I fly to the village without the usual burning joy that I've always felt before. The white gowns of the brides flutter in the light wind. My heart doesn't increase its pace at the sight. I don't want one of these women, I want Sierra.I wait for the crashing sensation that usually tells me who the one special bride is. And I wait. I fly over once, circle, and fly over again. Sierra wants me to love this bride. Those were her final words. I stop fighting fate and open my heart to my next bride. "I will try," I tell the wind.I'm not sure what's happening when the clouds above me begin to spin. Several humans are walking toward the center of town where they will kneel to me as I claim my bride. They stop walking. No, they actually freeze in mid-step. Everything but the clouds swirling above my head stops. Not even the gowns of my brides move with the wind.A beautifully winged Pegasus carries a woman as they charge from the clouds. I shake my head and look again. They're real... I thi

PART FOURHera's CurseOne hundred thousand years I curse your kindEach century you will findOne human woman, not your mateThis curse is now your fateAlone.This should be easier after losing so many brides, but it's not. Each memory presses harder into my soul and I drown a bit deeper with each one. I can't even walk through the halls of my castle without remembering Meagan's sweet giggles. Meagan never lost her sense of humor even at her advanced age when death finally claimed her. I miss her laughter, her smile, her sense of humor and ability to brighten my life. It's only been six months but each wretched day feels like a lifetime of loneliness.A noise to my right has me turning my head. I catch a glimpse of just the top of a human head. Pepper. I'd recognize that crazy gold headpiece anywhere. Meagan gifted it to her when Pepper was a young child. She's a strange girl, or I guess a strange young woman now. She lost her hair as a child before she left the earth realm

I creep up the stairs, thankful when I make it past the children's ward monitor. Charlotte is a few years older than I am and she has found her permanent job within the castle. She's kind and softhearted, especially with the children, but she would not approve of me going anywhere near the dragon's tower now that Meagan is gone.She also knows it's far past time that I find my place within these walls and settle into a job. Meagan was the only person who never rushed me into a decision. I miss her tremendously. With a small sigh, I begin climbing the stone tower stairs and for the hundredth time think on the options open to women. I could work in the kitchens, which are hot and uncomfortable most of the year. I could ask for a cleaning assignment, which would be incredibly boring. I could even work with the children or the elderly, which I've given serious thought. There are a few caretaker positions open to feed and water the animals, but those are usually held by the men. A few of t

I dress in the offered clothes. I should have brought my own. I've forgotten about Acasia's many rules and no nudity when having tea is one of them. "I can't wait to see this great invention, Ashrac. You must tell me all about it and exactly what it was built for."Ashrac takes my hand and leads me inside. Even his hands have grown and it gives me a melancholy feeling to think of what will happen when he is a man. Will the curse guide his life as it has ours? It's such a horrible thought and I'm here to escape those.We walk down the stairs and enter a long hallway that takes us to a set of rooms that are used for entertaining. Acasia throws herself into my arms much like Ashrac did. I look over her shoulder at Bastian and he only rolls his eyes. I return her hug before stepping back."We've missed you, Tahr," she says in a husky voice as she tries to fight tears. She and Meagan were great friends."I've missed you too and I hear you have tea and sweet cakes to entertain me. We bes

"Meagan, I'm sorry," the soft whisper wakes me."What the hell," I mutter into the semi-dark room as I look around for the person who spoke. I roll over and of course Meagan isn't there. The voice was so real-husky and melodic at the same time. Maybe I'm losing my mind. I laugh and the sound echoes off the walls. It's been a month since my visit to Bastian's lair. I need to go there again. Occasionally, I fly around my territory, but it doesn't relieve the loneliness as much as I would like. Seven months without Meagan and now I'm hearing damned voices.For some reason, Pepper enters my mind. I've seen no sign of her since I told Henry to keep her away from me. I'm hoping she's been put on laundry duty and too tired to sneak through my chambers. Whatever her punishment, a month is probably long enough for her to suffer. I'm sure she's learned her lesson by now. I hate to admit that I actually miss the scurrying glimpses I caught every so often.Since the night I banished Pepper from