Read Online Dragons Don't Forgive by D'Elen McClain - Free Book Online

the
nightclub as much as possible.”
    The club is the last place I need to
be. “I have a sudden aversion to the nightclub atmosphere, so I
think it best that you show me the closest ax and wood
pile.”
    “ I can do that, but I’ll
leave you to chop wood alone. I need to head back to the club. I
work this evening.” He hesitates a moment, but I can see he has
something else to say. “I saw my sister riding you earlier.” His
face turns scarlet and I bite my lip to hold back my smile. “That
sounds horrible... you know what I mean.”
    Even his embarrassment reminds me of
Sierra. I let him off the hook after a shout of laughter escapes my
throat. “Yes, I know what you mean.”
    He looks at me, his gaze pleading.
“She was happy. I could hear her laugh from far below. I only want
her happy.”
    I can’t go there because what can I
say? I will hurt her, I know it. “She wants the same for you.
Living a secret is no way to live.”
    Roland studies the floor for a moment
then meets my eyes again. “Thank you. Beastkind are not known for
tolerance.”
    I shake my head. “They still have a
lot to learn. From what your sister told me, that is why your kind
could not produce children for so long without human
interaction.”
    “ True,” he responds with a
hopeful look.
    We clean the kitchen and Roland walks
me to the nearest wood pile before leaving to go to the club.
Chopping wood takes some getting accustomed to. I’ve never chopped
wood, but I wasn’t going to reveal that to Roland. It seems fairly
straightforward—wood, tree stump, ax. My first few pieces don’t
quite look like the ones resting in the existing wood pile, but I
get the hang of it quickly. Strange that such a small thing like
cutting up wood with an ax gives me a sense of satisfaction.
Usually I need a bride’s cry during her release, a stolen treasure,
or at the very least—looking out across my realm and knowing it’s
mine. I’m not sure what’s happening to me, but I feel good about
what I’m doing.
    A few hours pass as I chop until my
arms are too weary to lift an alcoholic drink. In the distance,
I’ve noticed a few she-bears walk out of their way to avoid me. I
know they are shy around men. I’d learned this tidbit from the male
bears who worked the nightclub. I only met two she-bears working
there and they avoided me too. Those bears seem to be smarter than
the average female. I was known for sleeping with any willing
woman, drinking too much, and knocking down a few walls when things
were at their worst. It’s surprising that Dmitri put up with me as
long as he did.
    With a solid chop to the last piece of
wood in the pile, I put aside the ax. I’d seen a good sized lake
while I flew over the bear territory, so I head there to wash the
sweat from my sore muscles. I like this mountainous area even
though it’s not home. It takes me about thirty minutes to walk
overland to the lake. I could shift and be there in a matter of
minutes, but I begin feeling melancholy. I have no right to be
happy. I deserve the suffering that comes from fighting the desire
to shift.
    I finally make it to the tall grass
that surrounds the lake. It’s a peaceful area with a stunning view
of trees and mountains. I shuck my sweatpants and wade in. The
water is cool and refreshing. Exactly what I need. I swim out to
the deeper section and float while thinking on my sins. There are
so many that I’m not even sure where to begin. Burning Laryn’s
bride is always at the top of the list. Trying to take Ashrac away
from his parents a close second. But my mind wanders to all my past
brides. Each beautiful in their own way—forced to be with me and
make the best of their fate. I know they loved me, but what choice
did they actually have? They couldn’t escape me and I’m sure
loneliness guided their hearts as it did mine. Because they are
born in claiming years, they are raised differently than other
girls in their village. A group of potential brides must