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‘If it’s truly only breeding that frightens you, there’s no chance of that, not between a dragon and a human,’ he says, his eyes not leaving me.

‘Really?’

‘Really.’

I let out a sigh of relief.

Strangely, even though I obviously don’t want to be raped, it does make me feel better knowing that pregnancy isn’t an issue. Everything else I can deal with. I’m a survivor of this harsh world, after all. When sickness took out half the town, I didn’t even get a fever. When raiders from the Southern Tip came to steal from us, I didn’t die from my wounds after the fact like many others did. I can deal with this as well.

But then Tor looks concerned.

‘What is it?’ I ask.

‘Virgin humans are rare. If you’ve never been with anyone, they’ll see you as a shiny new toy to break. It’ll be a lot worse for you.’

I snort and look at him properly for the first time since we got here. ‘What do you care?’

He lets out a slow breath. ‘Truthfully, I don’t know. But I do.’

‘Then let me go. Say I escaped. You’ll never see me again.’

He stands, looking annoyed. ‘I can’t. I’m sorry, Mari. There’s only one thing I can do for you before we get there and you aren’t going to like that either, but I think it’s a better idea than, well, doing nothing.’

‘What? What can you do for me?’

He takes his glass off the table and downs it in one. ‘I could be your first.’

I pour myself another large glass of wine. I wish it did more than give me a light buzz.

Jesus, did I really just tell her I was going to do this? There’s a reason I stay away from humans. Multiple reasons.

‘My first?’ she echoes faintly.

‘Yes,’ I hear myself say. ‘The first time hurts a human female. It would be better if it was done by a dragon who…’

Wasn’t trying to make you scream in pain and beg for mercy.

‘Knows how to be careful.’

‘How do you know that? About human females, I mean?’

I sigh and I tell her the truth. ‘I…had a wife. Long ago.’

Why am I trying to cajole her into letting me fuck her? Why do I even want this little human? I’ve not been interested in any female since my wife.

‘Ahumanwife?’ she asks timidly.

‘Yes, and a son.’

Why did I mention Toramund? I haven’t spoken about him since the War of the Roses.

I down another glass of wine and watch as she takes a longer pull from her own glass.

‘I thought you said we couldn’t have your babi?—’

‘He was a foundling,’ I interrupt. ‘A baby who was left at a church. We took him and raised him.’

‘What happened?’