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- Herausgeber: Crescent Moon Studios, Inc.
- Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023
Emma Altha wasn't planning on going to the pub that night, but fate and a persistent coworker push her toward her destiny. That destiny involves a handsome dragon lord who's attracted to her alluring scent, and before long she finds herself in a heap of trouble and sensual adventures that leave her gasping for breath.
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FERAL DRAGON BOX SET
Dragon Shifter Romance
MAC FLYNN
CONTENTS
Copyright
Author’s Note
Sacrificed to the Dragon
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Bound to the Dragon
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Mated to the Dragon
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Sneak Peek: The Falling for a Dragon Series
A Small Favor
When’s the Next Book?
Series by Mac Flynn
COPYRIGHT
Feral Dragon Box Set. Copyright © 2023 by Mac Flynn.
Published by Crescent Moon Studios, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, disseminated, or transmitted in any form or by any or for any use, including recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written consent of the author and/or artist. The only except ions shirt excerpts or the cover image in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All the names, characters, organizations, places and events portrayed in this novel or on the cover are either products of the author’s or artist’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author or artist.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for joining me on a journey through my imagination. If you’re looking for romance and adventure with a guaranteed Happily Ever After, then you’ve come to the right place. My books contain paranormal plotting and fantastical action, and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.
* * *
You can keep in touch with me by joining my newsletter or checking out my website for the latest updates.
Check out my website
Sign up for my newsletter
Thank you for giving my book a chance, and Happy Reading!
- Mac Flynn
CHAPTERONE
Who knew barhopping would land me in a magical world?
That night began like any other, with my friend bemoaning the greatest travesty in the world.
“Why are there so few single cute guys?” Ruth moaned as we left work one chilly autumn evening. “I mean, why can’t they just give a subtle hint that they’re available? Like throwing themselves at my feet?”
The traffic was heavy, a clear sign that Friday night would soon fall on the city. We found ourselves in that throng of scurrying humanity, and all I could think of was that frozen pizza tucked away in the back of my freezer and the old movies sitting on top of my TV stand.
Ruth wrapped her arms around one of mine, and I turned to find her scowling at me. “What?”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “I know that look. You’re going back to your apartment to chow down on some pizza.”
“Frozen pizza,” I added as I tried to pull away.
She tightened her grip on my arm and dug her heels into the sidewalk. “Oh no. You promised me a night out.”
It was my turn to frown. “When?”
“Four months ago.”
I shrugged. “I’m afraid that’s past the ninety-day expiration date, so I’ll-hey!”
Ruth had pushed off her heels and now tugged me down the sidewalk against the flow of foot traffic. We earned our share of dirty looks as my short but powerful friend cut through the tide.
“We’re going to hit the town tonight!” Ruth shouted to the rooftops as she weaved us to the nearest street corner. “And nobody’s going to stop us!”
I ducked a low sign that my friend effortlessly passed under, but the sharp edge still grazed my head. “Do we have to literally hit it, or can we just tickle it a bit?”
We reached the corner and Ruth waved furiously at the myriad of yellow vehicles. “Taxi!”
Ten minutes later found myself in the back of one of those legendary cabs with Ruth all smiles by my side. I had my arms crossed over my chest and was glaring at the back of our driver’s balding head. “This is going to be a night you won’t forget.”
I snorted and rubbed my temple. “That depends on how many drinks I have.”
Ruth shrugged. “Well, if you have one drink at each place then you should be fine until ten.”
I paused in my remonstrations and lifted an eyebrow. “At each place?”
She grinned. “Of course. You don’t think we’re going to just go to one place and plop our butts down the whole night, do you?”
I dropped my hand into my lap and sighed. “Of course, what was I thinking? Who would want to take a load off their feet on a Friday night?”
She nodded. “I know, right? Not when there’s a bunch of places to go and cute guys to meet!” I groaned and slumped lower on the weathered seat. Ruth tilted her head to one side. “You don’t look too excited. Don’t you want to find the right one?”
I snorted. “I don’t really expect to find him waiting for me at a pub.”
“Maybe he’s out on the streets waiting for you,” she suggested as the taxi glided to the curb. She opened the door and grabbed my hand. “So, let’s go find him.”
Ruth pulled me out and onto the busy sidewalks. A block of flashy pubs stretched up and down the street, and the flow of humanity moved from the curb to the open doors. Music blared out of most of their dark interiors, and laughter and shouts rang out over the neighborhood.
Ruth squealed and dragged me into the nearest pub. We found ourselves in a large noisy room where the bare minimum of lighting hung over our heads. The scent of alcohol and body odor permeated the walls, and the place was packed. Most of the people ground against each other on the dance floor, and others occupied almost all of the tables that dotted the rest of the room.
A couple in fashionable attire strode past me toward the door, and the woman bumped into my arm. She turned her head and sneered at me. “Watch it.”
I slumped forward and sighed. This was going to be a long night.
I had no idea how right I was going to be.
“Come on!” Ruth insisted as she meandered us through the crowds to the last available booth.
We beat our competitors by only a few steps, as a group of women in high heels strode up to us. “This is our table,” one of them insisted.
Ruth searched the smooth top and the cushy cushions. “I don’t see your name anywhere.”
“That’s because your big ass is sitting on it,” another quipped. Her joke got a ringing laugh out of her friends.
Ruth grinned. “Then I guess her name can kiss my ass because we’re not getting up.”
The leader’s cheeks tinged with red anger and her well-manicured hands balled into fists at her sides. “Get up, you stupid bitch, or-”
“Beautiful ladies shouldn’t fight.”
