A Dragon's Tale Page 15
The days passed quickly as the twins continued growing within their egg-shaped casing. Erith rarely left her realm. She was enthralled with the bairns. Hour by hour, second by second, she loved them more and more.
Then, one day, she came back from a walk in her garden to find the casing cracked. Her fingers loosened as the bouquet in her hand fell, unheeded, to the floor. Erith rushed to the cradle and sat in stunned silence as the twins broke through the magic just as she had seen so many dragon hatchlings do.
Erith gathered each tiny infant in her arms to clean them and then put them in a bassinet. One boy, one girl. She smiled down at them, loving both so much that she thought her heart might burst from the feeling. The smile faded when she realized that it should be Rhi standing here, basking in the glory of the birth, not her.
“It’s time to go find your mum, little ones,” Erith said and reached for the girl. Suddenly, she was thrown backwards.
Erith slammed into the wall and slid to the floor. Her gaze locked on the sleeping infants as she slowly got to her feet. Had she really believed that she would be able to control them now that they had been born? If she hadn’t been able to do it when they were no bigger than her palm, how had she thought she could do it now?
She straightened her clothes and walked to the cradle, looking from one infant to the other. “Why won’t you go to your mother? She’s a good Fae. One of the best. She will love you, unconditionally.”
Of course, the twins didn’t answer.
Erith threw up her hands. “Then I’ll take you to your father.”
There wasn’t an immediate reaction. Erith rolled her eyes. She was a goddess. No one had ever caused her so much distress before. She swallowed and slowly reached for the girl again. Erith knew what to expect this time, so she was able to deflect the force of the magic the girl threw at her.
The twins had magic the likes of which she had never encountered before. The kind that, if it fell into the wrong hands, could wreak untold havoc. But Rhi and Con would never allow that, which was why she couldn’t understand why the twins were so against returning to their parents.
Erith didn’t give up. For the next few hours, she tried to cajole and demand that the infants do what she wanted. She deflected magic again and again. A few times, they managed to get it past her, smashing her into the wall once more. Finally, she threw up her hands in defeat. The twins didn’t appear to be weakening at all, and she still feared using the full force of her power on them because they were babies.
She got to her feet and stood in front of them with her hands on her hips. “What do you want? I’m not a mother or a father. I don’t know the first thing about babies, much less half-dragon, half-Fae bairns. Do you want to go to someone else?”
In response, the male twin began to cry, his arms flailing wildly. It wasn’t long before the girl did the same.
Erith glanced at the ceiling. “Do I take that to mean no?”
Instantly, the twins ceased crying.
She looked from one to the other. The babies could barely open their eyes, and it didn’t appear as if they could even focus on her. But…it seemed as if they were able to communicate. Sort of.
“Do you want to stay here? With me?”
They didn’t cry again.
Erith was at a loss. She knew how to battle with the best of them, but she didn’t know the first thing about children. Still, the twins were extraordinary because they were Con and Rhi’s, which meant that Erith would take extra special care of them.
“All right,” she murmured.
This time when she reached for the girl, she was able to lift her. Erith didn’t chance trying to take her away. She knew the infant would fight her. For better or worse, the twins had tasked Erith with their care.
“One day, you’ll meet your parents. One day, you’ll both take your places among the Dragon Kings. One day, great things will come to you both,” she declared. “Until then, I will keep you safe and love you.”
Thank you for reading A DRAGON’S TALE! I hoped you enjoyed these three novellas. Find out what happens next for our beloved Dragon Kings in DRAGON REVEALED.
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Excerpt of DRAGON REVEALED
Dragon Kings, Book 1
The capture of a Dragon King is cause for celebration. Jeyra never dreamed she would actually face one of the creatures who destroyed her home. But the longer she’s around him, the more she finds herself gravitating to him. All it takes is one reckless kiss that unleashes desires and the truth that has been hidden from her to set them both on a course that could be the end of them.
Varek, King of Lichens, has known nothing but a life with magic. Until he finds himself on a different realm unable to call up his powers. Worse, he’s in shackles with no memory of how it happened. When he sees an enthralling woman who leaves him speechless, he believes he can charm her to free him. The more she rebuffs him, the more he craves her, igniting a dangerous passion between them. Can he protect the woman he’s fallen for while uncovering the truth – or will peril that neither see coming tear them apart?
The ringing in her ears drowned out everything. Gradually, it faded, and her harsh breaths replaced it. Sweat dripped into her eyes, stinging them, but she didn’t take her gaze off him. Her nightmare, the monster who had haunted her for years lay unmoving before her.
