How to Kill a Dragon (Heir of Dragons Book 1)
Page 22
“Move forward toward what, exactly?” pressed his father.
Minx stepped in. “We're stronger together. The dragons and the Fae compliment each other, we could be great allies in the future. After this battle, surely you agree?”
Quite unexpectedly, Kaleb's father chortled at this, dismissing Minx with a wave of his hand. “Stronger together, you say? You mean well, miss, but I don't adhere to that line of thinking. Our kinds are divided for a reason. Distance is better, in this case. I'm glad that we were able to assist today—consider it our way of saying thanks for rescuing my boneheaded son. But no... I don't believe in this joint future you speak of.” He turned to Kaleb, beckoning to him. “Now, Kaleb, let's return. We have a duty.”
“Do you mind if I head out after you? I'd like to spend just a bit more time here, if that's all right.” Preempting his father's complaints, he continued. “I promise, I'll head straight home. Just give me a few minutes to say some goodbyes, will you?”
His father acquiesced with a nod. “Very well. But do hurry.” He smiled to Minx and Mau and then quietly exited the abode.
Puttering about in the uncomfortable silence, Minx and Kaleb exchanged an awkward look. “Hey, let's go for a quick walk, huh? For old time's sake. I know just the place.”
“Sure.” Minx set out, leaving Mau to snooze near the bed. She joined Kaleb outside and descended the stairs. He cut across the rows of inhabited trees and pushed into the surrounding woods. “So... you have to leave, huh?” Her stomach twisted into knots at the prospect of him leaving. Somehow, over the past several days, Kaleb had become a fixture in her life. She'd come to take him for granted—had just assumed he'd always be around. Realizing this wasn't the case, she felt a deep sadness.
“Hey,” he countered, “I won't be gone long. My old man wants me to return to Talon Range, but it's not like I can't come and visit. Right?”
“Right,” she sighed. But will he come and visit? What if I never see him again? What if this is really goodbye? She gulped back the lump in her throat. And why do I care so much, anyway? He's just a dragon...
They continued silently through the woods. Ten, fifteen minutes passed and they meandered quietly northward, till finally Kaleb came to a halt. “Ah, here it is. Look familiar?”
Minx peered about her surroundings. Just ahead, between the breaks in recently-burned trees, she could make out a pretty little glade. It was the same glade, she realized with a hitch in her breath, where the two of them had first met. She'd set out that day on a dragon hunt, and had planned to slay him for his hide. Funny how plans had changed.
“This is a good spot, don't you think?” said Kaleb, hands on his hips. “Lots of history here.” He spared her a wink.
Minx, though, wasn't in a joking mood. Her eyes threatened tears and her lips were pursed. She strode through the tree line and paced through the glade.
Kaleb joined her, standing close. “You all right?”
She nodded unconvincingly.
The dragon shifter shrugged. “Ah, I see. It's just, for a second there, you looked like you might actually miss this dumb old dragon.”
She couldn't hold it back any longer. Tears spilled from her eyes and she turned to him, wrapping her slender arms around his torso and burying her face in his chest. Of course I'm going to miss you, you idiot, she thought. She'd have liked to tell him that, but her lips were trembling too much to form the words.
Very softly, Kaleb placed a few fingers beneath Minx's quivering chin and raised her face to meet his own. Taking stock of those trembling lips of hers, he knew just the thing to calm them. The dragon shifter leaned forward and met them with his own.
For a long moment, nothing existed outside of that kiss. Minx was only conscious of Kaleb's lips—could only conceive of their warmth and taste. She'd longed for this kiss longer than she'd dared to admit, and finally experiencing it she sank against him, her powerful legs going slack and her spine tingling.
Kaleb drew away from her, drying a few stray tears from her cheeks. “This isn't the end. I promise. I'll be back, OK?”
Minx gulped, nodding slowly. “You'd better come back...”