All our attention was drawn to the speaker. He was a man on the better side of thirty with jet-black hair and a smart suit. An expensive ring adorned one finger-not the marriage one-and his smile was worth a thousand carats. Two like-dressed gentlemen stood behind him, flanking him like well-dressed stormtroopers.
Our harassers swooned at the sight of such outward wealth, and they leapt at the men like they were fresh meat. The leader took the man with the ring and practically wrapped herself around him. “Hello there. I don’t think I’ve seen you here before.”
He smiled. “We don’t come around here often.”
She lifted up his ring hand and admired the large diamond. The gemstone had a greenish hue in the center but was otherwise as pure as the whitest quartz. “What a wonderful jewel. Where did you get it?”
The man’s eyes sparkled with a strange light. “Would you believe from a dwarf?”
The woman blinked at him before a laugh escaped her. “You’re hilarious! What do you say to a dance?”
He brushed his ring hand over the side of her face, and I couldn’t help but notice that his attention was focused on the jewel. “I would say yes, but fate says no.”
“Then what about my place?” she cooed as she ran a finger along his chest.
“Sorry, but we’re here on business,” he replied as he grasped his arms that were draped about his person and removed her from him. His eyes moved past her furious face to her friends. “But I wouldn’t mind talking with your associates here.” Her face was a picture of fury as he moved over to the women and brushed the back of his hand against their cheeks. “They are quite beautiful, aren’t they?” Each one blushed in turn until he moved on to their companion. He left a trail of rage, and at teasing the fourth and final woman he sighed and stepped away from the red-hot fury that was the women. “I’m sorry, ladies, but there’s no business between us.”
“You fucking asshole!” the leader growled at him before she and her cohorts stomped off.
The man still held a smile on his lips as he turned to us. I latched onto Ruth’s arm. “Actually, we were just leaving.”
Ruth whipped her head about to give me her best frown. “But we just got here! And these cute guys want to talk to us!”
I cast a furtive glance at our companions. Something in their eyes seemed off to me. “I’m sure they’re looking for some prettier girls than us.”
“On the contrary,” the leader mused as he lifted his ring finger to chest height. A slight glow emanated from the jewel. “You may be just what we’re looking for.”
Even Ruth’s enthusiasm was dampened slightly by his strange words. “You know, I think we were just leaving.” She stood and took me with her. “This place is too loud, anyway.”
Ruth hurried us past the strange men and out into the busy street. I breathed a sigh of relief. The late evening had slipped into night and shadows lurked in the gaps between the buildings. The crowds had thinned as most people had entered an establishment or gone to their apartments, or someone else’s apartment.
My friend looked over her shoulder and glared at the opening to that particular hangout. “Those creeps ruined a perfectly good start to clubbing.”
I snorted. “Was that before or after the high school prom queens tried to take our seat?”
“After. We were winning that battle.”
I stifled a yawn. “Could we declare this war over and go to bed?”
“Not on my watch,” she insisted as she looped her arm around one of mine and dragged me to another establishment down the block. “Let’s try our luck at this one.”
Our luck turned out to be worse as we strode past one of the thin slices of shadow between the buildings. This one was larger than some, but not big enough to be called an alley. A dim bulb over a back door some twenty yards down the way was the only source of light in that dreary darkness.
A hand shot out of that same darkness and latched on to Ruth’s arm. She tried to let out a scream, but a flash of some dark object struck her in the back of the head. She would have tumbled to the ground if the first pair of hands didn’t drag her into the shadows.
I leapt after my friend but felt something strike me against the side of my face. The world lost focus and my captors dragged me into that darkness. A cloth was wrapped over my mouth, and the gag muted my weak cries for help at the people who passed by on the busy street.
I tried to thrash in the grip of my detainer, but the blow had weakened both my vision and my muscles. I could only kick my feet against the broken concrete as I was dragged toward the dim light with Ruth close at my side being led the same way. Her head lolled to one side, and for one terrified moment I thought my friend had died. Her chest movement, however, told me she had only lost consciousness.
We were dragged into the light and turned so our backs faced escape. A figure stepped out of the shadows, but my blurry vision couldn’t make out who they were. They held up one hand toward Ruth and me, and a brilliant light emanated from one of their fingers.
“So that means we found her, right, Boss?” one of the men spoke up, the one who grasped me.
“Of course, you fool,” hissed his compatriot. That’s when I recognized the voice. It was the man from the bar. One of his stooges held me while the other held Ruth.
“But which one is it?” the man who held Ruth wondered.
The leader swung his hand toward Ruth and took a step toward her. The light dimmed. “Not this one.” He turned in my direction and stretched out the light toward me.
I heard a sharp hiss emanate from him. The sharp sound of pain grew greater as he drew his hand back. My eyes regained their focus, and his pained face came into view. The man clutched his ring hand in his other palm and clenched his teeth as he watched the light from the glowing diamond grow brighter and brighter.
“Is it supposed to do that, Boss?” my captor asked him.
He shook his head. “How should I know? It’s only supposed to find the bait, not-ah!”
He tightened his hand into a fist which trembled. The light forced itself through the gaps between his fingers and shone like a small star. The man clenched his teeth as his hand began to shake.
The next moment a sharp shattering noise cut through the silent air. The man opened his hand and the shattered remains of the gemstone cascaded to the ground like glitter.
Ruth’s captor’s mouth dropped open. “That don’t seem right!”
Their leader waved his hand and flung the remains of the gemstone from his fingers, but I glimpsed a few bits stuck in his flesh. “No, but it proved enough.” His sharp, merciless eyes fell on me. “We’ll take this one with us.”
