KATIE

　　It was a chilly morning as the wind howled outside our two bedroom house, although the house was barely holding up this winter. The house where my father was lying in bed, sick. The house where I had to share a room with four of my siblings while the two smallest ones slept in my parents’ room.

　　I took a deep breath as the house creaked.

　　The worst of winter was over, the snow was starting to melt and nature was blossoming through in patches. Still the wind was not resting, bringing in more of the cold from up north.

　　I had reached the age to be called a woman, but hadn’t been spoken for yet. At my age, itwasn’t a good thing. Even Marguerite, or Maggy as we all called her, was spoken for. A woman was good for only a few things, cooking, cleaning, and bearing children, and I didn’t fall into any of those categories. I was born barren, or that is what my mother thought as I still hadn’t received the signs of womanhood yet and I had a problem with saying what was on my mind. There wasn’t a filter between my mind and mouth. It got me into so much trouble, and plenty of times out of it too.

　　Still, my mom and dad didn’t share what other people believed when it came to marriage.He treated her as his equal, showed us what kind of love a man and woman could share. I loved both my parents to death and hated seeing my father so weak, to hear his breath at night when the Squire house went to sleep. To wake up with his coughing, deep, raspy and unnatural coughs.

　　Our family owned a small grocery that sold everything from healing remedies—if only they could heal father—to herbs and spices, where I worked full time, since pappa had gotten ill.

　　After noon I would go back home, and make sure that my brother and sisters got something to eat and help them with their lessons they’d brought from school. To make sure they wouldn’t disturb pappa.

　　I missed school, life was so much simpler then, but I knew my duties now, and helping mama was top priority.

　　Pappa caught the disease of the lungs from his last trip buying inventory for the store.It started out with a sneeze, then turned into influenza, and now it was fully in his lungs. He’d taken a turn for the worst this winter.

　　The only thing that could heal him now was the touch of a Swallow Annex. They were one of the few good dragons, but there was no money to pay for such a service. Mama had tried to save, but with the king’s taxes taking most of it, the money was never enough. And then there was still the fact that we were commoners. The only people that had access to a Swallow Annex’s touch were nobles and royalty.

　　I didn’t know anyone that knew a Swallow Annex.

　　I slipped on my boots that pappa had made for me from an animal skin he’d brought once.

　　“Katy,” mom called from the room. “Is that you?”

　　“Yes, Mama, go back to sleep.”

　　“Off taking another stroll?”

　　“I won’t be long, I’ll meet you at the store.” I prayed that she wouldn’t come out as I had my bow and arrows right next to me. I didn’t have time last night to hide them in their normal hiding place as I had to help with pappa. If mother found out that Nicolas Squire, my father, had taught me how to handle a bow and arrow, it wouldn’t be the sickness that caused his last breath. “Hunting is for the boys,” mama always said.“No business for a woman, or a young lady for that matter.”

　　I tied the laces on my boots and slipped into my winter coat that hid my favorite hobby over my arm.

　　I closed the wooden door of my bedroom where the other three slept and then the door of our small house, entering a white and green scene. The wind nipped around my neck and I pulled my coat tighter.

　　No one had awoken yet, except for Tony, the baker whose shop was right at the end of the street. I had this strange inkling that he wasn’t human, because no human could make amazing pastries and bread like that. He was by far the best and people from all over Paegeia came to taste his creations from heaven. He even made the king’s birthday cake once. For some reason Tony refused to become the royal baker, and for that alone, I knew Tony hid something from all of us. Fin-Tales were known to live around people in need and I had imagined those golden scales on him in my mind’s eye when all was asleep, but it was also a commonly known fact that Copper-Horns did magic when they were stirring a pot.

　　I tapped on his window and the man’s entire face lit up as he saw my heart shaped face tucked inside my furry coat, another gift from pappa.

　　Tony opened the door. “Sneaking off again in the early mornings, Katie?”

　　I smiled. “You know me so well.”

　　The old baker laughed and let me in. The smell of honey and roasted almonds filled my nostrils. It was followed by the smell of freshly baked bread and I inhaled deeply as my eyes closed involuntarily. My stomach growled and I was sure Tony heard it too, as he just gave me a side glance with a smirk on his face.

　　“Here, have one,” he said and held out a tray of round bread.

　　I took off my glove and reached out to touch one. “Just be careful, they are still hot.”

