Page 45 of Consort's Dragon
“Admire all you want.I understand my beauty isn’t something you’re used to.”Argent tossed his head and thrust out his muscled chest.
“How is this possible?I don’t understand,” Griff stammered.
“I told you there was a special bond between the blooded and dragons.You hold the ingredient that allows us to change shape.In this case, because you are male, I become male.Should I have ingested a female’s blood, then?—”
“We’d have ourselves a naked woman,” Monty exclaimed and then frowned as he noticed Simhi ogling Argent.“Hey, you shouldn’t be looking.It’s not proper.”
“Don’t be telling me what’s proper.”Simhi waved away his complaint, then to Argent, “You must be chilly.Monty, give him your coat.”
“Why me?”he squeaked.
“Because Griff’s only got that vest, mine is too small, and Kreed only owns the one.Don’t be a baby about it.We all know you’ve got several coats on board.”
Argent wrinkled his nose as a grumbling Monty stripped off his jacket and handed it over.“This material is coarse,” the dragon-man complained.
“Sorry, Princess, I left me silks on board the ship,” mocked Monty.
Argent glared.“I am really regretting not eating you before shifting shapes.”
“Speaking of shapes, how long can you hold this one?”Griff asked.
“A while, although greatness such as mine is hard to contain.”
“Not too pompous, is he?”Kreed murmured to Monty, but his deep voice carried.
“There is no point in being coy when I am superior.”Argent tilted his chin.
A chirping from the sky had Griff frowning.“We should get going before something decides we all look tasty enough to eat.”
“As if they would dare.However, I am intrigued by the thought of leaving this place for somewhere new.Let us depart.”The arrogant Argent strode barefoot and bare-assed—the coat barely covering his nether regions—to the edge of the dock where the skiff bobbed.
In short order, they were rowing.And “they” meant everyone but Argent, who stood poised in the prow.
It was Monty who whispered, “You think that cock he’s wearing is just for show?”
Argent’s head whipped around, and his lips curved as he said, “Would you like me to give you a demonstration?”
Monty recoiled.“Nah.I’m not into that kind of bed play.Just wondering.”
As did Griff.“I thought dragons were sexless.”
“Dragons are.But when we transform into an avatar, we are fully functioning.”
“So you can make babies?”Kreed boldly asked.
“How do you think the blooded came into existence?”
Griff lost his rhythm as that sank in.“Are you saying one of my ancestors fucked a dragon?”
“Yes.The resulting child, while not a dragon themselves, carries an affinity.Hence the bond.I’d have thought that obvious.”
“How was it supposed to be obvious?”Griff huffed.“It ain’t like the history books spoke of dragons.”
“Because you tried to eradicate us.Used us and abandoned us,” Argent hissed, his pupils turning into vertical slits that glowed.
“Not me!”Simhi declared.“Me and Kreed, we never leave no one behind.”
“You might if you thought it would benefit you.”Argent’s lips turned down.“Back in the day, dragons agreed to give our lives and blood to contain the threat because the blooded who pleaded for our help promised we would be brought back as soon as Zhos was contained.Only they lied and kept us in our dormant state.”