CHAPTERTWO
The ‘boss’ turned his back to us and strode into the shadows beyond the light. My pulse quickened as the man who held me pulled me forward. I thrashed in his hold, but he was impossibly strong. The other man dropped Ruth against a nearby wall and she slumped to the ground. Her hands dropped into her lap and her head lolled to one side.
My muffled screams and kicking did nothing as I was dragged into the shadows. They seemed impossibly dark, and the temperature around us dropped to a bone-chilling temperature. I let out a startled wheeze at the abrupt change, but the men strode onward as if it was nothing. The world around us became so consumed by darkness that I couldn’t see anything, even the tip of my own nose.
That’s when I heard it. It was the cry of a bird, but not one of the familiar squawks of a pigeon or the cooing of a dove. This was a full-throated screech of some mighty raptor. The sound broke the stranglehold of shadows that surrounded us, and light broke in on the world.
Only it wasn’t my world anymore.
Gone were the sounds and scents of the city, and in their places were the cry of nocturnal birds and the smell of old rot. Huge trees had replaced skyscrapers and there was grass instead of sidewalks. I found myself being dragged along a hard-packed dirt path that wound its way through dense brush.
My captor laughed. “I think this little thing is confused.”
“So am I,” quipped his other lowly cohort as he scratched his head and looked around with a perplexed expression. “This ain’t the pub we left at.”
His companion glared at him. “‘Course it isn’t! That old hag said we’d pop out in the middle of the woods.”
The other man cast a nervous glance over his shoulder. “I don’t like it. It’s too quiet out here.”
“That’s enough squabbling,” their leader scolded them.
The boss had the lead with the other man behind my captor and me, and the leader paused and turned to us. A grin graced his lips, and my heart skipped a beat when I noticed a pair of tusks peeking out from the top of his lower lip. His flesh, too, now stretched over his face, giving him a bloated appearance. He brushed one of his hands over his chubby cheeks, and I saw that the fingers were now short and pudgy.
“Looks like this one’s never seen a porcine,” the leader mused with a soft chuckle.
The man who held me wrinkled his pudgy nose. “By all those smells in that place, I don’t think they know what a clean sty is, either. What were all those strange vehicles about, too?”
The leader shook his head. “No sense thinking about it. The witch said the trip could only be taken once, so we’re back home for good, and so is our little dove.”
The other man leaned down so our faces were even and his nostrils flared out. “She doesn’t look like much, does she, Boss?”
“Nope, but we’re not the ones who’d want a taste of her,” the boss countered as he jerked his head over his shoulder. “Now let’s move. I want to see if our investment will pay off, and we won’t get that if we stand around here waiting for something to eat us.”
The cowardly man’s face paled. “Is that true, Boss?”
The boss scowled at his minion. “Shut your jaw and let’s get moving.”
My captor hefted me onto my feet and pushed me ahead of him. “It’ll be easier if you walk, and don’t try to do anything stupid like run away.”
I stumbled a few steps before I caught myself. My whole body quivered, but my legs somehow kept me up and we marched forward. I tried to grasp my situation, but it seemed impossible. A moment ago, I was barhopping in the big city, and now here I was being marched by a bunch of pigs down a dark forest path.
I lifted my eyes to the canopy and beheld a sea of twinkling stars. None of them looked familiar. If the North Star was up there, it was doing a fine job of hiding from me.
My captor pushed me from behind. “Hurry it up!”
I stumbled down the path and my foot caught on a root. The tree root tripped me, and I found myself tumbling into the brambles.
“You fool!” the boss shouted as I crashed into the sharp plants. Their barbs tore at my clothes and bit into my flesh. “Get her out of there now!”
The panic in his voice gave rise to my own concern, especially when I felt something hard and wet slither around my throat. My scream was stifled by the sudden termination of my ability to breathe. More of the slithery things wrapped around my body, and I was yanked into the shadowy undergrowth. The stench of rot was deep as I was dragged along the damp ground. I grabbed hold of my captor, but my hands were repelled by sharp thorns.
The branches of the bushes were what drew me into the abyss.
A pair of strong hands grabbed my ankles and pulled me in the opposite direction I was dragged. Between my two captors, I thought I was going to be torn apart, but the other two porcine men grabbed a hold of me and hacked away at the limbs that held me with long daggers tucked inside their shirts. In a few moments, I was freed and half-dragged back to the path where we stopped to catch our breath. I was released and slumped to the ground on my bent legs.
The boss glared at me. “Watch your foot, you stupid bitch, or next time we won’t be going in for you.”
One of his cohorts swept his terrified eyes over the area. “What the hell kind of woods are these? I’ve never seen a plant try to strangle someone.”
The boss brushed off the remains of the plants and frowned. “I heard there’s supposed to be a curse on this place. Something about pissing off some god or another.”
The other man swallowed a heavy lump in his throat. “We’re not pissing it off by doing this, are we?”
The boss’ eyebrows crashed down. “Have you forgotten why we’re doing this? If we manage to get a hold of even a drop of that blood, we’ll be immortal. No god will be able to touch us. Now stop your blubbering and let’s get going.”
I was yanked to my feet and shoved forward. The long nightmare continued as we hurried down the meandering path. I noticed hints of civilization in the wild undergrowth. A ruined foundation here. A chipped stone column there. Even the wall of an old well poked out from the brush.
After what felt like an eternity the path finally opened up and revealed a large meadow. The grass became patchy, and I realized we stood on the edge of a large stone-paved circle. The stones stretched a hundred feet across to the far end of the clearing and had been arranged in rings around the center where stood a short pedestal.
