by K.N. Lee
He pointed to the dark, wooden ship with brass masts and several remarkable black sails. The flag with the figure of a mermaid waved in the salty, warm air.
“The Queen of the Ocean.”
“A bit presumptuous, don’t you think?” Feyda asked as they headed up the ramp to board.
He chuckled, and led the way, and once they reached the deck, he outstretched his arms, and greeted the captain.
She stood there, long mahogany hair braided into two braids that reached her curvaceous bottom. A swarthy-skinned beauty in trousers and a leather corset.
Feyda sputtered when she laid eyes on her, and Gavin scooped her into his arms, planting a kiss on her luscious lips.
“I can’t believe my eyes,” Feyda said. “Siddhe?”
Chapter 17
“Easy, lad,” Siddhe said, extending an arm between them, and breaking their kiss. “I’m old enough to be your grandmother’s grandmother.”
His brows rose. “You certainly don’t look it.”
“Aye,” she said, her cheeks reddened despite the authority in her tone. “You never asked. I’m immortal.”
Realization filled his eyes. He had seen her command a sea monster to save Elian’s life once.
“So, what’s this I hear about traveling to the human realm?”
“Aye,” he said. “And to Vaeryn, the Sea Goddess, if you know the way.”
“Bloody hell. What would you want to find her for? She’s not all that special, let me tell you.”
Gavin shrugged. “We need her magic.”
Siddhe rolled her eyes. “Don’t they all.”
“I never thought I’d say this, but, it’s good to see you Siddhe,” Feyda said, a tight smile on her lips.
“Feyda,” Siddhe said with a nod.
She looked them over and then breathed in and slapped her thigh. “By Osiris’ Blade, I never thought I’d lay eyes on the two of you again. What brings you to good old Pirates Bay? Things didn’t work out with that scheming half-blood?”
Gavin ran his hands through his hair and gave a nervous chuckle. “We’re here because of her, actually.”
Her smile wavered. “Of course. Because the world revolves around her.”
He chuckled and caught her off guard by wrapping his arms around her and lifting her into the air. “I knew I’d find you here,” he said. “But, why did you leave without so much as a goodbye? You didn’t have to run off after all that happened. I did save your life after all.”
When he set her down, she looked to him, fixing her clothing, her cheeks a bit flushed. “And, I thank you for that, dear boy. But, I don’t think you understand what Elian did to me,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “Not only did he enslave me, he made me fall for him. How sick is that?”
Gavin nodded, tucking his hands in the pockets of his pants. “Its what he does. Apparently, its what he did to that Rowen’s mother as well.”
“Well, I feel for her. And, I’m glad she has also been freed from his power. But, can I tell you something?” Siddhe asked, lowering her voice.
“Anything,” Gavin said, leaning closer.
“I miss him, Gavin,” she revealed and he pulled back.
“Aye,” he said, scratching his upper arm. “I dare say, we might not have seen the last of him.”
Chapter 18
Rowen’s eyes opened. This time, she almost wished they did not, for the agony of this charade began to show its effects.
Without food, she would die. And, the sorceress would not let her eat, not even when she swallowed her pride and begged. The constant nagging in her belly left her weakened. Every second that passed, Rowen feared she would not last another night.
To her surprise, when she opened her eyes, there was light and she was not in her room. In awe, she sat up and glanced to the left at the open window as sweet air blew in from the apple trees outside.
Her heart soared. She was in the country house Rickard had bought for her. A small home with no servants—something she could retreat to when the crown of Withrae became too heavy.
At her side, was Rickard, sleeping peacefully with the soft snores she’d grown to love. The sound she missed almost as much as his voice whenever he said he loved her.
Priscilla was nowhere to be seen. Did she dare hope?
She did—and turned to awaken Rickard.
“Darling,” she said with glee. “Wake up.”
He opened his eyes, gazing at her with the most beautiful shade of green she’d ever been blessed to witness. A cry escaped her lips and she bent down to kiss him with the passion of a woman locked away for centuries, kept away from her one true love.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her down onto the bed. She spread her legs and he climbed in between, lacing his hands in her hair and kissing her throat.
“Do what do I owe such an awakening, my love?”
She giggled, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes as he licked her inner thigh.
“I’d have you for breakfast,” he said.
She pulled him back up to her and held his face in between her hands. She searched his eyes, and every detail of his face, making sure what she saw was not a figment of her imagination. She needed to be sure.
“Please, Rickard,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Tell me this is real.”
His brows furrowed. “Of course, its real, my queen,” he said, and slid his hand up her thigh and between her legs. “Does this not feel real?”
Her eyes rolled back as he dipped a finger into her most sacred spot, sending sparks of need throughout her entire body. She writhed against his hand.
“Indeed,” she said, her breaths quickening. “I cannot begin to explain the most horrific nightmare I’ve ever had. It seemed to never end.”
“You’re safe with me, love. I’d never let any harm come to you.”
“Do you swear it?”
“I do,” he said.
