Rasnake

By Megan Derr

Tallant is an elf astray—he's been disowned by his family, has dared to battle bond with a human, and has no desire to ever see his homeland again. He is, in fact, vastly more excited to finally be seeing the home his battle-bonded, Milton, is finally returning to after twelve years of exile.

But instead of the joyful place Milton spoke endlessly of, they find a land rife with deadly dragons, where fifteen women have gone missing, including Irene, the woman Milton loves.

Even Milton's brother, Cecil, is not what he used to be. Instead of the scholar Milton talked about, Cecil is a hardened soldier who keeps company with thieves. He is also beautiful and intriguing—but contemptuous of Milton and Tallant. Worse, he's also married to Irene, making it clear that Milton and Tallant have arrived far too late to matter.

Author's Note: This story was first published by Less Than Three Press in Fairytales Slashed Volume Three. It has not been significantly changed for re-release.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Megan Derr
• Release date: Mar 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370922208

Megan Derr

Megan is a long-time resident of queer romance and keeps herself busy reading and writing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she’s not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her wife and cats, or watch movies. She loves to hear from readers and can be found all over the internet.meganderr.compatreon.com/meganderrmeganderr.blogspot.comfacebook.com/[e-mail]@meganaderr

Book preview

Tallant is an elf astray—he's been disowned by his family, has dared to battle bond with a human, and has no desire to ever see his homeland again. He is, in fact, vastly more excited to finally be seeing the home his battle-bonded, Milton, is finally returning to after twelve years of exile.

But instead of the joyful place Milton spoke endlessly of, they find a land rife with deadly dragons, where fifteen women have gone missing, including Irene, the woman Milton loves.

Even Milton's brother, Cecil, is not what he used to be. Instead of the scholar Milton talked about, Cecil is a hardened soldier who keeps company with thieves. He is also beautiful and intriguing—but contemptuous of Milton and Tallant. Worse, he's also married to Irene, making it clear that Milton and Tallant have arrived far too late to matter.

Author's Note: This story was first published by Less Than Three Press in Fairytales Slashed Volume Three. It has not been significantly changed for re-release.

Rasnake

By Megan Derr

Published by Megan Derr

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission of the publisher, except for the purpose of reviews.

Edited by Samantha M. Derr

Cover designed by Aisha Akeju

This book is a work of fiction and all names, characters, places, and incidents are fictional or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is coincidental.

Second Edition March 2018

First Edition published June 2011 by Less Than Three Press

Copyright © 2018 by Megan Derr

Printed in the United States of America

Digital ISBN

Print ISBN

Rasnake

Megan Derr

Chapter One

The air was filled with birdsong, which was beautiful, and mildly raunchy travel songs, which were not. But what Milton lacked in holding a tune he made up for with enthusiasm and joy. It was one of the things Tallant loved best about him. Few people were as openly happy and joyous and cheerful as Milton. It definitely wasn't the way people behaved back home.

Tallant laughed and shook his head. You really are excited to be going home. I don't understand it.

Milton grinned. That's because your family is nothing like mine. If my family was as backwards and zealous as yours—

You'd be dead because you suck at keeping your foot out of your mouth, Tallant cut in with a matching grin.

Probably, Milton agreed easily. But only because you elves are so fussy about that sort of thing.

Tallant rolled his eyes, but didn't bother to deny it. There were reasons he'd left home, after all.

Milton snickered. My little brother will positively die when he sees you, unless his obsession has faded.

You've mentioned before he had an interest in the markings, Tallant replied, amused as ever by the obsession everyone seemed to have with his tattoos. People outside his homeland tended to gawk, like they didn't have tattoos of their own. Although he was always willing to acknowledge that nobody did tattoos even half as impressively as elves.

He was literally covered in them: what was called a rune crown across his forehead, the master mark right in the center, vaguely resembling a stylized bouquet of wildflowers. There were more along his cheeks, called guard marks, sharp and twisting. A choker wrapped around his throat, four master marks at four points starting what were called master trails—one that went straight down his chest, another down his spine, and the remaining two went down the sides of his throat, along his shoulders, and down his arms to spread across his hands and fingers. From these master trails, other runes spilled out, covering the greater portion of his body in patterns that made sense only to other elves and the few outsiders who could read them.

The master trails on his arms were only thin bands that led to the work on his hands. The rest of his right forearm was covered in an intricate pattern of rune-work that identified him as battle-bonded. A matching tattoo covered Milton's right forearm. They had met ten years ago, and had been battle-bonded, sworn brothers, for nine years.