The boss grabbed my arm and tugged me over to the pedestal. He tossed me onto the hard stone, and I let out a small yelp as the stone cut into my knees. I sat there, shivering, scratched, and bloodied, the twinkling sky overhead little solace in the cold and terrifying fate which I’d been given.
As he performed his sick carving, the other two followed us and each drew out a small pouch. They reached into the bags and revealed the contents to be soft gray sand. The pair placed an infinitesimal amount of the sand in the cracks between the rings.
The boss’ shadow stretched over me as he raised his knife. He knelt and grabbed my arm which he stretched out. The man nicked my flesh a couple of times, drawing more blood that dotted the ground.
A sadistic smile stretched across his face as his eyes shone with a greedy light. “There. That should draw in our prey. Now don’t move, or you’ll force us to kill you.”
Never for a moment did I believe he wouldn’t do it.
The boss tossed my arm back to me, and I cradled my wounded limb against my chest as he stood. He turned and strode over to where his compatriots waited near the tree line. The three of them hurried down the path and into the brush where none of the plants dared attack the armed men.
I sat there, shivering in the cold night air. My mind was exhausted from the fear and confusion. My blood stained the blades of grass around me and dotted the stone pedestal under me. I felt like a prisoner stuck between the waking and unconscious world, unsure if my frazzled mind wouldn’t collapse and I would faint, or if I would remain awake in this nightmare until my end came.
A soft breeze floated past me. The air it brought with it was warm, and the gentle wind kissed my cheeks. I swore I heard a twinkle of laughter in the breeze, and I turned my head to follow the wind.
That’s when I noticed him standing there at the far edge of the clearing.
My captor. My hero. My lover.
CHAPTERTHREE
My God, was he cute.
I gaped at the figure that stepped out of the woods. It was a man slightly taller than average, with short red hair as bright as fire. He wore a black cloak, but the front was open to reveal his shirt and pants. The shirt showed off an intricate design of weaving lines along the button line, and the pants, though without decoration, shone like the finest silk in the dim light of the moon. A pair of heavy boots finished off his attire.
The man’s pale face was in stark contrast to his dark clothes. Even his long, sharp fingernails appeared to be ghostly white as he reached up and brushed his hand down the front of his cloak, smoothing out a few imperfections.
He dropped his arm into his cloak and strode forward. His heavy boots clacked against the hard, grassy stones, and the sound matched the thump of my heart. I shrank down a little as he stopped five feet from the pedestal. Being so close to me, I could see his eyes were almost as red as his shocking hair, and they appeared to glow slightly in the dim light.
He tilted his head to one side and studied me for a long moment before he spoke. “Who are you?”
I opened my parched lips, but no sound came out. Fear and exhaustion had stolen my voice. His eyes studied my person, and his look grew hard when his attention stopped on my arms. He covered the ground between us and knelt in front of me.
I jerked back as he grasped my wounded arm and lifted it up for better inspection. A shiver ran through me as he curled his lips back in a snarl. “Monsters,” he whispered as he brushed his hand against the dagger cuts that marked my arm. The cold anger in his words made me shiver. He lifted his eyes to me, and his face softened. The fiery hot look in his eyes, however, remained undamped. “Who are you?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and wetted my parched lips with my tongue. “I’m… I’m Emma.”
A smile spread across his face, and it felt like a ray of sun stretching down on me in all this gloom. “A weighty name, perfect for one weighted down by so many sorrows. Now then,” He set my arm down in my lap and his eyes swept over the area. “We should properly thank those who have brought you here to me.”
The man stood and turned to where my captors lurked. “Show yourselves and explain why you have trespassed in my domain.”
The monstrous men stepped out of their hiding spots with the boss taking the lead. He had a cunning smile on his lips as he bowed his head to the stranger. “Greetings, Lord of the Brambles! We come bearing a gift to you!” He stretched his arm out to me. “Does she not entice you with the scent of her blood?”
The stranger narrowed his eyes at my captor. “She would be more tempting if she were not covered by your filthy scent.”
The boss’ smile faltered a little, but he merely shrugged. “I’m sorry you feel that way, but we only wanted to gift you this woman in exchange for just a small amount of your blood.”
I could see the stranger’s body tense, and that was reflected in his voice. “I see. You are merely a thief.”
The boss laughed. “Not any thief, dragon lord, but the great Purcel, leader of the Porcine Pirates.”
The stranger shook his head. “I have no idea who you are, but I ask that you leave.”
Purcel’s good humor dropped away faster than a rock over a cliff. He rummaged through his pocket as he glared at the stranger. “You’ll know me soon enough, last of the dragons, and I will have your blood.” He drew out a match which he struck against the back of his hand. A small flame burst out of the tip, and he held the dancing light in front of his face. “And you’ll give it to me now.”
He tossed the match onto the ground. The flame ignited the dry powder the other porcine had set on the ground, and two circular lines of fire burst upward from the ground. The flames didn’t just burn straight up, however, but arched upward to create a dome that covered both the stranger and me.
The stranger lifted his curious eyes to the flames that burned hot over our heads. “You’ve had assistance in this task.”
Purcel was all grins as he folded his arms over his chest and shrugged. “Just a little help from an old woman. Simra sends her best, by the way.”
The stranger started back and for a moment a look of surprise covered his face. However, a crooked smile slipped onto his lips. “Does she? I will have to thank her personally.”
Purcel’s good humor faltered a little. “You won’t be thanking anyone unless you give us some of your blood. That fire cage will hold you there until you die of thirst, and only I know how to extinguish the magic.”