The doors to their bedroom burst open and Rowen and Rickard turned to see her mother walk in.
The smile on her face faded and her blood ran cold as her eyes lowered to the beautiful child in her mother’s arms. As she sat up, her hands began to shake and her heart raced.
The child looked just like her, but with Rickard’s dark hair and green eyes. It was a boy, of about two, with the sweetest little face she’d ever seen.
She knew then, that this was a dream, and that she’d revealed to the sorceress her deepest secret.
“Mama,” the boy cried, and as she’d feared, the entire world melted away into a black darkness, and Priscilla sat on her chest, straddling her with a wicked grin on her lips.
“No,” she screamed with an anguish that rose from the depths of her soul.
“Mama,” she mimicked, squeezing Rowen’s cheeks with her hand. “By the gods, I think I have what I’ve been looking for.”
Chapter 19
The Wizards of Myrity.
King Rickard had heard the tales of the powerful humans and their mystical army. But, seeing them in person was another affair altogether.
They were known to crush empires with magic so powerful and abundant that they’d been exiled to their own kingdom far from the land of humans or Dragons. Now, they’d been called to arms by the kings of Trinity, and were prepared to lay waste to every Dragon in their path.
Rickard sat atop his horse, sword at his hip, shield attacked to the saddle. From the top of a mountain, he and his army waited. He had hoped to prevent a war, but, miles away was the wizard’s camp.
They’d pitched tents that blended with the lush green valley, the banners of Myrity and Parea hanging from poles. Cannons that would shoot out balls ablaze with Wizard’s Fire were lined up and ready to be marched forward.
What did they desire above all? To reclaim the power they’d sacrificed when combining forces to curse the Dragons.
Only the wall Rickard and the Gatekeepers had created stood in between them. Unsure of their power, and how long it would take for the wi
zards to blast it down and advance into Dragon territory, he said a silent prayer to the gods that they would remain on his side.
His people needed him to protect them from this magic—magic that had once cursed them—and cursed them again.
He glanced to his right, resting his hands on the pommel of the saddle.
“The wizards await King Tilton, your majesty,” one of his generals, Rathbone said, stopping his horse to stand beside Rickard. “He will head this way and there will be a parlay.”
Rickard lifted a brow. “They wish to speak terms of surrender?”
“Doubtful,” Rathbone said, scratching his bearded chin. “I do believe they wish to press on, and want to discuss our terms for surrender.”
He scoffed. “Bloody presumptive, don’t you think?”
Rathbone shook his head. “We are outnumbered, and no match for magic.”
“Ah,” he said. “You’re prepared to give up, then? Before we’ve even met them on the field of battle. Where is your honor?”
Rathbone swallowed, his throat bobbing. “I would see my men survive and not be massacred by magic we do not understand.”
Bloody coward.
He scowled and glanced at Kastia and Andreea, the Gatekeepers he’d brought along.
“What say you, divine mistresses?”
In white masks that matched except for the intricate ancient markings, they shared a look. As if speaking without words, they nodded and turned to him, white hair blowing despite the absence of wind.
Kastia pointed her golden scepter with a blue orb at the top toward the camp of wizards.
“We can destroy but only a fraction of their numbers,” she said. “Our magic is strong, but we are few and they are many. The two of us are better used in devising manners of defense.”
“Your majesty,” Rathbone said, interrupting his thoughts about what the Gatekeeper had just informed him.
“What is it now?”
“There is more news,” he said, swallowing. “From the palace.”
Rickard shot him a look, his heart rate quickening.
“Out with it.”
“I have reports that Princess Noemie has allowed a human wizard to take power over Withrae.”
“What?” Rickard’s voice boomed across the mountain pass.
Rathbone’s face paled. He was an older man, battle-worn, and stocky. But, under Rickard’s glare, he was but a child.
“It seems the human used his powers to bewitch her.”
“What about Rowen? Where is she?”
The silence that followed made Rickard’s stomach sink into the heels of his feet.
“She is said to be on her deathbed, under a dark spell.”
His shoulders slumped. His throat had become dry, and he was gutted, utterly broken. After all he did, all of the love he had for her, she could not die. They were meant to live long lives together, to have scores of children with stormy gray eyes and blonde hair. His eyes burned, but he would not shed a tear.
As he looked ahead, he came up with an idea—one that he didn’t want to entertain—but the only one that might save them—one that would save Rowen’s life.
It involved a wizard he never wanted to face again. He turned, and began riding away, Rathbone following to keep up.
The war could wait.
“Where are you going, your majesty?”
“To save Rowen.”
“But, how,” he asked.
Rickard glanced over his shoulder. “By waking him up.”
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this installment in the Dragon-Born Saga! Please consider leaving a review if you did. It really helps spread the word about the series.
My new dragon and faerie series is now available.
Check out Court of Shadows here.
Elemental. Faerie. Dragon Tamer.
Curse of the Dragons will be released soon. I can’t wait to share more of Ophelia, Gavin, Rowen, and Rickard’s journey with you. Check out that cover!