With legs still shaking from the monumental effort it took to capture him and pull him through the portal, Jeyra straightened to stand over him. For years she had feared everything to do with dragons, and especially Dragon Kings. She knew firsthand how formidable they were, how merciless and cruel.
How lethal.
Yet the Dragon King sprawled unconscious at her feet didn’t make her tremble with fear. He looked…harmless. But that was just one of the many ways they conquered.
Jeyra drew in a deep, satisfying breath. Everything she had trained for, worked for all these decades had led to this moment. There had been a point she wasn’t sure she would succeed, but she had done it. Now that she had the Dragon King, the ordeal felt surreal. The exhaustion of her body, mind, and soul, however, told her it was all very real.
She bent at the waist and clasped the heavy manacles around his wrists, noting the fine fabric of his clothes. His attire was much different than hers, but she was still able to discern they were of good quality. The white shirt had long sleeves that molded to his upper body as if it were a second skin. His pants were made of a thick, dark blue material. Both were in excellent condition, the fabrics soft. Even the leather boots, which appeared to have been well worn, were in amazing condition and quality.
Her eyes lifted to his face. He was stunning, with a visage that would cause anyone to stop and gape in awe at him. Handsome didn’t begin to describe the startling beauty mixed with raw male ruggedness. It made her sick to her stomach that someone so gorgeous could have such a black soul.
A lock of his blond hair had fallen across his forehead and lifted in the soft breeze. She swallowed as she recalled the moment his brown eyes had met hers. She saw a million different colors in his eyes. The word brown didn’t begin to define them. They were unique, sporting a mix of light and dark of leaves in autumn and summer soil after a torrential rain.
>
Fathomless. Mysterious.
Beguiling.
Jeyra looked away from the Dragon King’s exquisite face, but it wasn’t long before she was staring at him again. She wanted to know what kind of monster the Kings were to cause such chaos and death without so much as a blip in their conscience.
“Bloody hell. You did it!”
She jumped at the sound of Rankin’s deep, gravelly voice - half in surprise, half in guilt at staring at her prisoner. Jeyra straightened once more and faced the man who had raised her. Rankin was a tall, broad-shouldered man who was gruff and loud, but had a tender side he only showed her. He’d never married or had children of his own. He wasn’t much to look at, even without the scars of war on his face and body, but he was one of their best warriors. That in itself earned him the respect he was shown by the others of their village.
He wore various shades of brown and tan to better blend in with the thick forest they called home. He carried a double-bladed war axe that she still had trouble lifting. His pale brown hair was liberally laced with gray, the top half pulled away from his face and gathered at the back of his head while the rest hung free just past his shoulders. His beard was a darker brown and reached to his chest.
Before Jeyra could reply, she was enveloped in Rankin’s thick arms as he gave her a squeeze so tight, she wasn’t able to breath. He released her almost instantly and leaned back as he held her arms in his hands and smiled brightly down at her with his gray eyes.
“I’ve always known you could do this,” he said, blinking rapidly. “I know this was something you had to do, but I’m proud of you, girl.”
She beamed under his approval. “I couldn’t have done it without the training you’ve given me.”
He made a sound at the back of his throat and shot her a crooked smile. “We both know that’s a load of shite.” Rankin dropped his arms, his smile gone as he looked at the Dragon King unconscious at their feet. “We need to get him locked away quickly. We don’t know how long it’ll be before the other Kings realize he’s gone and come looking for him.”
“I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Rankin’s brows were drawn together as he swung his head around to her. His eyes narrowed as he looked her up and down. Then he looked beyond her, noting how close they were to the border of the land of the dragons.
When his eyes snapped back to her, Jeyra fought not to take a step back. Rankin had never lifted a hand against her. He had disciplined her with chores, words, and, like now, a look of anger and displeasure. She hated when she disappointed him. He had opened his home and his heart to her, and she had worked hard to make him proud of her. But this was one time she had to do something for herself – no matter what he might think.
“Jeyra,” he said with a frown.
“I wasn’t caught.”
Rankin ran a hand down his face and walked a few paces away. Then he halted and turned back to her. “Tell me what happened. All of it. In exacting detail.”
“It’s better if you don’t know,” she began.
He slashed a hand through the air, fury contorting his face. “I’m tryin’ to save your life. You know what they’ll do if they discover you’ve crossed the border.”
She wasn’t sure if he meant the Dragon Kings or their own council. Not that it mattered. She had done what had to be done. Whatever the consequences were, she’d deal with it.
Rankin growled and let out a string of cuss words. “I know that look. I know you’re tough enough to handle whatever punishment comes to you, or at least you think you will. You won’t if they take your life. Now tell me,” he barked.
