around in a circle, I looked for the source of the blood. For my guard, my friend. Not seeing him immediately or who might have caused it, I glanced back down at the ground. The blood led further into the woods. I stepped forward then stopped.

Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I debated what to do. If Ryu or Ira were here, they would both tell me to go back inside and find help. However... it might be too late by then. Tat could be seriously hurt. I couldn’t take that chance. After all, I’d learned to fight hand to hand against drakes, a few humans should be nothing, right?

Making a decision, I curled my hands into fists and stepped into the woods. Eyes darting between the woods and the trail of blood which had only gotten thicker as I went, I searched for my friend. When the blood only grew in size, my feet quickened. This much blood loss wasn’t good. I had to find him.

My foot hit something and I fell forward, my hands catching me on the ground scrapping my palms. I winced and glanced back at what I’d tripped over.

Tat!

Scurrying around to his side, I checked to see if he was breathing. When I felt his hot breath on my hand, my shoulders relaxed. Still alive. Thank the gods.

I ran my hands over him until I found his wound. Several stab wounds covered his back, I turned him over and his front was just as bad. I pulled my lower lip between my teeth. Who could have done this? These weren’t animal marks, this came from a blade.

Knowing I wasn’t strong enough to drag the large drake back to the entrance on my own, I grabbed the dagger strapped to Tat’s leg and cut at the bottom of my skirt. I wrapped his wounds the best I could, leaving my skirt just above my knees now from all the fabric I’d lost.

It would have to do for now. At least, until I could get back to the lair and find someone to help him.

Raising one foot up to stand, I froze. Cold steel scrapped against the skin of my throat. Not moving my head, I glanced to the side trying to see my attacker. I couldn’t see much, just a dirty human hand and a coat sleeve the color of sand.

Callahan’s colors.

Fuck.

This wasn’t good.

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