　　I smiled at the baker. “Don’t you know, I love them freshly baked.”

　　I grabbed the biggest one I could find. Ever since pappa’s health started taking its toll, my mother had to juggle two jobs in order to pay the bills and put food on the table. I hardly ate as my brothers and sisters needed it more than I did. Besides, Tony always made sure that I got a freshly baked breakfast every morning.

　　“How’s your father, lass?” He poured me a cup of warm milk.

　　“Mama’s really hopeful, but the doctor said it won’t be long now. The sickness is getting worse, and the stuff he coughs up.” It was a disgusting green muck but I couldn’t share it around a table that was filled with amazing pastries that had barely came out of the oven.

　　“Your mom still working at the tavern?”

　　“Every night, now,” I said as I took a sip of the delicious creamy milk. “She has to find a way to pay the king’s taxes otherwise they will take the store, and it’s the only thing we have.”

　　Tony bent down and took out a brown bag. He chucked it on the table and by the clanging noise it made, I knew what it contained.

　　“Please, take it. I would hate to see you suffer over there.”

　　“Tony, I can’t,” I declined. “You’ve worked hard for your money, and besides, mama would never accept it.”

　　“Your mother’s pride will get the better of her one day,” Tony said and put the bag back underneath the table again.

　　“You’ve helped more than enough just by giving me a freshly baked roll and that delicious milk every morning. It’s plenty.”

　　Tony smiled. “Well then, at least let me pack you some more rolls for the road.”

　　I always got this feeling that Tony knew we didn’t have enough food, and he had no idea how grateful I was for the rolls he would give me for the others.

　　“And promise me one thing, Katie. If you run out of food, let me know. You can’t live off herbs and spices, and there is no potion in this world that can fill your bellies either.”

　　I laughed. “Deal.” I finished my cup of milk and ate the last piece of bread. “I’ve got to go, before all the squirrels disappear.”

　　Tony laughed. “If they are going to come out of their nests at all. Are you still selling squirrels to Marco around the corner?”

　　“It helps with the bills, but it’s the skins he wants. I was making some good money offhim a few months back.”

　　“Then go catch your squirrels, before the wind scares them away.”

　　I picked up my bow and sheath of arrows and threw them over my shoulder. The clinging sound of bells chimed as I exited Tony’s bakery. “Have a beautiful morning, Tony, and blessed be.”

　　“The same to you, Katie.”

　　I took the path, the one I’d taken so many times down to the woods, and in a couple of minutes I found the stream that still flowed but the water was freezing cold.

　　A couple of miles farther I found the place I knew had squirrels and winter rabbits. But I hadn’t seen a winter rabbit in a long time and I prayed that maybe today would be my lucky day.

　　I crouched behind a tree and became as quiet as the woods around me. My eyes saw everything, my senses were at their highest peak. I missed father. He was the one that had taught me how to use a bow and arrow when I was little and how to kill something without wasting any of the good meat or fur.

　　He was good with his hands and could wield so many things no one could, even a needle and thread. Lately he couldn’t hold anything as he just shivered underneath the blankets every day. I should’ve taken Tony’s money, it was a huge bag and maybe, just maybe it could have been enough to get father to a Swallow Annex.

　　The sound of little feet scurrying on a branch caught my ears and my eye caught on the fur that blended in against the branch. My hands and arms were just as fast as my sight and in two seconds the arrow spun from the bow and struck the animal right in the head.

　　I heard it drop and ran over to pick it up. It was a heavy one, and a male. I thanked God for the kill. His fur would be worth at least fifteen silver paegolians and his meat at least five. That would help mom with the taxes for this month and just maybe she wouldn’t need to work so much at the tavern and could spend time at home with the familymore.

　　I hated the royals: they only thought about themselves and never looked out for their people. They had plenty of feasts while the others that weren’t as lucky had to suffer paying taxes. It was extortion.

　　I had to admit, Albert was handsome. Maggy and I had seen him only once in a parade at thefair. It was so strange though, that was the only parade we ever had. After the incident with the rotten food being thrown at the royal carriage, the fair never made it to Eikenborough again.

　　I started to skin the squirrel with my dagger and kept the tail for my little brother, Samuel, as I’d seen Feline throwing the last one into the fire. Feline was my sister, just two years younger than me. She was pretty, had a lot of mom’s fair hair and pale blue eyes. She would definitely be spoken for in a year or two from now. I had Dad’s dark hair and his gray, sad eyes.

