Scorched (Rulers of the Sky Book 1)

by Paula Quinn

  Sam didn’t breathe. She could only stare up at his wide jaws and the enormous fangs overlapping them. A whoosh of warm, methane-scented air covered her when he flared his upturned nostrils and breathed on her. Was he going to kill her? Eat her? She lifted her gaze to his enormous, elongated eyes. They softened on her. Did he recognize her?

  Marcus.

  One frilled ear quirked at the sound of her voice in his mind.

  When no reply came, she squeezed her eyes shut, praying that her death came quickly. But instead of his teeth, she felt his sharp claw graze against her ankle. With a gentle swipe, he cut away the rope that bound her and then pushed her chair over with his broad snout and cut away the bindings around her wrists. She was free and she didn’t waste an instant to scoot under the nearest table.

  “How is this possible?” she heard Patrick White foolishly shouting at him. “What have you done? Where is the child?”

  He is safe from you, Marrkiya replied in a calm deep, rumbling voice in Sam’s mind.

  “Not for long! I’ll use the Phoenix Amber to transform myself and then I’ll come after you, right after I slit the child’s throat and take his essence!”

  Sam almost felt sorry for Patrick for spouting such insanity. Did he think this Drakkon wouldn’t kill him where he stood?

  You would give up being a man, a father to your children, Marrkiya asked him then held up his claws and admired them. The Phoenix Amber only works twice on one body. I assume that’s why you haven’t used it already. You wouldn’t be able to transform back and you like being a man.

  Marcus turned to look at her again and when their eyes met, Sam understood why any virgin would give herself to him.

  I like it too, he told her silently. But first, I must stop him.

  Don’t eat him! The thought of it turned her stomach.

  I won’t.

  And don’t burn him.

  Samantha.

  Not if I stop you first! Patrick’s voice resonated through both their heads.

  A flash of something gold caught Sam’s eye. She looked up from beneath her hiding place and saw the White holding a golden bow, its matching arrow pointed at Marrkiya.

  “I’ve waited for this day for so long. Oh, how I’ve dreamed of killing you, of wiping your arrogant face from my memory.”

  He pulled the taut bowstring. Sam screamed and leaped at him. Marrkiya could have easily flown out the open window, but he didn’t leave her. He’d promised he never would.

  She ran for Patrick even as the arrow flew. She knew it hit Marrkiya, for Patrick was too close to miss. And she knew what it meant.

  With a blood-curdling scream, she threw her body against Patrick’s as hard as she could. They both tumbled to the ground and rolled to the edge of the gaping window, fifty stories above the ground. Patrick White teetered over the side for a moment. When he started to fall, he grabbed hold of Sam’s wrist to take her with him. She screamed again as she was dragged out the window.

  A hand caught her just before she fell. She looked up, barely able to comprehend what was happening. Marcus leaned over the side in human form. The arrow piercing his shoulder moving with each breath he struggled to take. His long black hair swept across his eyes, terrified eyes that clung to her, adored her, bared his heart and soul to her.

  “I’ve got you,” he told her while she dangled in the air with Patrick holding on to her other wrist. His weight threatened to pull her free from Marcus. She held on, trying not to scream again.

  I’m taking her with me, Marrkiya, Patrick promised with a note of triumph coating his thought.

  Like hell, you are, came Marcus’ reply. He yanked her up, ignoring Patrick’s screams that he couldn’t hold on.

  Sam kept her eyes fixed on Marcus’ as Patrick White’s fingers slipped away and sent him hurtling downward.

  With one final tug, Marcus pulled her up. She landed in his arms and clung to him, crying into his bare chest. He lived. She lived. “I thought he killed you,” she wept on him. “The golden arrow—

  “I transformed when the arrow struck me. As a man, the arrow has no effect. Thankfully, he only hit me in the shoulder. See? I am fine, my love.”

  She wiped her eyes and looked at him, finally taking in that he was naked. Oh, he was fine, indeed.

  He touched her face with tender fingers, wiping her tears. “I love you, Sam. You’re not going to get rid of me that easily.”

  “You were Marrkiya,” she sniffed. “I thought you’d given up being a man. I can see why you would. You’re a beautiful Drakkon, Marcus.”

  “I know, my love.”

  She had to smile at his unabashed arrogance. She thought of telling him that he was even more breathtaking as a man, but his head was big enough.

  “I told you I wanted to be a man, and I meant it. Being Drakkon is wonderful and familiar, but I have come to know and feel something extraordinary. Love, more exhilarating than flying, more powerful than my fire, my scales, and my talons combined. Love for you and for Garion that has made me what I want to be, not a Drakkon, but a man, a husband, a father.”

  He dipped his head to kiss her.

  “They thought my greatest treasure was the pride in my Drakkon blood, but they were wrong. My greatest treasure is you. My heart is yours and yours alone for as long as I live.”

  She spread her loving gaze over him and then smiled. “That’s a long time, Drakkon.”

  “Aye,” he said, his smile turning into a scowl. “We’ll have to do something about that.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Marcus growled at Thomas and Ellie and smacked their hands away, Thomas’s from trying to fit him into the jacket of his tux and Ellie’s from choking him to death with a hated tie at his throat.

  “I told you nothing fits him,” Ellie complained. “He’s too big!”

  “He looks fine,” Thomas stepped away from Marcus’ strong hands and gave him a thorough looking over.

  The tux was snug but he’d be out of it soon enough. It was his wedding day and all he could think about was tonight and taking Sam to bed as his wife.

  I miss you.

  You saw me last night.

  Aye, twelve hours ago, he complained. I’m stuck here with these two fumbling at my limbs and neck. I would rather be with you.

  Just a little longer, my darling, she said, sounding a little over-indulgent, as if she were speaking to Garion.

  Where is the boy?

  Keeping Tabitha busy.

  You remembered to tell him not to transform in front of our guests? I don’t want any of the elders to know who he is or what he can do. And it turned out that he could do even more than they thought. Like healing, for instance. It was a wonder, really, but Marcus’ shoulder was evidence that the child possessed more power than they could imagine.

  Of course, I remembered to tell him, Sam assured him. Stop worrying and let me get dressed.

  I would prefer you undressed.

  He smiled, imaging her rolling her eyes at him from the other room when she didn’t reply.

  Life was good, despite the transformed Drakkon sitting in his great hall, despite the powerful little boy who couldn’t think of anything but flying and sending those thoughts to Marcus and only God knew who else, and despite Thomas and Ellie picking at him and trying to smooth his coat. Life was good and he wanted to live it with Sam, but not forever.

  Now that Thomas is the head elder, he’s agreed to do something for me—as a gift for our wedding.

  What has he agreed?

  To use the Phoenix Amber to take away my immortality.

  You call that a gift?

  Aye, because I don’t want to live for centuries without you. Of course, I’ll lose my wings and we won’t be able to dance in the clouds again. But I will learn how to dance on my feet.

  She was quiet for a moment and then he heard her sniffle.

  Are you crying?

  Yes, Marcus.

  Why?

  Because you’re better than
any knight who ever lived.

  That certainly was good to hear. But he already knew it. Will you put me in your books then?

  She laughed in his head, giving his heart wings to soar higher than ever before.

  Yes, I’ll even let you eat a few of them.

  Aye, life was good.

  About the Author

  Paula Quinn is a New York Times bestselling author and a sappy romantic moved by music, beautiful words, and the sight of a really nice pen. She lives in New York with her three beautiful children, six over-protective chihuahuas, and three adorable parrots. She loves to read romance and science fiction and has been writing since she was eleven. She’s a faithful believer in God and thanks Him daily for all the blessings in her life.

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