Odessa

I latched onto Amora, feeling Creed's sisterly bond with her was interesting. His love for her was unconditional, as was hers to him. Once our embrace broke, realizing the impending battle that would happen far sooner than I would have liked, I heard an all too familiar squeal from one of my newest friends.

"Oh, my gawwwds! It's so adorable! The Dragon's loving each other like that, isn't it Tangle? I have never seen such a cute lovey session with hot-headed dragons." Tangle pulled Daine back, laughing silently, hushing him with a kiss. "You are being a bit too loud. They may not appreciate the sentiment." Creed growled at Daine. He wasn't a fan of his, I could feel it. Daine wasn't my best friend, but he could certainly make me laugh. Several other Elven men came up behind them. They were dressed in thick leather with metal plates over their chests. Zaos was nowhere to be found.

"Little thorn, keep your lips zipped if you want to hang out with Odessa later." Daine pretended to lock his lips with his finger, obnoxiously throwing an invisible key away.

"Greetings," Tangle bowed to King Orion. "On Zaos' command, he sends a small platoon to help the dragons. We may be small in numbers, but we wish to help protect Odessa, who softened the Black Dragon. Zaos sends his regards but is currently protecting the territory." I blushed, I did nothing to soften Creed, he was already soft, to begin with.

"I'll take all the help I can get. Your squadron will be in charge of Odessa for the entirety of her stay. Creed and Nicholas will have to return to the Toboki tribe and deal with some,... issues." Orion glanced to our side of the room, eyeing both Creed and Nicholas.

"As will I," Amora stepped out of our embrace." Nicholas grabbed her hand, soothing it with his thumb.

"I would rather you not. Look at what he has done to you. You are no killer, Amora." Amore rubbed her cheek with the back of her hand.

"I don't care. I'll kill him ten times over," she whispered. "What he has done to Creed, to me, his mother, he deserves it." I scratched the side of my arm, continuing to scratch out of a nervous habit. Was I going to go too? To defend Creed? I wasn't a weak human anymore. I was a dragon, but even my dragon was hesitant to help defeat his traitorous half-brother.

"No," Creed whispered in my ear. "I know you are debating about going, but I prefer you not."

"But why? Amora is going. I'm strong now, yes?" Creed's hand cupped my cheek. Tangle, speaking with Orion about guarding, patrolling, and rooms for the men to stay in, paused, listening to our conversation.

"Your dragon is special, Odessa." My head leaned into his hand, having him hold up my heavy head. His words were hypnotic, the sweetness when he spoke to me was there, but commanding all the same. "I'm not sure what you and your dragon will bring, but you are not a fighting dragon. Your body type isn't made to be a warrior, you are for something far more special."

My body slumped. Everyone was still stronger than me. I still couldn't care for myself.

"Look at me." Creed pulled my face back with his fingers. "That is hard for me to say. I know you want to prove yourself, but you must remain here. The pain is significant for me to ask this of you, but I cannot risk you being out in the open. The vampires, my brother, the elders, and even my own father might hurt you. Here you are safe, within these walls..." Creed growled, looking at how Orion continued to study me so close, like a piece of a puzzle. "Isn't that right?" Creed barked. Orion jumped, his eyes blinking a few times until he recovered.

"But of course! This is a fortress. Magic, soldiers and even I will remain here to keep you protected." Orion's fanged smile had me flashback to the Duke's smile. Shivering, Creed pulled me into his chest.

"Your dragon will become strong and you can protect yourself soon. It's a long, lengthy process. Please stay here, where I know you are safe." Nodding at his chest, he kissed the top of my head.

"Odessa?" Amora came forward, her hand pulling her towards me. "If it makes you feel better, I won't be fighting either. My dragon is still weak, too." She smiled sadly. "I just need to watch the light leave his eyes," gritting her teeth, Nicholas kissed her head.

"And you will, but you must promise to fly away to stay safe." Amora hummed, leaning into him.

The room remained silent for a few moments more until it was decided that Creed and Nicholas would leave early in the morning. They both wanted one more night with their mates, but Creed's stance showed me he was anything but relaxed to sleep.

His eyes continued to dart to every corner of the palace, watching, waiting for someone or something to pop out behind every corner. My fingers stayed looped together with his while walking to our room.

Creed's father could already be at the tribe, demanding answers. What then? Will the entire tribe be torn to pieces before he arrives? It would be such a fresh wound for his father, finally realizing the death of his mate who had lived years with another and even mothered another child that was not his.

It broke my heart. The suffering not only Creed went through, but now his father and mother. Will Creed's father end up dying of depression, just like the other griffons? What then? Creed, sensing my distress, picked me up quickly. One hand behind my back and the other under my legs, the guards opened our chamber doors.

Again, the room was gorgeous. A large chandelier in the middle of the room, golden swirls on the walls, and beautiful portraits of supposedly famous faes filled the light-filled room. How they could keep the light so bright without lamps, candles, and electricity was amazing.

