The market square had cleared of people. The dragon set himself down, claws digging into the dirt, the final beating of his wings sending dust flying.
Orergon and Warsgra were both tied at their hands and feet, and Vehel was either only semi conscious or they’d given him something—the Yiridian root, perhaps—to render him incoherent. Dela spotted one of the swords one of the guards had dropped. Releasing the egg with one hand, but keeping it nestled close to her body with her other arm, she stooped and picked up the sword. It was heavy, but her previous job at the blacksmiths meant she was used to handling the weight. She went to Orergon first, who was the closest. Working quickly and carefully, she brought the sharp edge of the sword down onto the rope tying his legs together. Then he held out his hands to her, and, not daring to swing in case her aim was off and she took off his hand, she sawed away at the rope holding his wrists together. The blade was lethally sharp, and the rope quickly threaded, allowing Orergon to pull apart his hands.
“Give me the sword,” he told her. “I’ll free Warsgra, you go to the dragon.”
“No. You need to help Vehel. He can’t walk.”
Orergon looked to their friend and nodded.
She wouldn’t have spoken her thoughts out loud, but she had other reasons for not going to the dragon alone. A part of her was concerned if she did—just her and the egg—he would take off and leave the others behind. At least if they were all together, she hoped there was a chance the dragon would take them all.
Orergon ran to Vehel and scooped him up. Dela went to Warsgra, who grinned down at her as she cut the rope between his ankles. “That’s one way to show the king who’s boss, huh?”
She grinned back up at him.
But it wasn’t over yet.
“They’re leaving! Stop them!” King Crowmere roared.
The few guards who had remained charged toward them, but the dragon had seen them coming. He swung his head in the guards’ direction and released a fresh spurt of fire. The flames hit the guards, and their screams made Dela’s skin crawl. The stink of burning flesh filled the air, and she squeezed her eyes shut and tried not to think about it. These men had been quite happy watching her and her friends put to death, but that didn’t mean she wanted any of them to die. They most likely weren’t bad people. They were just following orders and hadn’t yet had their eyes opened to the truth.
Dela threw down the sword to free up a hand.
With Warsgra free, they both ran to Orergon to help him with Vehel. The prince’s eyes rolled, and Warsgra took his other side, his shoulder wedged into Vehel’s armpit, so Vehel was held between the two males.
Warsgra slowed as they reached the dragon. “By the Gods, he’s huge.”
He was; his body was the size of a small house, a wall of green, purple, and blue scales. Heat radiated off him.
Dela didn’t think for a moment that the dragon would harm her, but she couldn’t be certain about the others. Even under her protection, they still weren’t Dragonsayers.
The dragon swung his head around, and her stomach flipped, but instead of doing anything threatening, his nose caught under Vehel, and he lifted the Elvish prince up and onto his back, nestling him into the same spot where Dela had ridden, right where his wing met his body.
Dela exchanged a relieved smile with Warsgra and Orergon, and together they climbed up onto the dragon’s back, the two men helping Dela as she still cradled the dragon egg against her torso.
As the dragon’s wings began to beat, lifting them off the ground, people emerged from their hiding places, fearful and wide eyed. The men the dragon had hit with its fire had fallen to the ground and gone quiet. No one else wanted that to be their fate.
They lifted higher and higher, clinging to each other as they rose into the sky.
And left Anthoinia far behind.
Chapter 32
Dela
She didn’t know where the dragon was taking them, and she didn’t care. They were flying away from the city, and they were safe. That was all that mattered.
As she rested against the dragon’s warm body, she held the egg close. Again she sensed movement from within the shell, a gentle tap of a fast heartbeat, and a pressure in one area as the creature inside stretched a wing or leg.
Warsgra sat with Vehel, still semi-conscious, on the other side of the dragon’s body, while she sat with Orergon behind her, sandwiched between his legs, his arms wrapped around her waist. They leaned into the dragon, making sure they balanced out their weight, but also so there was less chance of sliding off.
The dragon flew, putting distance between them and danger. She lost track of time, dozing with the back of her head resting against Orergon’s chest. Before she knew it, the light was fading from the sky once more, and the dragon was beginning to descend.
