In the compound, no one would believe this relationship was chaste. I'd be married off to the first one who claimed me, and then forgotten about. That was a woman's place. It was all we were good for.

The other half of my thoughts screamed that Dragons weren't Moles. Those rules didn't apply here. Dragons were kind and gentle. These men believed I was good for more than cleaning. Kanik had said it himself!

Side by side, I realize the difference. The Moles had tried to make me do what they wanted. Kanik tried to prove I was free and my decisions should be my own. He'd even left it up to me if I wanted to drink the venom I'd all but asked for!

For my entire childhood, the Moles had kept me shackled with rules. The kind that contradicted themselves and were twisted to give all the power to men. Day after day, Kanik had turned it around, giving me as much as I would take. It didn't matter if that was information, space, or kindness. He was trying to teach me how to be free, even if I hadn't realized it until now.

Pulling myself away from the counter, I reached over and grabbed the glass. Without stopping, I swallowed everything in it, aware of the hint of sweetness and the bite on my tongue. By the time I set it down, my mouth felt like I'd swallowed hot soup. Gripping the counter, I focused on it, tracing the heat down to my stomach.

It rolled, obviously not happy with the venom I'd just ingested, but a slow breath stilled my guts. The poison acted quickly, much faster than I'd expected. Before I could even step away from the counter, my heart began to speed up. I gasped and tried to make it slow, but my chest was tight and my skin was hot, starting at my throat and radiating out. Then my head decided to dance.

Maintaining my composure as well as I could, I felt my legs turn to rubber and I slid towards the floor. Only my grip on the counter kept me from dropping like a stone. I gulped at the air, convinced I'd just killed myself, and closed my eyes. Naomi had warned me, but I was so foolish that I thought I could handle anything.

"You're okay," Kanik said, hurrying into the room. He knelt beside me. "Relax. You're going to be okay."

All I could do was breathe. If I tried to even talk, my heart would explode. My entire body was burning, my throat was tight, and my mind moved in lurches and stumbles. Tilting my mouth to the ceiling, I simply wanted to breathe, but air wouldn't come. I squeezed my eyes closed and kept trying to breathe, feeling a tear slide down my cheek.

His arms wrapped around me, pressing my head to his chest. "It'll be over soon," he promised. "I got you. The second time is better. I didn't think you'd drink it all." He grumbled under his breath, "I should've known better." Slowly, his fingers slid over my hair, the feeling comforting as I panted for air. "So brave. So determined." He pressed his cheek to my brow. "Just like a Dragon, Ayla. You're going to be a magnificent Dragon."

At that moment, I didn't care if his touches were improper. They felt reassuring. They helped me relax. Kanik was being kind, even if it wasn't what I was used to, and I needed it as the poison coursed through my body.

It didn't take long, not even a half an hour, before the rush began to fade, but he sat there with me the entire time. His hands soothed me, his words praised me, and I tried hard to relax. I couldn't stop the tears, but he didn't chide me over them. Kanik simply held me, promising the feeling would pass, and I believed him.

It faded slower than it hit. There was no moment where I felt better, just many little ones where I didn't feel as strange as I had before. Eventually, my mind settled, and I knew I was going to live. Sighing deeply, I pressed my head into Kanik’s nearly lavender chest, taking a huge breath - since I finally could.

"I'm not a Mole," I whispered.

"No," he agreed. "No, you've got more heart than most Dragons. I hear most people scream."

I chuckled softly, knowing he'd kept that little bit a secret for a reason. "I should be mad at you, not the other way around."

His arms tensed against my shoulders. "Ayla, I'm not mad at you. I'm hurt."

Leaning back, unsure if my own muscles would hold me, I shook my head. "You don't look injured."

That made him smile. "I'm sure you can't see my pride. How do you feel?"

"Like I got bit by a snake."

"Had that happen often?"

I shook my head, but I was smiling. "No, but I imagine this is what it would be like."

"Actually, no. Dragon venom is more like a scorpion. I promise tomorrow will not be as bad."

I lifted my eyes to his. "So I'll only feel like I'm mostly dying, not completely?"

"No." He pressed his hand over my hair, soothing it down the back of my neck. "Your heart will race, and you'll feel warm, nothing else. Your mind will not try to fail, and your lungs will not close. You'll feel like you ran too hard, and that's all."

"Promise?"

He smiled weakly. "That's what tailless people say. I've never felt it."

"How long does it take for me to become immune again? Naomi said she wanted to go slower than normal."

"Around ten days for most people. Your schedule is for around twelve, but it could be less or more. The goal is to get you to be able to tolerate four drops of venom. Ayla, three drops can kill most Moles."

"Oh." I pulled my legs closer, straightening my dress to cover me properly. "When I'm cured…" I smiled and looked up into his eyes. "Kanik? When it doesn't hurt me anymore, does that make me a Dragon?"

"It's only one part," he said, caressing my face before he quickly pulled his hand back. "And I'm sorry. I'll try to remember you don't like being touched. It's hard for me."

"Why?"

His smile faltered, grew, then twisted as a myriad of thoughts ran across his face in a language I couldn't quite read. His eyes flickered between mine, but his tail gave him away. The lashing that always came with their frustration simply wasn't there. The purple tip lay still, completely limp on the wood floor. He licked his lips before saying anything.

"Because Dragons often touch each other as a sign of friendship." He licked his lips again, the tip of his purple tongue visible. "We hug. We caress. We touch people, Ayla, because people are meant to be touched."

"But such affection can lead men on," I pointed out.

"Only foolish men," he assured me. "Ayla, flowers don't mean a wedding. They're something we give each other to make a person happy. We do it as a sign we hope they'll get well, or for sympathy. Touching someone can be done just because it feels nice."

"And that is how bastards are born," I said.

He dropped his head and laughed once. "I meant like me hugging you when you felt breathless. I'm not talking about sex, Ayla. Babies can't be born without sex."

"I know."

"And I won't rape you," he swore. "None of us will. Naomi and Jeera would come hack off our tails!"

That was enough to make me giggle. "Brielle would help."

"Probably," he agreed as he scooted back and pushed to his feet. "And I promise the couch is a lot more comfortable than the kitchen floor."

When he offered me his hand, I actually took it. Like a perfect gentleman, Kanik helped me up, and then he turned me to the living room.

"I was thinking," he said, "that while you recover, maybe you'd like to read about the history of what happened aboveground after the fall of mankind?"

"Yes!" I gasped.

So he gave me a little nudge forward. "Then you go sit. I'll find books for both of us. That way we can give your body a little time to get over that shock."

But I was okay. Heading into the living room, I only swayed slightly. Less than half an hour ago, I'd been nearly incapacitated by a single drop of venom, and now I was fine. I also realized my body no longer ached. It was as if the rush through my system had purged everything.

Hopefully even my fear of my very male friends.

FiftyZasen

Ididn't need to kill the girl. I wouldn't ever. Rymar had gotten her legally registered as a refugee, which meant she now had some rights in Lorsa. More than all of that, she'd helped.