THE ALPHA'S REDEMPTION

f the Earth, I

ur intelligence

pretense, you h

than lovely, yo

did, Tara watched a dragon form f

shouted. ''I kn

mber that by tomorrow.'' He sa

in but the dragon was alread

ing into thin air. On his feet now, he came close and Tara real

showing very powerful chest. Tara watched in awe and fascination, the criss-cross of muscles on his body.

but didn't break eye contact w

ched hers, then moved lower like a caress as they went over her body and Tara could feel the heat rise to her cheeks. '' And you have been banis

and and traced the muscles on his chest then on his arms, not really k

''And if you touch Mogo Sho like that, h

themselves so that the men were overcome with the urge to sleep with them. seductresses, that was what they were called, and they were hated by all women and despised by men. It was them the husbands

n to touch you -- I did but I --

makes you stand out, the courage I see in your eyes each time you dare even in your heart the constraints that have held down the people of Mistera.'' He was wal

and the young men of Mistera would not even look twice at me let alone want to marry me surely if they were -- '' her voice droppe

y have been killed already, fo

ed. ''I didn't -- I haven't hea

are. Tadof was banished to the outlands -- here, where he was taken by a vampire. He was accused of peeping at

rd of the executions but apart from pitying the victims a little, she had gon

ed -- and some of the women but not you Tara. You w

't call h

So, you still try to

' Ca

first soft, gentle against hers then he deepened the kiss with an urgency that stole her breath away. When he drew back, her eyes were still closed, her face turned up to

o creature of the lore would

e of the lore -- the ware

the dragon once again forming beneath

and she could hear the crack in her voice.

und. '' It's for your own

ess. She knew kissing was what men did right before they mounted a woman but if it was such sweet torture, why did all the women in Mistera say the act of being mounted was not pleasurable, a mere duty one owed to her husband. She caught herself wondering what it would feel like to be mounted -- to be mounted by the dragon himself a

m, like they had been planted specifically to beautify the place. Where did the creatures of the lore live? She wondered. Did they just merely live in the air, invisible, showing themselves only during a hunt or was there something more, another city or street, perhaps within Mist

t what looked like some fruit. She plucked the fruit and brought it to her nose. It smelled sweet but not like something that could be eaten, more like the scents she had heard the wives of councilors wore on themselves to make th

reature of the lore would attack her again, she felt afraid. It was getting close to supper time and she wondered if her family would eat supper that day, hoping she was still alive and yet not daring to hop

ose feather and she wondered if she was dreaming -- or dead. Perhaps, she

It was beautiful, magnificent. Too beautiful for words. There were three chairs more magnificent than the seats

k colored breeches and his wet hair looked disheveled -- like he h

g her emotions as her eyes traveling over the wide expanse of his broad ch

ur own good.'' He said, his back still turned to her. '' I would return you to the front of the city gates where you would be found by the council guards this morning and you woul

and she was furious because she rarely

is what is goi

l let only thoughts of you fill my head I will even call out your name

lt somehow that she had annoyed him. ''I

of the city gates?'' She searched his eyes with her own. ''My family says I was caught in a hunt yesterday yet all I remember is waking up in front of my door. Did you save me again Raig Swain? Why do you care about me?'' She leaned up and pressed her lips to his own, kissing him with

o you know what they do to women after their wedding night when their hu

set on fire yet there was recklessness in her eyes as th

o protect your family against whatever ancient laws if the need ever arises and you are beautiful. Do you ever stop to look at your reflection in a still water, to see how your rich dark hair frames your face and draws attention to your high cheekbones, your eyelashes so long and full yet they do not hide your eyes.

him. ''Why did you carry me into your

cause you were cold a

house that seemed empty apart from themselves. '' D

not. There are servants and maids and the usual you would see in a household, the people of the lore that always br

nd do

hed. ''T

'' She said immediately.

I don't wa

would form his dragon under him, but they kept wal

''N

ound as if you ar

estions?'' He asked stopping a

mind to remember no matter how

ered and then they both kept quiet u

The ground beneath her felt hard and gradually, she remembered standing before the cou

wung open the heavy gates of the city. He

to see her, and she too was surprised that she was still alive. It seemed impossible to survive a day outside the city

e of the ne

is a foe in ne

friend when in