The dragon alighted on a hillside. In the dwindling light, there was no sign of anyone else around, no other buildings, or smoke rising into the sky. They were alone once more.
One by one, they climbed down.
Dela’s first concern was with Vehel. “How’s he doing?”
“Better,” Warsgra said.
Vehel managed to lift his head and nod. Whatever they’d given him, it was starting to wear off now.
“Good.” She smiled. “Because at the risk of sounding completely selfish, I could really do with putting this egg down soon.”
She’d thought the dragon was going to fly away again, but instead he curled his huge body around them, as though protecting them still.
“I’m okay,” Vehel managed, though his eyes were still unfocused. “They must have given me something to stop me doing magic.”
“I think it was Yiridian root. Too much can kill you.”
He gave a weak smile. “I guess I got lucky, then.”
“Do you think you can undo the spell yet? I’m worried this thing is going to hatch, and the first thing it’s going to see is me.”
“So, you’d have a dragon baby,” Warsgra said with a grin. “Would that be such a bad thing?”
She lifted an eyebrow. “When it comes to feeding it, I’m going to say yes.”
“You think it is going to hatch?” asked Orergon.
“It might be my imagination, but I’m sure I can feel something moving around inside the shell. I’d like to be able to hand it over to its father over here, though—assuming he is its father.”
“It’s the closest to a father we have right now, so he’s going to have to do.”
“Good, cause I know nothing about raising dragon babies.”
Vehel gave a rueful smile. “There might be a chance you’re going to have to learn, but the magic should have faded enough now to allow you to release it.”
With caution, she reached out and placed the egg on the ground in front of them. To her relief, she was able to loosen her fingers from the shell and finally release it. Immediately, the dragon swung his massive head around and nuzzled the egg with his nose. Tiny, gentle tendrils of warm smoke puffed from his nostrils to caress it.
Dela smiled. She might not have a clue how to look after a dragon egg, but it seemed the dragon did.
They settled down together against the bulk of the dragon’s huge body. They were protected here, with no fears that anyone would try anything while they were nestled within its proximity. She sat with Vehel’s head resting in her lap, and Warsgra on one side and Orergon on the other.
They had peace for the moment, but she knew it wouldn’t last.
This was only the start.
The dragon had saved her twice, but that didn’t mean he was prepared to fight for her, or for Xantearos. She still didn’t know if she was able to use the Dragonstone to communicate with him, or if he would just push her away again if she tried. With each day that passed, the human army was getting closer to the Norcs and the Southern Trough, and the fighting would begin. How would she know if she had it in her to control the dragon without trying?
Heart pounding, she slipped her hand in
to her pocket and pulled out the piece of Dragonstone. With it came the picture her mother had given her, the piece of paper fluttering to the ground near Warsgra’s feet.
The Norc leaned over and picked it up. He unfolded it and looked down at the drawing. She watched his expression morph from one of interest, to understanding, to dismay.
Dela’s heart tightened, and her stomach flipped with sudden nerves. “What?” she asked him. “What is it?”
Warsgra turned his face to hers. “Is this who I think it is?” he asked, pointing to the picture of Ridley.
With her mouth running dry, she could only bring herself to nod.
He folded the piece of paper back in two, his knuckles white as he handed it back to her. His eyes locked with hers, and her breath stuttered.
“Dela, I know what happened to your brother.”
THE END
Cast of Characters
The Humans
The humans have the highest population of Xantearos, having taken claim to most of the Eastern coast. Their main area of residence is the capital city of Anthoinia, though some humans do live outside of the city walls.
King and Queen Crowmere: rulers of the City of Anthoinia and the Eastern Coast of Xantearos.
Philput Glod: The head of the City Guard.
Dela Stonebridge: One of the Chosen. Carries a dagger made of Elvish steel.
Ridley Stonebridge: Older brother of Dela Stonebridge.
Layla Whatley: Dela Stonebridge’s best friend.
Johanna Stonebridge: Dela Stonebridge’s mother.
Godfrey Stonebridge: Dela Stonebridge’s father
Brer Stidrisk: Young man at school with Ridley Stonebridge.
Wayneguard Norton: Older man, bearded. Heads up the group of the Chosen.