An Exclusive Look at Court of Shadows
Join New York Times bestselling author, K.N. Lee on a journey through Rune, where faeries, dragons, elves, and magic and mystery collide.
Elemental. Faerie. Dragon Tamer.
After being exiled from the Unseelie Court, the royal Mordigan family was forced to live amongst the humans in a realm where magic is outlawed. Young Celeste's fate was sealed the day her parents were taken and executed. The Seelie and Unseelie Court have been at war for centuries and their magic has destroyed the barrier between the living and the dead. Spending her teenage years in the Crimson Tower wasn't the fated future for Princess Celeste, and when the queen of the frost faeries comes to rescue her, she is ready to wear her crown as the Empress of all of the magic realm.
Evil sweeps through the land, and it is up to one faerie and her court of princes from all corners of the realm to put the world back together.
“You may not see us, but we are there; watching you, protecting you, and fighting the demons who want your soul.”
From the prison window, I looked out to the dark world that stretched for miles below.
The Crimson Tower had been home for eleven years, and each year I beheld the same bleak landscape.
Snow. Ice. Darkness.
Sometimes the wind would howl so loudly that the echo on the stone walls would keep me awake for hours. In this part of realm, the sun barely shed more than a faint hue in the gray sky as thick clouds seemed to hover and drift along at a slow pace.
Not even the fire could warm me, and even though I’d been born in a hot summer surrounded by tropical jungles, I’d grown used to being cold—to being alone.
Mother had always told me that one day life would change, that I would be free.
Maybe even more than free.
That was before the humans had taken her and father away and burned them at the stake—before my grandmother convinced King Aerion to imprison me instead of executing me. No one found it particularly becoming of a man to kill a little girl, especially when she had yet to display any signs that she’d inherited the stain of magic.
He had agreed. But, the fear of death hovered above me like a black cloud.
Even as I finished hanging my washing above the fire, I wasn’t sure what to expect when the sound of horses broke me from my daydream. The heat of the fire warmed my face as I dried my wet hands on my apron.
For years, I had watched the world below churn with snow and darkness. But, that night, there was light.
I pushed open the window and shivered at the bitter wind as it swept in and lifted my golden hair. To my relief, it wasn’t the king’s soldiers.
It was a carriage of black and gold.
I leaned out the window, gawking at how the gold embellishments glittered beneath the bright moon.
“You don’t see one of those every day,” I muttered.
“Indeed,” Kala, the white dire wolf at my side agreed. “Not in the Outlands of Tythra, anyway. I’ve yet to see a human fly, or do anything interesting for that matter.”
In the midst of a snowstorm, a beautiful woman stepped from the covered carriage in a gray fur cloak with a wolf’s head that reached the ankles of her black boots. She didn’t walk to the entrance of the White Tower.
She flew.
Her long hair cascaded down her back in red waves, and her green eyes glittered beneath her lashes. Even in the dark, I could see them, for they glowed.
“A faerie,” I said, eyes wide with awe. “Someone will surely kill her for showing off magic in such a way. How is this possible?”
“We will have to see,” Kala said. “Perhaps they have summoned her.”
“Unlikely,” I said, closing the window against the cold. I leaned back against the wall, wondering if this was a dream. “Do you think it could be her?”
“We can only hope,” Kala said, glancing up at me with ice-blue eyes that glittered in the dim candlelight. “Eleven years is far too long for anyone to lose their freedom.�
�
“I almost don’t want to get my hopes up,” I said, taking off my apron and hanging it on a hook behind the door. “I don’t think I could take such a disappointment.”
“Don’t give up hope, darling. All will work itself out. I promise.”
With my ear pressed to the door, I tried to listen in on what she said to the warden. It was fruitless. I was high up in the tower, and the stone door was thick enough to mute all sounds from the corridor.
The locked clicked. I jumped and took a frightened step back.
Frozen, my eyes darted from one armored guard to the next. With their swords pointed my way, and shields held out to block whatever they feared I would do to them, I realized they were afraid of me.
That was odd. Why would anyone fear me? A more pressing question came to me as the guards made a passage in between them.
“Come, girl,” one of them demanded. “Warden says you’re being released.”
Those seven words more than those two guards had ever said to me.
Still, I couldn’t move. All I could do was look to my right at the only window in the room and to my left. This had been my home since I was seven years old. My meager bed was pushed against the wall to give myself more space for my desk and bookcase. It was all I had in the entire world, but none of it mattered anymore. Freedom potentially waited for me.
Kala stood beside me. While I tried to keep my fear at bay, there was strength and courage in her eyes.
“Are you ready?” Kala asked, startling the guards with her soft voice that echoed off the walls.
Though they remained silent, their eyes widened with questions I knew they were asking themselves.
Licking my cracked lips, I nodded despite the pain of the sting I’d awakened. “I think so.”
I mustered my courage and stepped from my tiny prison. The cold followed me outside into the corridor as we walked along the narrow hall to the staircase that led to the bottom of the tower.
