Chapter 7

His deeply masculine voice rang out through the room's acoustics. It sent a shockwave through me at such intensity. My birthmark burned hotter, and hotter, but not enough to warrant a reaction just yet.

"I need answers," I eventually spoke up. It didn't come off as confident as I wanted, as I was still a bit shaken up about seeing this man for the first time.

"And you couldn't have waited another five minutes?" He challenged me. His tone also seemed intense, but I sensed no malice behind it.

"Being that the last memory I have is getting put to sleep by a dragon, after being informed of their despicable sacrificial practices, I feel like getting some answers is high on my priority list," I quipped back. He seemed confused by the last half of what I said.

"Listen, Annora, could you please give me five more minutes, and I will be open to provide as much information as I can," he spoke.

"Fine. But I am not leaving the room," I chided, walking toward an open seat in front of the desk where this stranger sat. There was an amused twinkle in his eye, but his face did not falter.

My hand quickly shot to my chest. It seemed that the closer I got to this man, the hotter the birthmark burned my skinned. I let out a pained hiss as I peeked under the bust of my dress. Sure enough, the dragon mark was glowing again.

"The pain will disappear over time. You may take a seat if you can bare the pain, but please give me the five minutes," he looked at me. I couldn't get a complete reading on this guy just yet, but it may have sounded like he felt remorse or guilt for the pain my birthmark was causing me.

I accepted the burning sensation, taking the seat that was offered to me, and I got a better view of his handsome face as he focused his attention to the papers on his desk.

I began to feel a wave of pleasant electricity between the two of us. The electricity even seemed to calm the pain of my birthmark. I just stared in awe of the man before me. I don't know why I am feeling this way, if he has me bewitched, but I'm secretly enjoying it.

I studied his face more intensely, now that the distance between us had been drastically decreased. I felt the blood pooling in my cheeks, as my body reacted to the sheer beauty of this man. As much as it felt so right to want him, I was hit with a bit of confusion. I have never really acted this way, bow that I think of it. Sure, I've had handsome men come uo to me, asking to court me, when I made trips into town. None of them made me feel this way. These feelings almost felt animalistic. Like they came from deep within the very depths of my nature.

I tried to straighten myself out, not wanting to let these intense sensations overrule my sense of decency. I had an image to maintain and hormones will not tarnish it. As I smoothed out the dresses skirt on my lap, focusing on calming my heated body, I heard a small chuckle come from the man sat in front of me. I looked up with one cocked eyebrow. I could tell his gaze was once on me, but he had quickly turned back to the papers sat on his desk.

I stared at him, perplexed on what he found amusing, but I dare not ask. The more distraction I pose to him, the longer it will be until I get answers on what really matters. I need to get out of this place. Back to my mentor. Back home. I need to make sure the old geezer is ok, and didn't keel over with a heart attack after seeing the state of the cottage.

The last four minutes felt like a life time, but finally, he plopped his quil onto it's holder, and stretched backward in his chair. My eyes couldn't help but wander as his defined muscles pressed on the cotton fabric of his off white cotton shirt. His pectoral muscles were threatening to tear through the lace up v-neck collar. The heat began to build within me once more, no matter how hard I tried to distract myself.

"So. What would you like to know first?" I could just hear the smirk in his voice as he returned to sitting position, pushing his ruffled long sleeves up to his elbows. He intertwined his fingers, placed his hands on the desk, and leaned forward with his eyes locking on my face.

"How did I get here?" I blurted the question out before my brain could register it.

"I brought you here." He put simply. That answer, however, wasn't satisfying.

"Considering the huge gap of time that has passed while I was unconscious, I'm going to need a bit more than that," I snapped. I needed answers. I didn't need this guy to beat around the bush.

"Well, you wouldn't have such a huge chunk of time unaccounted for, if you came quietly. I didn't appreciate being shot in my back," he said, annoyed, as he brought his had toward a spot at the top of his back.

"Excuse me. I have never seen you in my life. What I saw was a dragon. I huge beast. Speaking of, I can see you're a fan of those winged lizards, by the ones I've seen hanging around this place. Are they your pets, or something?" I chided back. My question earned a laugh from the nameless male in front of me.

"I nearly forgot that you don't know," he said in between laughs. This started to piss me off. It felt as if he was trying to belittle my intelligence.

"Sure, laugh at my naivete. What a great way to treat someone after you've kidnapped them," I spat, crossing my arms over my chest. He looked at me with a mischievous grin.

"My apologies. I just have not associated myself with a lot of humans from Uther's kingdom, so I have no idea what you know or don't know about our kind. Our ancestors were pretty secretive, now that I think of it." His gaze shifted to the ceiling, in thought.

"That still doesn't answer my question." My teeth clenched. No matter how this guy makes my body react, he sure is testing my nerves this very day.

"I am the 'winged lizard,' that brought you here, Annora. I am a dragon. More specifically, I am Blacwin Lawrence. The king of all dragons. The King of Fire," his smirk became even more devilish.