together, metallic scales against metallic scales, his foreclaws holding her still, their wings flapping in unison, to keep their combined weight aloft.
Pleasure blotted out his thoughts, spread through his nerves, tingled in his skin, inflamed his brain.
There was only the serpent and the serpent's joy, as the female's quiescent body allowed itself to be guided by his.
The sky turned the opaline color that precedes dawn.
His dream lasted until he heard her dragon-challenge and felt her pulling away from him.
Now they'd descend separately to the sandy beach that seemed so far below. On the way down she'd flame him. She'd gorge on his remains and on whatever humans she could catch, until—bloated and satiated—she'd crawl into some cave to spawn the litter that would one day rule the world.
George started opening his claws, ready to accept his fate and search Elisha's ghost in whatever Hades awaited dragons and their victims. He'd die like Elisha who'd been his bride and died a sacrifice to his dragon instincts.
But even as his heart gave up, his reason awakened.
Dragons had destroyed themselves before, in the stars. Despite the many worlds they'd lived in, they'd come to an end. How, but through their own voraciousness? And how many species had they killed in their wasteful savaging?
All for nothing.
Even on Earth, they'd been uncontrolled devourers and brought themselves to the brink of extinction. They'd do it again. They'd ride mankind to its grave.
If he tightened
Pleasure blotted out his thoughts, spread through his nerves, tingled in his skin, inflamed his brain.
There was only the serpent and the serpent's joy, as the female's quiescent body allowed itself to be guided by his.
The sky turned the opaline color that precedes dawn.
His dream lasted until he heard her dragon-challenge and felt her pulling away from him.
Now they'd descend separately to the sandy beach that seemed so far below. On the way down she'd flame him. She'd gorge on his remains and on whatever humans she could catch, until—bloated and satiated—she'd crawl into some cave to spawn the litter that would one day rule the world.
George started opening his claws, ready to accept his fate and search Elisha's ghost in whatever Hades awaited dragons and their victims. He'd die like Elisha who'd been his bride and died a sacrifice to his dragon instincts.
But even as his heart gave up, his reason awakened.
Dragons had destroyed themselves before, in the stars. Despite the many worlds they'd lived in, they'd come to an end. How, but through their own voraciousness? And how many species had they killed in their wasteful savaging?
All for nothing.
Even on Earth, they'd been uncontrolled devourers and brought themselves to the brink of extinction. They'd do it again. They'd ride mankind to its grave.
If he tightened