“Extinguish it?” the stranger mused as he swept his eyes over the dome overhead. “Why would you do such a foolish thing as that?”
He stretched up his hand and touched the flames. The dome shuddered before the fire flared up. The interior of the dome was a comfortable temperature as most of the heat burst outward. Purcel leapt back with a cry as he threw up his hands to protect himself.
The flames began to swirl above the stranger’s hand, and then they spun in a small funnel downward into his hand. The whole hot dome was absorbed into his palm down to the powder substance on the ground which was lifted upward and arched into his open fingers.
The stranger shut his hand just as the last bit of it disappeared into his flesh. His pallor looked slightly improved as he turned to the terrified Purcel. The porcine’s cohorts had joined him, and all three quivered beneath the bemused look of their formerly trapped foe.
The stranger lifted his hand and a large flame burst out of his palm. The hot, dangerous glow was reflected in his eyes as his amusement turned to disgust. “Leave. Now.”
The three didn’t need a second invitation, but all turned tail and fled down the path. The stranger flicked his hand and the flame shot forward. The fire landed on the back of the rear porcine, who gave a yelp and crashed into his compatriots. The trio tumbled off the path and into the undergrowth.
The hair on the back of my neck stood on end as their terrified screams arose from the brush. Branches and twigs snapped, and the sound of bodies dragging against the forest floor stretched into the distance. I shuddered as the noises died away.
The stranger turned to me, and my heart gave a perceptible thump. His enchanting eyes studied me for a long moment before he leaned down and offered me his hand. “Are you alright?”
I looked down at myself. My clothes were covered in dirt, my arms were covered in dried blood, and my body felt both stiff and shaky at the same time. “No,” I croaked out.
The man knelt down and reached his arms around me. I let out a stifled gasp as, in one fluid motion, he lifted me into his arms and stood. Instinct told me to wrap my arms around him, but the movement only broke open my fresh wounds. My blood spilled down my arm and I jerked them back.
The stranger’s nostrils flared, and a flash of a familiar emotion swept across his eyes. I hadn’t been born yesterday, and I easily recognized a look of a man possessed by lustful thoughts. A blush accented my own cheeks, and I shrank away from him.
He blinked, and the lust was dampened, but it hadn’t vanished. “You have nothing to fear from me.”
I had doubts about that as a pair of long, leathery wings burst out from his back and stretched out on either side of him. My jaw was still on the ground as he leapt into the air, taking me with him. I yelped and wrapped my arms around him, not caring that my bloodied arms pressed against his strong, hard chest.
Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.
CHAPTERFOUR
We crested over the tall old-growth trees that inhabited the forest, and I had a clear view of the shadowed woods. They stretched as far as the eye could see, a dark carpet of branches and leaves. Only to the west and the far north were there changes, the former being an orange color of rough hills and the latter being a sea of blue darkness like an ocean of shadow.
My rescuer flapped his wings, and we shot off across the canopy toward the highest peak in the forest. That peak was a rocky mountain atop which stood a formidable castle hewn from the very stone of the hill. The mountain encompassed some fifty acres and was surrounded by a thick wall of boulders. A single winding road led up to a pair of impressive gates, and they allowed entrance into a lower bailey overgrown with vines. Heck, most of the castle seemed to be under a heavy blanket of clingy plants.
Wide battlements stood atop the thick walls, and the main residence was separated from the lower bailey by another set of smaller walls. The smooth, polished buildings stood at the far back wall against the steepest portion of the mountain. Several keeps rose up from the stone walls of the rear battlements, and at their feet sat the grand apartments and halls, most with two floors and sporting tall, wide windows. Each of them featured stained glass that reflected the starlight and glistened in the night.
They were the only source of light as he landed us in the courtyard that made up the upper bailey. He set me on my feet, and I gaped at my surroundings. The luxury was evident not only by the stained glass windows but the perfect-fitting flagstones beneath our feet and the heavy carved doors that led into the largest hall.
The elegance, however, was marred by time and neglect. The wood on the doors was weathered, the windows were dirty, and many of the flagstones had cracks in them.
There was also the silence. It was heavy, almost oppressive, and I couldn’t help but stiffen as I looked at the dark shadows that hid much of the ivy-covered walls. This place had been forgotten; that much was clear.
All of this belonged to my winged companion. Those same wings were folded back into his body as if by magic. Maybe that existed in this world. I couldn’t help but notice that he looked a little paler, and his chest moved up and down as though he was out of breath.
The stranger offered me a smile and his hand as he swept his other arm toward the doors. “Welcome to my home.”
I brushed down the hairs on the back of my neck before I accepted his hand. He guided me through the doors and into a large hall that stretched some hundred feet and was nearly as deep. Open beams hung above our heads and dark paneling covered the walls. Shields, weapons, and tapestries, all dust-covered and faded, hung from those panels. Cobwebs adorned the high corners, and the scent of abandonment permeated the air.
A great stone hearth stood against the far wall, and a small fire was all that cheered up the otherwise somber room. A heavy chair had been dragged from the long feasting table over to the fire, and he led me over and seated me on the cushion.
“A moment,” he pleaded before he whisked himself away up a flight of wide steps on the left-hand side of the hall.
I wrapped my bloodied arms around myself and leaned forward to catch some of the warmth from the dancing flames. The hearth was large enough to cook a whole cow, but the fire only occupied a few sparse feet of the floor. I grasped the arms of the chair and tried to hop closer, but the heavy wood wouldn’t move.