Ellyn Rudge: Older woman who is part of the Chosen.
The Elvish
Blessed with the ability to magic, they’re no longer allowed to use magic as signed in the Treaty. The Elvish live in a mountainous region in the South of the country called The Inverlands. They don’t eat meat, but do eat fish.
King and Queen Dawngleam: Rulers of the Elvish Kingdom of The Inverlands
Vehel Dawngleam: Youngest son of the king and queen of the Elvish
Vanthum Dawngleam: Middle son of the king and queen of the Elvish
Vehten Dawngleam: Oldest son of the king and queen of the Elvish
Ehlark, Folwin, Athtar, and Ivran: Elvish riders sent to accompany Vehel Dawngleam during the journey to the Southern Pass and the Passover.
The Moerians
Made up of several tribes of people, they live in the Vast Plains. Excellent hunters, skilled on horseback and with weapons of most kinds.
Orergon Ortiz: Leader of his tribe and tasked with the journey to the Southern Pass.
Aswor and Kolti: Tribesmen of Orergon, traveling with Orergon to the Passover.
The Norcs
Living along the side of the Great Diving Range in an area known as the Southern Trough, the Norcs live in clans. They are meat-eaters, and strong fighters.
Warsgra Tuskeye: Leader of his clan of the Norcs.
Jultu Leafwalker: Warsgra’s right hand man.
The Fae
A race thought to be extinct, they live in the north, outside of the rules of the Treaty. They also have the ability to do magic, and continue to do so, despite the Treaty.
Nimbus Darkbriar: Leader of the Fae village in the north
Cirrus Fleetfoot: Member of the Fae village in the north
Afterword
Like what you’ve read? Book three in The Chronicles of the Four will be coming to you at the end of September. Make sure you sign up to Marissa Farrar’s Reverse Harem newsletter to stay updated about the new release!
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Anika Willmanns of Ravenborn Covers for yet another amazing cover for this book. I can’t wait to see what future covers look like – I’m such a cover addict! Thanks to my editor Lori Whitwam, for always being there for me when I need her services (even if I sometimes forget what I’ve book her in for). My eternal gratitude to Tammy Payne from BookNookNuts for her proofreading, as always, and my addition proofers Glynis Elliott, Karey McComish and Linda Helme. You can never have too many eyes on a book. Typos are like grey hairs—sometimes it feels as though you pluck one out and two more grow in their place. And finally, thank you to you, the reader, for continuing to read my stories.
Thanks for reading!
Marissa. XXX
About the Author
Marissa Farrar has always been in love with being in love. But since she's been married for numerous years and has three young daughters, she's conducted her love affairs with multiple gorgeous men of the fictional persuasion.
The author of more than thirty novels, she has been a full time author for the last six years. She predominantly writes paranormal romance and fantasy, but has branched into contemporary fiction as well.
If you want to know more about Marissa, then please visit her website. You can also find her at her facebook page, or follow her on twitter.
She loves to hear from readers and can be emailed at [email protected] and to stay updated on all her new Reverse Harem books, just sign up to her newsletter!
Also by the Author
The Blood Courtesans Vampire Romance:
Stolen
The Serenity Series:
Alone (free first novel of the series!)
Buried
Captured
Dominion
Endless
THE COMPLETE SERIES BOXED SET
The Dhampyre Chronicles:
Twisted Dreams
Twisted Magic
The Spirit Shifters Series:
Autumn’s Blood (free first novel)
Saving Autumn
Autumn Rising
Autumn’s War
Avenging Autumn
Autumn’s End
THE COMPLETE SERIES BOXED SET
The Monster Trilogy
Defaced
Denied
Delivered
Contemporary Fiction Novels
No Second Chances
Dirty Shots
Cut Too Deep
Survivor
The Sound of Crickets
Dark Fantasy/horror novels:
Underlife
The Dark Road
Copyright
WITH A DRAGON’S HEART
Chronicles of the Four
Book Two
Copyright © 2018 Marissa Farrar
Warwick House Press
Edited by Lori Whitwam
Cover art by Ravenborn Designs
License Notes
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of these authors.
Publisher’s Note
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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