　　The trip back to the house was my favorite as I would take another route that would take me to the highest peak with a view that could take your breath away.

　　I thought about Maggy’s stupid little joke from the other day. I was clearly missing the punch line completely, as she was the only one that had laughed.

　　Still, I loved my best friend. Like the Squires, the Trins also owned a store, but one where you could buy wine and rum. It was Maggy’s dad, Peter, who had gotten mom the job at the tavern. He supplied us with all sorts of liquor for Dad’s cough remedy. The extra punch seemed to help when he coughed unbearably.

　　I’d known Maggy since the age of four and we had been inseparable ever since. She had been the girlfriend of Prince Helmut for the past ten years, the only problem is that the relationship is all in her head.

　　I reached the peak and I took a place at my favorite boulder. I put the squirrel skin in my bag and the meat hung from a rope in my hand. Marco would never buy it if it had dirt or filth on it.

　　I looked over all of Paegeia and saw the castle in the distance. Etan was a big place, but not big enough to get away from those towers. I’d imagined so many times what this view would be like without those towers in the distance, and yet I would give anything to see the royals’ view. When the sun started to warm my skin slightly I knew it was time to leave. My brother and sisters would be leaving for school soon and I’d promisedmama that I would meet her at the store.

　　At times I wished that I could grow a pair of wings and just fly away, but what would become of Feline, Cassandra, Gabriella, Susannah, and Samuel, my brother of four? He was my favorite in the entire world and I was his. He’d told me himself so many times at night after I’d told him one of my tales.

　　Marco’s shop was still closed but the butcher was hacking away at some meat somewhere at the back. I knocked on the door and in a couple of seconds a head popped out from behind the wall. He smiled at me, walking to the door still with a bloodied apron and a cloth that he wiped his hands on. He was somewhere in his mid-forties and had been trying to set me up with his oldest son, Seth, for a long time. I didn’t know about that one.

　　The door opened with another set of bells. “Good morning, Katie. Let me guess, you found one.”

　　“Why else would I be here?” I laughed.

　　Marco let me in and I hated how his store was the opposite of Tony’s. It was cold and didn’t have that welcome and warm feeling, but nevertheless, Marco was far from what his store reflected, well, to me anyway.

　　“Let’s see,” he said and I took out the fur and dropped the squirrel on his counter.

　　“That is one hell of a kill, Katie.”

　　“So, what are you going to pay for him?”

　　“Ten for the fur and three for the meat.” It was seven coins less than what I’d hoped for.

　　“Marco, you know this fur is worth five more, and the meat, look at it.”

　　“I know Katie, but the taxman came yesterday and you know what they are like.”

　　“They raised the taxes again?” Mom hadn’t said anything about that.

　　“Aye, and it’s all I have to offer you at the moment.”

　　My heart dropped into my stomach. We would not survive this month if the taxmen raised their taxes again. “Fine, it’s better than nothing.” I gave Marco a smile. I knew he wouldn’t do me in if he had the money. This was just another thousand points down for the royals. If it went on like this, I might even consider shooting an arrow straight through their heads.

　　Get that out of your head, Katherine Squire, mother’s voice sniped inside my head. No daughter of mine is a killer.

　　Yes Mom, I replied. Sorry.

　　I took the money from Marco and walked back the way I’d come in. “So have you spoken to Seth yet?”

　　“No, Marco. I’m busy.” I smiled back at him and the bells chimed in my ears again.

　　“Aye, lass, you are almost sixteen, your time to find a husband is running out.”

　　“I don’t have time for stupid husbands,” I mumbled back so that Marco couldn’t hear and made my way back to home again so I could put on a dress and help mother at the store.

　　ALBERT

　　I stared at her big brown eyes as her lips searched hungrily for the truth of what was between us. I never got how people could kiss one another with their eyes closed. It was one of the first things father taught me. When you bed a woman, be careful not to bed the devil, always have your eyes open.

　　But Emily wasn’t like that. She was the daughter of one of the small town’s governors.She was gorgeous with her long blonde curls and fair skin.

　　She was softening the ache.

　　I never felt more than aroused for her and I need to make it clear that I could never marry her. I was destined for someone else.

　　If mother knew that father allowed women, in secret, up into my chambers she would skin him alive.

　　He felt that it was important, just like his father before him, that I knew how to be a great lover.