Creed sat me on the bed, taking off each of my slippers and pushing me to the bed. Rolling me on top of him, he had my face put up to the crook of his neck. I never understood why he would do such a thing when we first met, but now I knew. The neck was a vulnerable spot, just like for any creature. My dragon purred excessively, trying to put her nostrils closer to smell him, pet him there. It was a trusting gesture, along with our foreheads touching. That gave me the most sparks than any other touch.

"I'm worried about you," I whispered. Creed sat up, wrapping his arms around me, sitting on his lap. "What if something bad happens and I'm not there? How will I find you? What if they put that memory powder on you and you fly away?" I blabbed, thinking of all the worse scenarios. It was all true. Who knows how much of that powder they had? His own mother couldn't shake it and lived with another dragon until she died.

The thought of him being with another killed me.

Creed's dragon reverberated his strong vibrations into my chest, calming me. I didn't want to be calm. I wanted to be upset. I fought it, trying to push him away. "No, I don't want to be calm!" Snapped at him. "What if they take you away from me!?" Creed wouldn't let me go. He pulled me back into his lap, arms caging me.

"They will take you, make you forget," I sobbed. "Then all of this," I waved my hands between the two of us, "you won't think it happened." Creed's dragon purred again, no longer the purr that comforts. He just let me know that he was there, listening.

"I won't forget you," he muttered out loud. "I will never forget you."

"How do you know?" I whispered.

"Because I dare not let my heart be tainted with such magic." Creed rocked me from side to side, my hands gripping his massive forearms. The scars that bound his memories were gone, free of the torment that his brother had given him. Now his tattoos were nothing but decoration, memories he had made to overcome the loneliness.

"I will come back to you, my Fawn." He muttered. "I will kill Adam, the elders, and stop my father from destroying the entire tribe. No magic will keep me from you." I sniffed.

"How long will you be gone?"

"Until the judgment and punishment have passed."

Creed pulled me from his chest, his eyes full of determination. He said he would come back, and I believed him. I believed him with my whole heart and with words like honey that he dripped on my lips while he kissed me, had me panting. He would come back.

His lips massaged mine, his sweet tongue explored my mouth for the first time. Tender, loving, and apprehensive. It turned my stomach into knots. Pushing my fingers around his tight shoulders, he groaned, pulling away.

"Lay on your stomach," I whispered. Confused, he sat me beside him, his stomach now on the bed. Straddling his lower back, I took some scented oil from the nightstand table, rubbing it between my fingers. This oil had other purposes, I'm sure, but this time I was going to rub the tension from my mate.

The warm oil dripped on his back. He groaned delightfully as I kneaded his shoulders. His tanned muscles now softened, his skin still showing the unbelievably sculpted part of his back. Fingers tracing to his sides and to muscular thighs, he groaned again, his dragon purring loudly. I smiled, loving how my sweet dragon was enjoying this.

He had given me so much in just a month I had been with him. I wanted to give him something to remember before he left me in the morning. That I wasn't just some helpless little human anymore or a weak little dragon, that I was being emotionally strong for him.

One day, though, one day I will fight my own battles. My dragon growled triumphantly at that.

Creed rolled over. Once I finished his claves, his eyes were closed, arms raised above his head. I worked his shoulders again, straddling his waist. Once I reached his hips, ready to leave my straddled position, he grabbed my waist to stop me. "That's enough, my little Fawn," he breathed. "That felt amazing."

"I'm not done yet." I bit my lip. "There is one more thing I want to massage." Creed's fanged smile had me blushing again.

"But it is my turn." Large hands traced my hips up to my torso until landing on the front tie corset. Taking one finger, it untied quickly, making my breasts fall from the make-shift bra.

"You forgot the oil," I laughed. Creed raised a brow, finding the small bottle and rubbing his hands together. I continued to stay straddled on his lap, the warmth of the oil had me lean to his touch. My chest hovered over him, my cave slowly grinding into his crotch.

Gently laying me on the bed, he took his time, trading out his hands now for his lips and tongue. Kissing down my hip bone, he lifted the dress and threw it over my head. Nuzzling between my thighs, he licked the small bundle of nerves. My thighs were wrapped around his head, riding his face.

"I'll never forget this," he uttered inside my cave. Hands grabbing my rear, he sunk his tongue in deeper. "Never," he growled. Back arching, I let go, leaving all my worry along with it. My Creed would come back to me, my Mate would never forget.

Creed rolled me over, pulling my hips up and my knees neatly bent wide in front of him. He sunk deep into my core. His torso met my back, his hands cupping my breasts as he sunk in and out of my body. My Prince Charming couldn't become one with me any more than he already was. He was inside me, on top of me, and most of all penetrated my heart. Creed kissed my back, thrusting in and out of my body.

"I love you, Odessa," his movements went faster, his hot breath falling between my neck and shoulder. "I will never forget." Crying out, we both fell down our waterfall and let the waves of pleasure cover our bodies.