He grinned, brushing the hair from her face and stepping away. “Take care of yourself in the meantime, OK, Minx?” Taking a deep breath, he assumed his dragon form, filling the glade with his red bulk. He turned to look at her with his enormous yellow eyes one last time before spreading his wings and taking flight.
Minx watched Kaleb's form retreat into the distance. She traced his flightpath until he disappeared completely behind the clouds, and only then, sure that he wouldn't see her, did she break down. The Fae huntress slumped against a tree and wept, her heartstrings pulled tighter than the cord of her bow. It's not forever, she assured herself. Kaleb is a man of his word, remember? If he promised to come back, you can be sure he will. Things between the Fae and the dragons aren't perfect right now, but today marks a massive step forward, even if his father doesn't see it yet.
Minx dried her eyes and began slowly through the woods. The dark army had been repelled and, for a time, she felt it possible to embrace something like normalcy. She would return home, spend time with Mau and her father. Without Kaleb in the picture, everything she envisioned seemed dull and flavorless, but she kept on toward Pan, head low, and tried to put on a brave face. If Mau sees me broken up like this over Kaleb, she'll never let me live it down.
She had nearly reached the edge of the forest city when she heard a voice. It reached her ear from somewhere distant—and at hearing it, she froze.
It was the voice of Heilo Lake.
The hide of a dragon is still needed, the voice whispered. You must obtain one before Torrent does.
The voice faded from hearing, and the rustling of windswept leaves replaced it.
The Fae huntress looked up into the canopy, peering through the breaks in the foliage at the dimming sky—the same sky that Kaleb was presently soaring through. She yearned to see him again—and wished for his advice. It's not over yet. What am I supposed to do, Kaleb?
There was no answer, save for the rattling of the leaves in the breeze.
Glossary of Creatures
Dragons are magical beings who hold two forms, one of a magical beast and one of a human. They are strong and great warriors.
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Fae are magical beings and are known to be great hunters. They are recognized by their pointed ears and slim physique.
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Faelyr are the offspring of fae and lyr-shifters. These offspring are sterile and cannot shift, but are quite intelligent and have limited telepathic ability. Fae use them as familiars or pets, as they are fiercely loyal once bonded.
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Krah are large, lizard people. Good primarily for war. They can burrow and get into places that most can't get to. They're good at scaling vertical walls.
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Kurgs are deep burrowing humanoids. Short and stout, and they are proficient tunnelers. Sunlight is toxic to them.
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Lyr-shifters are animal shifter hybrids. They can only shift into their two animal halfs.
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Mage are beings who use magic for either good or evil.
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Plurn are Half lion and/or tiger and half human. They work in prides, very similar to their feline counterparts. They only have one form and are unable to shift.
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Wuffs are large humanoid creatures. They’re a strange pairing of both animals and fae. They only have one form and are unable to shift. Matriarchal society.
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Zuscha are the dark magic fae.
Acknowledgments
Cover Designer: Christian Bentulan
Formatting: Dragon Realm Press
Editing: Dragon Realm Press
About the Author
J.A. Culican is a USA Today Bestselling author of the middle grade fantasy series Keeper of Dragons. Her first novel in the fictional series catapulted
a trajectory of titles and awards, including top selling author on the USA Today bestsellers list and Amazon, and a rightfully earned spot as an international best seller. Additional accolades include Best Fantasy Book of 2016, Runner-up in Reality Bites Book Awards, and 1st place for Best Coming of Age Book from the Indie book Awards.
J.A. Culican holds a Master's degree in Special Education from Niagara University, in which she has been teaching special education for over 15 years. She is also the president of the autism awareness non-profit Puzzle Peace United. J.A. Culican resides in Southern New Jersey with her husband and four young children.
Also by J.A. Culican
Young Adult- Urban Fantasy
Keeper of Dragons Series
Hollows Ground Series
* * *
Young Adult-Epic Fantasy
Dragon Tamer Series
Realm of Light and Fire Series
Legends of the Fallen Series
* * *
Young Adult-Dystopian Fantasy
Through the Ashes Series
* * *
Young Adult-Mythological Fantasy
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