I eased myself onto my feet, the points of which scuffed against a heavy rug placed in front of the fire. The corner of the carpet flopped over itself, and I leaned down to fix it before my host discovered my minor indiscretion.
“Were you needing something?”
I yelped and spun around so fast that I lost my balance. A strong arm swooped around my waist, catching me before I became sprawled out on said rug. My host had ditched his cloak somewhere and the consequence was that he now showed off more of his strong physique. The stranger’s bemused face looked down at me, and he held a small platter in his other hand. Two glasses and a decanter sat atop its shimmering surface.
“I-I was just cold,” I mumbled as he set the platter on the seat of my chair.
He guided me to one side and made sure I could stand on my own. “Allow me.”
The stranger grasped the sides of the chair and lifted it as if it weighed as much as a feather. He scooted it a few feet closer to the faint flames and plucked the platter from the seat. “How’s that?”
“It’s very nice,” I assured him as I shuffled over and eased myself into the seat.
I stared at the fire, but out of the corner of my eye, I watched him work. He set the platter on the long table and drew another chair to the fire before he took a small table from a corner and set that between our seats. My host poured out two glasses, one of which he offered to me.
I took the drink and studied the reddish hue. The scent of strong alcohol stung my nostrils. “It will give some life into those lovely cheeks,” he explained as he took a sip of the stuff.
I eyed his pale face. His smile was touched by deep sorrow, but the look was brief as he set his glass down. “You wonder at my appearance.”
I tucked my legs close to the chair and hugged the glass against my chest as I stared into the cup. “I’m wondering a lot of things, like how the heck do I get home…”
His voice was soft and gentle. “Is your home that far away?”
I didn’t look up as I nodded. “It’s a completely different world.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Another world?”
I swept my eyes over the vast ceiling over our heads. “None of this is my world. I mean, some of it looks like what’s in my world, but those guys you scared away dragged me from a city into a forest in a blink of an eye. And you,” I cast a furtive look at him. “There aren’t any guys with wings where I come from. Forked tongues, sure, but not those leathery things you have.”
He stared at me for a long moment with an indecipherable look in his eyes, and I squirmed under the oppressive silence. The stranger shook himself and leaned back in his chair. “I see. They were rather desperate to find you, weren’t they?”
As my thoughts wandered back to my home a lump grew in my throat. I could only stare down at my lap and nod.
My host paused in his own thinking and studied me for a moment before a crooked smile slipped onto those handsome lips. He stood and I gaped at him as he swept into a low, elegant bow. “My sincerest apologies, my lady. Where are my manners? I have not yet introduced myself, have I? My name is Lord Edmond Edelmarr, ruler of these forested lands since the time of the Awakening.”
I blinked at him. “The what?”
“The Awakening,” he repeated as he lifted his head and looked me over. “But might I know your name before we delve into ancient history?”
I swallowed the thick lump in my throat. “Emma.”
He grasped my empty hand and placed a gentle kiss on the top. “A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”
I couldn’t help but blush as he returned my hand to me. “T-thank you…”
“Now then, Miss Emma,” he mused as he moved over to the mantel and draped one arm across the thick top. “Would you be able to tell me exactly how those men dragged you from one world to the next?”
I lifted an eyebrow at him. “Do… does that mean you believe me?”
He chuckled. “As you said, I am a man with wings. If magic such as what I possess exists, other magic would exist, as well. Now please tell me what happened to land you in my domain.”
For the first time in that harrowing night, I managed a smile. “I will, and please call me Emma.”
CHAPTERFIVE
I took a deep breath and told him my tale. It felt good to get the weight of my harrowing adventure off my chest. By the time I was finished, I had also finished my drink, and the empty glass sat on the end table. His, however, remained untouched.
My host had a contemplative look on his face after I had closed my tale with his appearance. “I see. Then she helped them far more than I would have imagined.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “You mean that Simra you mentioned to them?”
He roused himself from his reverie and nodded. “Just so. She is a powerful creature, one so filled with magic that most dare not approach her for fear of being consumed by her very presence. She also desires to be left alone, and many who have intruded on her privacy didn’t live to tell the tale of their meeting. The men who captured you must have been very desperate to gather my blood to risk her wrath.”
I looked him over. “Can your blood really grant immortality?”
He shook his head. “Not as they understand it, but that tale is for another day.” He pushed off from the mantel and held his hand out to me. “You look tired. May I offer you one of my rooms in which to sleep?”
I peeked over my shoulder and looked at the stairs which he had ascended. Darkness waited for me at the top of them. “I-I don’t know…”
He chuckled. “There are no monsters here. Besides me, that is.”
I returned my attention to him and shook my head. “I didn’t mean-”
He shook his head. “There’s no need to apologize. I was merely jesting. Still, I do offer you a soft bed, if that’s what you desire.” His attention fell to my arms. “And some soothing bandages, as well.”
My aching body made the choice for me, and I set my hand in his. “I’d like that.”
The Lord helped me to my feet and guided me over to the stairs. I hesitated on the bottom step, but he looked over his shoulder and smiled at me. “There are torches just around the corner.”
I nodded and let him lead me up the stone steps. They turned at a landing where a large stained glass window looked out over the battlements. The forest stretched beyond sight like a rolling sea of shadows. Lonely shadows.
“Do you live here all alone?” I wondered as we turned to the next flight. As promised, a lit torch hung from the wall at the top of the steps.
I felt his hand twitch over mine, but he didn’t miss a beat in his steps. “Yes.”
I tilted my head to one side. “But why?”
“Because that is what fate has given me,” he told me as we reached the top step.
