Captured by the Beast [SS#2]

Chapter 9

Nuri

Scratch what I said. There was going to be trouble alright. Trouble with a certain female dragon who decided that causing a commotion in the square would be the right thing to do. Especially when it pertained to Mizail.

"A human, like you, is trying to steal my mate? An ugly thing like you!" She screamed as I looked between her and Mizail in confusion. He still stood towering over me by my side with a scowl on his face. I never thought he could make any other faces besides smiling or that intense look he gave me earlier. Just thinking about that look sent a pleasant shiver down my spine. But, she was a pretty dragon. Her scales were different shades of orange depending on the location. Like her face was a light orange while the tip of her visible tail was a red orange. She wore some type of fluffy green dress that complimented her scales nicely as she glared down at me with her dark green eyes.

"Azora, I've told you plenty of times now that we are not mates. You know this. Stop spreading lies and talking ficos about Nuri." He warned though I caught the quiet growl towards the end as he stepped forward. Quickly stepping towards the pretty female dragon, I smiled up at her. I would have to ask Mizail about what in the world was ficos? Was it focus or something?

"Nice to meet you, Azora. Wow, you're even prettier up close." I smiled as a look of triumph filled her face while the gathered crowd whispered in hushed voices. "But even pretty beings are ugly if they have a nasty personality like yours." I explained with an innocent look on my face as she looked at me like I had grown another head.

"How. Dare. You!" She seethed while stepping closer towards me as Mizail stepped forward before I held out a hand towards him. "And now you're commanding my mate!" She roared while stalking towards me as blue fire lit up between us.

"That's enough. You will not disrespect our leader and his mate." A familiar blue dragon with tall horns growled while stepping through the crowd as everyone fell quiet. I quietly watched as he expelled the pretty flames between us while stepping up to stand next to me as Azora huffed. She said something slick but I was more focused on the blue dragon who glanced over at Mizail with his dark blue eyes. Not only did he seem familiar but what in the hell just came out of his mouth? Leader?

"You're practically bullying an injured being. How petty can you be? You might want to leave now while you can still save face." I threw in as she continued to glare at me before turning and leaving. As she disappeared from the square, the small crowd dispersed as well before I turned my attention to the two dragon aliens standing near me. "Leader? Him?" I asked the blue dragon while pointing at Mizail as he nodded. I figured he was some type of higher up in this tribe but THE leader? That stupid smile slid onto Mizail's face as I could feel the frown forming.

"Little one, I will explain later. But, this is my second in command, Ahmaer. Ahmaer, this is my lovely mate, Nuri." He introduced while looking between us as I nodded at the blue dragon before hobbling away. I didn't have to look back to know he was following behind me. Him and his buddy. "Would you like me to carry you to the first set of huts? It's nearby." He smiled down at me as I continued to hobble in the same direction with the same frown on my face.

"Nope. You can just lead the way and I'll follow." I mumbled as he leaned closer towards me like he didn't hear me. "Guide the way, big guy!" I loudly spoke as his buddy behind me tried to cover his laugh with a cough. With that same stupid smile on his face, Mizail guided us to a clay house just a few steps away from the square.

"It's close to the square and all of the festivities. This area helps cook and makes crafts to sell to the other Aloreans or any visitors. There's even a small platforming slab near where some of the Aloreans perform on." He explained as we stepped inside, looking around at the dark place before Mizail spoke up again. "Ah, I forgot you can't see in the dark. Hang on while I light up the room." Just as those words left his mouth, the room lit up with black flames before separating into glass holders upon different walls.

"Wow!" I gasped as they both looked at me like I had just said the most fascinating thing. "So, each Alorean has their own colored flame?" I asked while quickly turning to them, almost knocking myself over before Mizail steadied me. He held me in place while staring down at me as I huffed. "I'm okay. Let go." It was odd how gentle this giant walking dragon was compared to my own father and my ex husband.

"Are you sure? You're not hurting anywhere, are you?" He asked as I nodded before he made sure I was completely steady on my feet. Once he was satisfied, he slowly withdrew from me as my body felt weird. Almost like I wasn't complete unless he was touching me. How odd! I gently shook my head as Mizail straightened himself again.

"Yes, each Alorean has a different colored flame." Ahmaer chimed in as the silence was starting to settle as I turned my attention to him. "We can control and bind it to our will much like you did in the desert." He added as it finally clicked. He was the other dragon in the desert!

"That's really cool." I started before squinting up at him. "But, last time I counted, there were three of you in the desert. Will the third person be a surprise too?" I asked as Mizail's stupid smile faltered a little before he shook his head while Ahmaer patted his shoulder.

"No. If she knows what's good for her, she won't appear with the behavior she had earlier." Was all Mizail said on that before he switched up topics. "So, do you like this hut? Or would you prefer we go look at another one?" He asked as I took that as my sign to not bring up his previous statement. Quietly turning back to the interior, I noted how this little hut reminded me of a studio apartment back on Earth. There was only one door that I figured led to the bathroom while the rest of the hut was just one big room with a clay stove shoved to the back behind a small wall. Besides that, there was nothing else in the little hut.

"I think I'll take this one. Would I need to request a bed or something?" I asked while looking back at Mizail as he shook his head before I noticed his buddy had disappeared. "Okay." I drawled out while glancing over at the only door in the room. "Would that happen to be the bathroom?"

"Yes. The huts are usually emptied out so that anybody who moves in would be able to bring their own things in and see if they like it. We'll bring your necessities for you today. You'll be able to sleep here as of tonight if you wish to." He explained as I stared at him. He was acting odd. What a weird way to explain that. "Ahmaer will be back shortly with your bed and I'll bring over the fabrics later on in the day. Now, since your living situation is settled, let me go introduce you to your neighbors. You'll learn a lot from them and if there's time, I'll take you by the tailor." As his words filtered in through my ears, the excitement bubbled up in my stomach along with anxiety.

"Sounds like a good idea to me." I nodded as he stared at me for a second before taking my hands in his.

"It'll be okay. Not everyone is like Azora." He smiled warmly at me as I found myself nodding. That must've been the orange dragon from earlier. "You live in a good section. You're surrounded by friendly mothers and excitable fledglings." He reassured me as I could feel myself relaxing. Why did he have this effect on me? "We'll also get you something to eat and I'll show you my house in case you need me." He added as I looked up at him. Why was he so friendly?

"Okay." I mumbled while pulling my eyes from him as he quietly led me out of my new home. My excitement continued to bubble at the thought of meeting more people. Maybe, he was right.