His left forearm was bare, save for the master line; it would remain so until he was life-bonded to someone.

If his family saw him, they would wail and shriek like the world was ending. They were part of a group of zealots back home, who favored pacifism above all else. They would despair to see the eldest son of the clan chief covered head to foot in the black, blue, red, and green markings of a full-fledged battle mage. When he's first declared that was what he wanted to do, they'd been furious. And while they hadn't exactly thrown him out, they hadn't really protested when he'd said he was leaving. At first, he'd sent letters home. When no replies ever came, he'd stopped.

I don't know how he might feel now, but yeah. We met one of you freaks when he was eight. He went home and stole ink and pen from the duke's scribe and tried to duplicate the marks. Milton sniggered. On his left arm.

Tallant grinned. So what you're saying is, your brother will like me lots. How pretty did you say your brother was, by the way?

Milton punched his arm. You are not allowed to have sex with my brother. You're not even allowed to flirt with him.

Snorting in amusement, Tallant said, I hate to be the one to break this to you, but it's been ten years. By now I'm certain your brother has learned many things that you can't teach him.

Rolling his eyes, Milton retorted, "I bet you wouldn't be nearly so amused if we were discussing your sisters.

Tallant snickered. My sisters were all betrothed the day they were born, or near enough. By the time I came along, any opinion I might have had was moot. He frowned slightly. Not that it really matters, but would it really trouble you if…

Don't be stupid, Milton replied, reaching out to swat him on the arm. "It would be weird to see my battle brother getting amorous with my blood brother, but at least I know you'd take care of each other. I just like whining and being dramatic. He winked. You know that."

You just like being an ass, you mean.

At least I'm not a disgraced elf lordling.

Better than being any sort of human.

Snobby elf.

Uncouth human.

What was it that whore the other day called you? Milton tapped his chin, pretending to ponder. Ah, yes. An expensive, fussy flower that—

Tallant kicked a leg out, tripping Milton up, nearly sending him crashing to the dirt path they walked along. Shut up.

Heh. Milton smirked at him.

I really can't wait until we're finally at your precious home, so you'll be inundated in people happy to see you and keep you so busy that you'll stop harassing me. Or noticing me at all. He tensed, prepared to run. Or noticing when I take your brother to the stable for a 'riding' lesson.

He bolted as Milton roared in protest, laughing and running at the same time, something that proved to be a bad idea as it slowed him down just enough for Milton to catch up to him and grab—

—and causing them both to trip, fall, and go tumbling ass over kettle down the hill on one side of the old path. Tallant only just barely kept them from ending up in the creek. Ass.

Dick.

Tallant shifted on the ground and shoved lightly at Milton. I'm not convinced—

He forgot what he was going to say as a look of horror and fear filled Milton's face.

Up, Milton said hoarsely, even as he scrambled to his feet and yanked Tallant with him.

It was only then that Tallant heard it, and in the very next breath he smelled it. Like copper and hot meat.

Dragon.

Tallant didn't know for certain, but he was pretty damn sure they were inside the wards. Dragons shouldn't be here; the wards made it impossible for them to get inside the kingdom.

It was on the other side of the creek, growling, grunting, six dark eyes swirling at them in ominous contemplation. To judge by its size—somewhere between massive and oh shit—and it's dark coloring, it was a mature male. Well, at least it wasn't a female. They were bigger and much, much meaner.

But to judge by the scratches along its hide, something only another dragon could manage, it had mated recently. Very recently. Always a brutal, life-risking endeavor for the males, they were never in good moods when they managed to escape being killed by the female.

Then there was no more time for thinking, as the dragon stormed across the creek, clearly intent on venting it's ire on them before making whatever was left into an afternoon snack.

Its breath was hot as Tallant just barely avoided its jaws, and he fled for dear life across the creek, trying to force his brain to work, cobbling together a stun spell and throwing it at the damned thing—

Only for the dragon to break the spell so quickly it hardly seemed the damned thing had worked at all. Shit shit shit. Scrambling up the bank, he struggled to his feet and looked around for Milton. After a moment, Tallant found him struggling up the bank several feet away.

Hold it still, damn it, whatever it fucking takes, Milton gasped out, obviously having managed to take in water as he struggled through the creek. I just need a few second to get in there and bury a sword through one of its eyes.

Nodding, Tallant watched as the dragon swung back around and considered them. He obviously was weighing the merits of the back and forth creek game. That was the biggest problem with

Reviews for Rasnake

[L'eau · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed the story, but it could use some more editing.