A long hall stretched before us, nestled into the wall behind the grand fireplace. A half dozen doors stood in the left wall, and we passed all but one. He opened the final door and revealed a large bedchamber. A four-post wooden bed stood against the far corner, and another fireplace adorned the center of the same wall opposite the entrance. A few odds and ends finished off the furnishings, including a table with four elegant and heavy-looking chairs. A pair of large windows on either side of the fireplace gave an even better view of the lonely woods. I couldn’t help but notice that the cobwebs which intruded into the other places in the castle weren’t in this space.
“I hope this will be to your liking,” the Lord inquired.
I wrapped my arms around myself but nodded. “It’s fine.”
My host strode over to the fireplace and stood before the cold hearth. He lifted one hand and a small fireball burst out of his palm. I gawked at him as he tossed the flame into the pile of logs that sat in the hearth. They were ignited by the extreme heat, and soon the sound of a crackling fire filled the room.
He turned to me with a bemused look on his face. “I suppose no one in your world can do that.”
I shook my head. “Not without a lighter.” A thought struck me, and I bit my lower lip. “You… you wouldn’t happen to be able to send me back home, would you?”
His smile faltered and he shook his head. “That’s not within my power.”
My heart fell and I dropped my sorrowful gaze to the floor. “Thought not…”
The strange dragon man returned to me and clasped my chin between his fingers. He lifted my eyes to his, and they were filled with gentle kindness. And a hint of that sultry lust. “It may not be within my power to return you myself, but I will use what connections I have to find a way.”
A soft blush accented my cheeks as a smile slipped onto my lips. “Thank you. Truly.”
The Lord inclined his head and released me. He gestured to a short dresser with a few drawers. A pitcher and wash basin sat atop a small table beside the dresser. “You can find some clothes in there. Wear anything you wish. Bathe your wounds in that medicinal water and they should be well healed by morning. If you should need anything else, pull the cord beside the bed.”
I nodded. “I will, and I don’t know how I can thank you enough for helping me, Lord, um…” My frazzled mind had forgotten his surname.
He shook his head. “No formalities between us. If I may call you Emma, then you may call me Edmond.”
I nodded. “Alright, Edmond.”
There was a perplexing mix of joy and sadness in his features as he lifted his chin slightly to stare at the high walls. “It’s been a long time since that name was uttered within these walls. I’m glad to hear it again.” He shook himself of his quiet reverie and turned to me. “I should let you rest. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” I returned as he strode over to the entrance.
He grasped the edge of the door but paused on the threshold and looked over his shoulder at me. “I feel I must warn you to remain in your room tonight.”
A shiver ran down my spine. “W-why?”
There was that sensual flash in his eyes. “You’re unfamiliar with the dangers in this world, so it would be best if you kept to your room until the sun rises.”
I nodded. “Sure thing.”
He bowed his head. “Then I’ll bid you goodnight again, and pleasant dreams.”
My host slipped out of the room and closed the door behind himself. I stood there for a long moment, my thoughts frazzled, and my body exhausted. My arms throbbed with pain, a bitter reminder of my night of horrors. I wondered if I would ever get home. Could I even trust this strange dragon man? Was he any better than the men who had kidnapped me?
The collapse of one of the logs brought me back to my surroundings. I shook off my dark thoughts. The Lord had been nothing but kind to me.
Kind, and kind of in to you.
I glared up at the ceiling. “Shut up. He’s just helping me.”
Yeah, and those guys who kidnapped you just wanted to find you a boyfriend. Or have you forgotten why they dragged you into this world in the first place?
I winced. My inner thoughts were right. Those pig men had dragged me here as fodder for the dragon man. What kind of fodder, I wasn’t certain, but that look in his eyes…
I shook myself and frowned. Tomorrow was a new day, and I’d be rested enough to think about these things then.
I marched over to the dresser and opened the drawers. They contained shirts and pants which matched the Lord’s attire.
Edmond.
“I know that…” I mumbled as I picked out the biggest shirt I could find.
The cloth turned out to be incredibly gentle against my skin, which was in stark contrast to the medicinal water in the pitcher. I poured a healthy amount into the basin and dipped my arms into the water.
Big mistake.
A hiss escaped my lips as scorching pain shot up my arms, and I yanked my limbs out. My wounds sizzled a little like I’d stuck them in industrial-strength peroxide. I waited for the pain to cool a little before gingerly dipping my arms back into the basin of burn. There was pain again, but not the agony like before. After a few minutes of soaking, I was properly shriveled.
A quick toweling off and I was dry, but not warm. I was in a castle, after all, and they weren’t known for their insulation. The large room had yet to be heated by the fire, and though the shirt I wore was long, my bare legs shivered under the cloth.
I snatched a blanket from the bed and plopped myself in front of the fire. The flames crackled pleasingly in the hearth as I wrapped the blanket around my shoulders and legs.
I stretched out my hands closer to the fire and my heart fell as the flames retreated back into the wood, taking the heat with them. I drew my hands back and put them under my armpits. My eyes widened as the fire seemed to sense my motion and the flames returned to their previous height.
I stretched out my hands toward the flames again, and again the fire drew away from my touch. A quick pull back and push forward, and I confirmed that the flames were moving in sequence with me.
“What the?” I whispered as I tilted my head to one side.
“You can’t control it, can you?”
CHAPTERSIX
The voice made me jump. I leapt to my feet and spun in a full circle. There wasn’t another living soul in the room with me.