　　I pounded her hard, and her teeth fitted perfectly around the curve of my shoulder.

　　She was a biter and a bit of a squealer too.

　　“Oh Albert, harder,” she said through breathes and I did what she said.

　　I could feel the ache, it grew bigger and bigger and then it was time to release.

　　I pulled out.

　　She wasn’t satisfied yet, but that wasn’t why she was here. She was only here for my needs.

　　I didn’t love her enough to return the favor.

　　I climbed out of my bed. “You should go,” I said coldly. “If the queen finds you here,I’m afraid she would send you to the gallows.”

　　She pushed herself up.

　　The satin linen fell softly over her bare chest and beautiful perky breasts tried to soften me again.

　　“I mean it, Em. I’ll see you again in two days.”

　　“What am I to you Albert?”

　　“Let’s just say you are more to me than Grizelda.”

　　She smiled. Got up and put her clothes back on.

　　I needed to wash and my thinking post jumped into view.

　　It was part of royal land. Had a clear blue pond caused by forensic stones that was settled deep into the rocks. They were worthless but they did lighten up the pond and the waterfall that was closeby.

　　When Em left, I sneaked out and went to the stables.

　　I grabbed one of the horses and made a run for the pond.

　　It was late, but fear wasn’t a factor for me.

　　Not with what I had to do in a couple of months.

　　I doubt that it would be hard on my father, but he refused to hear me out about the Chromatic species.

　　He only cared for his beloved Metallics.

　　I undressed and walked into the pond.

　　The water was cold but it was refreshing to my skin.

　　I dived down, wet my hair, and came up for air again.

　　I could live right here and forget completely about my princely duties.

　　A pair of arms wrapped around me.

　　She startled me.

　　Two in one night, how lucky could a man be.

　　Her scent told me who she was, she was a friend that could be more. Father loved a Swallow Annex before mother and I.

　　I turned around. Her silver grey eyes and shiny blond silver hair made my heart skip a few beats.

　　Dragons were the most beautiful creatures in their human forms.

　　Without saying a word, my lips found hers.

　　Her warm body heated up the water as she straddled me with her long legs and in less than a few seconds, she took my shaft into her hands and buried it inside of her.

　　A grown left my mouth as she started to move slowly with my body.

　　She was riling me up again, slowly.

　　“You missed me,” she whispered into my ear.

　　“More than you know.” I said back and she smiled sweetly.

　　She was really such a beautiful creature.

　　I walked with her out of the pond and led her to the soft patches of grass then I gave herexactly what she wanted.

　　Having sex with a human was completely different than having sex with a dragon.

　　You needed a tonic to keep up with them.

　　They could last for hours and Constance wasn’t the type of dragon that would just roll off when you are done.

　　She had the ability to heal humans, and whenever I felt exhausted, well, she short of did this weird thing that powered me back on.

　　It went on for what felt like an eternity.

　　It felt as if I was chucked into a world where orgasms and sex were the air.

　　My body ached and then it would just disappear again, giving me more energy to last another few minutes.

　　I released like five times when she was finally done.

　　“The sun is about to come up.” She whispered against my mouth.

　　“I need to get back, you think you can spare me another dose of supersize strength.”

　　She laughed. “How can I say no to the Prince of Paegeia.”

　　I laughed as she placed her hands on my temples.

　　I started to lose myself as her ability weakens my fatigue and energize my entire being.

　　I wondered how long I could go without any sleep if she were at my side, but I never asked.

　　Then she stopped.

　　“That should last you till tonight.”

　　I laughed.

　　It felt as if I woke up from a good rest.

　　“See you soon.”

　　“I can’t. My sister is getting suspicious and she would really lay your law of the gallows on me if she found out what we were doing.”

　　“Then let her. I need you Connie.”

　　“Sweet talk isn’t going to get you anywhere, Albert.”

　　I smiled. “Fine.”

　　She tied her robe and was ready to walk away.

　　I pulled her back and she slammed into my body.

　　My lips touched hers again. “I could always summon you to the castle.”

　　“Your father might just love that.” She giggled. “I really have to go Albert. See yousoon.” She pulled away, “promise.”

　　She disappeared into the woods and in a few minutes the trees rumbled and she flew above the tree tops in her dragon form.

　　I took the horse back and sighed knowing what was waiting for me back at the castle. Moreof mother’s nagging.

　　Can I please be spared from this ball just once. Please.