“I’d rather not.”
“Jeyra,” he said, the word more snarl than anything.
She shifted from one foot to the other and glanced at the Dragon King. She hated that her gaze was drawn to him over and over again. She knew how heinous they were, how cruel and vicious. That should be enough to remind her that his looks were just a pretty shell to hide the horrors within. She drew in a deep breath and met Rankin’s hard stare.
“You’re not going to like what I have to say.”
He didn’t move, didn’t so much as flinch.
Jeyra licked her lips. “I crossed the border into their territory.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Rankin said and turned away. His fists were clenched, anger vibrating his body. It was several long moments before he faced her once more.
The last thing she wanted to do was finish the story. If her first sentence got him so riled, he certainly wasn’t going to like the rest of it. But she also knew that Rankin wouldn’t give up until he had every minute detail from her. It was going to be more painful if she dragged things out. So, she took a deep breath and let the words tumble hurriedly from her lips.
When she finished, Rankin’s face was no longer lined with anger. It was pale, and for the first time in her life, she saw panic in his gaze.
“Ah, girl,” he murmured sadly and slowly closed his eyes as his chin fell to his chest.
Jeyra had expected him to shout, to tell her how reckless and idiotic she’d been. She hadn’t anticipated his quiet words or the alarm on his face. That caused her heart to race and her chest feel as if someone were squeezing her – or a dragon stood on her.
She didn’t know how many minutes had passed. She was too lost in thought, too wrapped up in Rankin’s reaction to think about it. But the moment the Dragon King groaned, both she and Rankin stilled, their eyes darting to the prisoner. Rankin was the first to move. He strode to the Dragon King and punched him hard in the face, knocking him out once more.
Jeyra breathed a sigh of relief. There was no telling how long that emotion would stay with her, and she had a feeling that once it was gone, it would never return again. But no matter how many laws she had broken, no matter what the consequences of her actions was, she had to do this. Not just for herself, but for everyone living in fear of the Dragon Kings. It was time her people got justice for the numerous deaths caused by the dragons. It was time the Kings realized they couldn’t dominate everyone. Maybe then the killings would stop.
When Rankin’s gaze swung to her, she saw he had come to a decision. “I’m going to carry him. If anyone asks, you’re going to tell them that you found him on our side of the border. The two of you fought, and you got the upper hand before he could shift into his real form. I trained you, so that won’t seem too farfetched. And our people know of your skill, so that works to your advantage.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t,” he spit out. “I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing this for our people, because if it’s ever discovered what you’ve done, then whatever truce we have will be shattered and the killings will start up once more. I can’t live through that again. We’ve had peace for decades now, and you might very well have ruined all of that.”
Jeyra’s heart clutched, because she realized that whatever kinship she and Rankin had developed through the years had just been smashed, destroyed - shattered beyond any hope of reconciliation. She had seen Rankin react like this one other time. He never forgave his once best friend for the transgression.
And he wouldn’t forgive her.
Rankin had been the only family she had, and she had ripped that into a million pieces for the justice she needed. She ached for the loss, because she loved Rankin like a father. But her path had taken her to this point. She’d always known this was exactly where she had been headed. If Rankin couldn’t see and understand that, then he hadn’t known her at all.
She blinked back tears as Rankin grabbed the Dragon King by his hands to sit him up. Then Rankin squatted and let the King slump over his shoulder before Rankin straightened and adjusted the King. Without a word he started walking. Jeyra had no choice but to follow.
With one last look over her shoulder to the border she’d crossed, and the line she had ignored, she squared her shoulders and prepared for whatever was next.
Continue DRAGON REVEALED now at
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CONTEMPORARY PARANORMAL
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DRAGON KINGS SERIES (Spin-off series from DARK KINGS)
Book 1: Dragon Revealed (novella)
Book 2: Dragon Mine
REAPER SERIES
Book 1: Dark Alpha’s Claim
Book 2: Dark Alpha’s Embrace
Book 3: Dark Alpha’s Demand
Books 1-3 Bundle: Tall Dark Deadly Alpha
Book 4: Dark Alpha’s Lover
Book 5: Dark Alpha’s Night
Book 6: Dark Alpha’s Hunger
Book 7: Dark Alpha’s Awakening
Book 8: Dark Alpha’s Redemption
Book 9: Dark Alpha’s Temptation
Book 10: Dark Alpha’s Caress
Book 11: Dark Alpha’s Obsession
Book 12: Dark Alpha’s Need
DARK KINGS SERIES
Book 0.1: Dark Craving