There was, however, a floating ball of dark blue light. The orb hovered face-height off the floor and some five feet away from me closer to the door. I stumbled back toward the fire, and the light zipped around me and gave me a push against my back. The effort forced me back into balance. I spun around and found myself face-to-face with the strange bright orb.
“You’re rather clumsy, too, aren’t you?”
I blinked at the ball. “You… you can talk?”
A laugh rang out from the glowing orb. “Of course I can talk! Did you think I was just a night light to keep you from falling into the flames?”
I shook my head. “I-I don’t really know.”
“Of course, you don’t know!” the orb scolded me as the light zoomed around my head. I tried to follow it but only wound up making myself dizzy. The light zipped up to the top of the mantel where it floated a few inches above the wood. “Now then, what game shall we play?”
I blinked at my strange new companion. “What are you?”
The ball pulsed and I felt irritation radiate off the light. “What do you mean what am I? Don’t you recognize your savior when you see them?”
I tilted my head to one side. “My savior? From what?”
The ball flew about my head and stopped a foot in front of my face. “From Lord Edelmarr, of course! You won’t meet a viler creature in all the dragon lands than him!”
My eyebrows crashed down. “Why is he vile?”
The ball hopped through the air. “Because he doesn’t like to play games! All he wants to do is brood in his castle!”
I followed the orb with my eyes as it skipped along around me. “Why is he brooding?”
“Questions! Questions! Questions!” the orb scolded me as it stopped its dance and pulsed with light again. “I’m not here to answer questions, I’m here to get you out of here!” The orb zipped over to the wall beside the dresser and one of the stones shuddered before it sank into its brethren. A small section of the wall opened up to reveal a hidden space with a winding stone staircase. The orb flew into the dark area and paused at the top of the steps. “Come on, come on! Let’s get going!”
I bit my lower lip and glanced at the door. “But I’m supposed to stay here.”
“And get eaten by that monster? Or worse, bored to death by him?” the orb scolded me as it whipped back to me and zoomed around my head. Though the creature didn’t have any arms, I felt a slight tug come from its body that pulled my hair in the direction of the secret passage. “Now come on!”
I reluctantly let the creature lead me into the dark space. Its tiny body was the only source of light, and I glimpsed a winding staircase that led into the bowels of the keep.
My heart skipped a beat as I heard stone grind against stone. The way behind me shut. I spun around and clapped my hands against the smooth stones, but none of them budged.
“Don’t worry about that!” the creature insisted as they flew down the steps. “Now come on!”
I looked apprehensively at the hidden door for a moment before I hurried after my light source. The strange thing zipped down the winding stone steps, prancing about and humming a few tunes I didn’t recognize.
The deeper we traveled the more humid the air became until I was practically eating it. I let loose a cough as the light caught the bottom of the steps, and I was glad to be on flat ground. The stairs had changed to a long hallway that led to my left and right.
The creature floated toward the right. “This way!”
I had no choice but to follow, and together we traveled down the stifling passage. Cobwebs hung low over my head and green mold climbed the walls. We crossed several intersections with other dark halls, and none of them showed a speck of light down their long routes.
“We’ll be there soon!” the creature cooed as they pranced to and fro in front of me. “Just a little further!”
A few minutes later and the way before us opened up to reveal a large circular hole in the ground. A narrow ledge wrapped around the hole and a half dozen other tunnel mouths led to whatever subterranean world resided beneath this strange castle. Many of the openings were sealed off by cave-ins, but I beheld an open one opposite where I stood.
The strange creature danced over the edge and floated a few feet from the precipice. I stepped to one side and grasped the smooth, slimy wall with one hand before I leaned forward as far as I dared toward the black abyss. The creature’s light only traveled a few feet down, but I glimpsed strange thin marks on the stones.
A piece of broken wall sat on the ground. I kicked it with my foot and the stone tumbled into the hole. My ears strained to hear its finish, which happened several long moments later. That was one deep chasm.
“Come on,” the creature insisted as it zipped to and fro in front of me. “Jump in.”
My mouth hit the floor. “You want me to do what?”
The thing gave an exasperated sigh. “I want you to jump in. My master’s waiting for you.”
I blinked at my homicidal guide. “Your-”
My question was answered as a great bellow came from the abyss. The breath was so powerful that it erupted as a blast of wind that knocked me back against the wall. The earth shook as a hideous shape emerged from the darkness.
My eyes bulged out of my head as a huge worm stretched upward out of the abyss. The thing towered over me and opened its gaping maw to reveal four rows of sharp teeth, with one row behind the other. I couldn’t see any eyes, but in this gloom who would need them? There was, however, a pair of nostrils, each as large as my head, above the mouth. The thing’s skin was pale white and was made out of hard scales covered in the same mold as the walls. Patches of the smelly plants dropped off its body like flaking skin.
My treacherous guide swooped down and danced about my head. “Isn’t this exciting?”
“Get me out of there!” I screamed.
The creature laughed. “But why? I’m having so much-”
I swatted the thing, and the back of my hand knocked it against the wall. The creature gave a groan as it slumped to the floor.
The worm thing snorted and whipped its face in my direction. My blood ran cold as that eyeless visage stared at me. I held my breath as I scooted toward the doorway.
The worm let out a roar and flung its body at me. I was forced to jump away from the doorway, and I landed hard on my stomach. The creature crashed into the opening and part of the arch collapsed, blocking my escape. That left me with the tunnel opposite where I lay.
I pushed myself up with my arms, but one of my hands slipped over the slimy edge. A sharp scream escaped me as part of me fell into the abyss. My body stiffened and I stopped my fall, but the worm snorted and dragged its body over the ledge in my direction.
