Myrena's jaw dropped in fear and shock, but not aware of the legend of Smaug. Regaining her senses, she pushed him off and scurried away from him. The shifter still leaned against the pillar, not impressed.

"I just saved your life." He spoke without facing her. "I wouldn't suppose running away is a good sign of gratitude."

With a clearing breath, he fixed his collar and turned to her. As confident as, well, an indestructible dragon.

"Not that you would get very far." His facial expressions accompanied his amuse. "You see, everything in the mountain, is my keep. As now, are you."

That didn't sit well with the ghost bride, and she was ready to fight for her freedom.

"I'd return to dragon if I were you," she threatened him with the dagger again. "I've killed many a man who's tried to make me a keep."

Her threat sounded like a mere joke in his ears.

"You seem fooled by my current appearance, I am no man. Still very much a dragon, still impenetrable. But you can try if you like." Smaug conceded, exposing himself to her attack.

She took his offer, slashing her weapon at him this way and that. It was only a miracle that the blade didn't bend, while his skin remained scratch-less.

"If you're quite finished...?" The shifter asked annoyed and Myrena gave up reluctantly.

"Now, you must be hungry. Come, I'll take you to your room."

Myrena only stared as his hips swayed with each step, not moving a muscle herself.

"NOW." He roared and she didn't need to be told twice.

Smaug smirked as he acknowledged her behind him.

He took her to a room big enough to fill her town in. It had everything necessary; a bed, a tub, and a hearth. Somewhere in the room was a pile of dead animals; recent.

"You'll find here everything you may need. Food, shelter, the like."

Myrena stood confused staring at the dead animals.

"Well go on, then. Eat up."

Myrena looked at him like he was born yesterday.

"Humans don't eat raw." She informed him.

"Oh? That seems like a hassle. Dragons eat things as they are, straight down the throat it goes. That's where your horse is, I'm afraid. Tiring, this rescuing business."

"You ate the men too, if I remember well." She scoffed.

"You become a dragon, you'll realize how much food you need a day."

His claim went over her head, thinking it nothing more than a simple analogy. Ignoring him, Myrena picked a chicken from the pile and started cleaning it of its skin. With a cup of water from the tub, she washed it off its blood and fixed it on the spit, basking in the warmth of the fire as she sat spinning it.

"I don't suppose your creator named you ghost bride."

"No, they didn't." She stated without going further.

Behind her, the dragon started becoming agitated, questioning his need to keep her alive. So far, she'd been terrible company.

"Myrena." Her voice came through his ears, drawing his attention back to her.

But then again, there weren't many he'd even considered as a potential mate.

"Myrena," he repeated, "of the sea."

"Are there others?"

"Others?"

"Dragons. I've heard they live in prides."

"They did, when there were many. I'm the last of my kind."

"Your kind is what, exactly? Skin changer type?"

"No," he chuckled, "a fire drake. Crossed a wizard once, nasty business they are. Cursed me feel the misery of my prey. That was a while ago. Now I can use to my will and benefit."

Myrena made an amused hum and returned to spinning the chicken.

"You don't look so dead to me."

"Pardon?"

"Ghosts. They're supposed to be spirts. After life, that sort of thing."

"Well, I'm more spirit like. No one's ever seen me for much long of a time."

"Why 'bride'?"

"I ran away on my wedding night."

Smaug burned with the thought of there being someone else who had a claim to her.

"My brothers. They sold me to an old ugly lord in exchange for gold. Gods I hate them. Men and money."

Smaug laughed lightly with a smirk.

"I don't suppose you'd mind if I pillaged and pilfered them."

"Be my guest. I'm tired out."

"The boar skin, it didn't suit you?"

"I'm allergic."

Smaug stared blankly at her

"That means my skin burns and reacts when I touch it long. Long exposure and well, that's the end of me."

"I don't think you'll find any on the bed. It's mostly feather or something of the like. Rest, we'll talk in the morrow." Smaug sat off, flexing his cowl as he made to leave.

He was half way to the door when a smile slipped across his face when her little thank you crossed his ears.