Page 91 of Consort's Dragon
No.Seeing as how I’m still rather diminutive, I won’t require as much as Argent either.
“Okay.”Avera pursed her lips.“Guess I’ll need a knife.”
Griff could see her trepidation and didn’t hand it over.“I can do it instead.I’m already bleeding.”
I’d rather take a female form,Starlight interjected.
“Why?”Avera blurted.
“Their sex depends on the blood,” Griff explained.“It’s not that bad.”
“I know.I’ve had to slice myself before.Doesn’t mean I like it.”Avera sighed.“Will you hold the bucket?”
Griff held it under Avera’s arm.She ran a blade over the flesh, hissing at the stinging pain.Blood seeped and dripped, and it wasn’t long before they had enough to offer Starlight.Griff set down the bucket in front of the dragon and then returned to Avera, slapping his hand over her wound and applying pressure.
As Griff bandaged her, Starlight ingested the blood and changed.Her shimmering dragon scales receded, revealing skin pale as moonlight.Long, silvery hair hung past her waist while her eyes gleamed a bright amethyst.Like Argent, she was completely naked, which led to a few ogling men.Not Griff.He remained focused on Avera.
Poor Monty got a cuff upside the head by Simhi who then stalked off stiffly toward the skiff.
Monty grinned.“I do believe she’s jealous.”
Griff had a feeling he might be right.It would seem romance blossomed, if Simhi would ever admit it.
He slipped an arm around Avera’s waist as Kreed donated his jacket to Starlight.
“Why thank you.”Starlight had a delicate, dulcet voice.She slid her arms into the garment which hung down to her knees.“Goodness, you’re a big fellow.How lovely.”
A comment that made Kreed blush.“I’ll make sure we find you something more proper once we’re on board,” he promised.
“How kind of you.Let us be on our way then.”With an imperiousness only Argent could match, Starlight stepped into the skiff and stood waiting in the prow.
Argent snorted.“She hasn’t changed one bit.Always stealing my spot.I used to have this sandy beach on a small island I loved sunbathing on untilsomeonedecided to claim it.”
“I offered to share.”
“I don’t share,” groused Argent.
“I’m aware.Your loss.Some of us are mature enough to realize that sharing can have benefits.”Starlight glanced at Kreed and the man blushed harder.
Griff shook his head and muttered, “This voyage will be interesting.”
It certainly was, because once they boarded—with not one but two half-naked people—his crew kept to the far side of the deck.Those who didn’t hide below it.
Seeing their trepidation, Argent strode forward, and while he should have looked ridiculous only wearing pants and nothing else, the man held himself with an arrogance that clothed him as if he wore expensive finery.He struck a pose and said, “Good crew, I greet you.Yes, it is I, the fearsome and mighty dragon you saw before.But fear not.So long as you do not attempt to harm or steal from me”—his gaze narrowed—“you shan’t incur my wrath.”
“You ate my granddad,” one of the younger crew stated.“He went to Verlora and never came back.”
“In my early hatching years, I’m afraid my hunger made no difference between explorers and looters.However, rest assured, that while you are not blooded, I consider all of you part of my retinue and one does not eat their servants.”
Someone whispered, “Wait, by servant does he expect we’ll be washing his drawers?”
Laughter tinkled as Starlight stepped forward.“Just continue as you normally would and treat us like you would any honored passenger.”
“Wait, are you a dragon too?”squeaked Peter.
Starlight’s lips curved.“Oh yes.But do not let that daunt you.I am much nicer than Argent and look forward to getting to know you during our voyage.”
A comment that had a few sailors saying, “Where we going, Cap?”
