Lolita Lopez: Dead Sexy Dragon

“He was,” Stig confirmed. “The sword he used, Ascalon, is still missing. It’s the first sword and the most powerful and dangerous.”

“Um, speaking of dangerous things, what about me?”

Stig frowned. “You?”

“I’m human, Stig. Is that…is it a problem?”

He wanted to lie but couldn’t. He couldn’t keep any more secrets between them. “It might be.”

“Might be?”

“When I swore my oath to the Brotherhood, I also swore to stay away from human women. Other dragons have taken human brides but never the Brothers.”

“So we—”

“Are fine,” Stig said firmly. “We’ll figure it out, Cora.”

She looked like she wanted to argue with him but didn’t. On the way back to the table, she dragged her fingers across the basement door. “Without a claviger, you’re all alone, Stig. What if something goes wrong down there? You’d be stuck until morning.” Concern clouded her eyes. “Do you have some kind of backup plan when you’re in the chains?” She chewed her lower lip. “Maybe I could be your claviger.”

Stig’s heart soared at her suggestion but he let her down easily. “I’m touched you’d offer but I don’t think it’s the right job for you.”

“I just want you to be safe, Stig.”

“I am, Cora. Always. And anyway I have other ideas about a certain position you might be right for.”

“Oh?”

“Later,” he said, and kissed her forehead. “Come out to the workshop with me. I think you’ll enjoy it.”

“All right.”

Stig took her hand and led her outside. He gave her a tour of the shop and explained how the various saws, drills, and planes worked. She soaked up the information like a sponge. Her eyes lit up as she explored her creative side with a piece of scrap wood and a jigsaw. He left her to her own devices and picked up where he’d left off on his current project.

Cora appeared at his worktable some time later. He sensed she wanted to help and decided she could be trusted with the sanding and some of the more simple cuts. It had been so long since he’d shared his workspace with anyone. He found he enjoyed her company immensely. Teaching her various woodworking techniques and tricks proved to be even more fun. She approached learning with such gusto.

Hours passed as they worked side by side. It was a little before five when Cora glanced at his watch and exclaimed at the late hour. They discovered they were both starving, so they cleaned up their workspaces and headed back into the house. After a quick shared shower—and a little frisky play—they made their way to the kitchen. Side by side, they started a simple dinner of pasta and salad.

As Cora stood at the island slicing the crisp veggies, Stig noticed she rolled her shoulders and made an annoyed face. Had she hurt herself out in the workshop? Some of those pieces of wood were bulky and difficult to maneuver. “You pull something?”

She shook her head. “I think it’s the tag in my T-shirt. Sometimes they irritate my skin.” Cora reached back and tried to scratch the offending area. “It itches something fierce.”

“Let me see.” Stig put down his slotted spoon and crossed to her side. She presented her back for his inspection. He lifted the thin cotton tee out of the way for a better look.

The bottom dropped out of his stomach. His mouth went dry and his head spun. He blinked a few times to try to reconcile what was right there in front of his eyes.

Scales. Bright orange with black edges formed a diamond-shaped pattern between her shoulder blades.

Cora was actually growing scales .

“What’s wrong?” Trepidation colored her voice. Had she sensed his fear? Had she experienced the quiver of panic piercing his belly? With the uncertainty of the depth of the bond they’d forged last night, he couldn’t be sure. Had she been a dragon, she’d feel everything he felt but she wasn’t a dragon.

At least not yet.

There was no other way to say it. “You’re growing scales, Cora.”

WHAT?” The knife fell from her hand and clattered onto the butcher block. Cora tried to touch her back but couldn’t get her fingers into the right position. She silently cursed her decision to give up on yoga all those years ago. Flexibility would have been a plus right about now.

Desperate to see the scales, she rushed out of the kitchen and took the stairs two at a time, using the banister for balance. She skidded into the bathroom and ripped off her shirt. Craning her neck to see over her shoulder, Cora screamed at the horror reflected in the mirror.

Large, orange, diamond-shaped scales looked to be spreading across her shoulder. The skin surrounding the scaly patch was red and irritated. How long before her entire back was covered in the leathery hide?

“Calm down.” Stig’s voice carried his fear and uncertainty even as he tried to help her.

“Calm down?” Cora shrieked in panic. “There’s no calming down, Stig. I am freaking the fuck out right now. I have scales on my back!”

He took a step forward and engulfed her in his embrace. She collapsed against his solid chest and held tight. His heart raced, the thumping pulse beating wildly against her ear. The fact that he was also scared terrified her.

“What’s happening to me, Stig?”

“I don’t know,” he reluctantly admitted. With a heavy sigh, he released her and put a little distance between them. He rubbed his face the way he did when he was upset and uncertain. “I never thought something like this would happen to you. Had I known, I never would have let you stay last night.”

Cora’s thoughts shifted to the prior evening. She remembered his discomfort at her presence and the way he kept trying to get her to leave. She’d flirted with danger and this was the consequence.

“It never crossed my mind that mating with a mortal woman during the phase would cause her to change.” Worry lines creased his face. He grimaced and kneaded his temples. “God, Cora, I am so sorry.”

Her stomach knotted and her worst fear took hold. “Am I going to die?”

Her voice was barely a whisper but it got Stig’s attention. “No!” He rushed to haul her close again. “You’re not going to die but you’re going to change. It’s happened to clavigers throughout the ages. They start to show dragon signs during a mating watch and eventually make the transformation.” He grew quiet for a moment. “It never occurred to me they made the change because of love.”

Soon she’d sprout wings, a tail, and talons to go with the scales. What would happen to her old life? Would she live forever? What if something happened to Stig? She’d seen the scars on his body. The work he did with the Brotherhood was dangerous. What if he was killed by one of those Knights? The idea of facing an eternity as a dragon without Stig at her side sent her into a panic.

Her mind raced with questions. She loved Stig, of that she was absolutely sure, but the thought of becoming a dragon terrified her. What else would happen to her body? If she became immortal, would she lose the ability to have children? Her heart sank at the thought. She’d always wanted to have lots and lots of chubby little babies.

And no doubt she’d be forced to leave behind her friends. She’d seen Stig’s mementos. All those different places and different faces. He never stayed anyplace very long. She supposed people became suspicious when he failed to age. The same would happen to her.

Panic took an even stronger hold. She fought to breathe. Her throat tightened. Sweat poured from her skin. She couldn’t see straight.

“Cora!” Stig took hold of her shoulders and gave her a firm shake.

Through teary eyes, she met his pained gaze. She gulped and shook her head. “I don’t think I can do this.”