Dragon Mark

by Kit Bladegrave

  “And what were you two doing this morning?” I asked.

  She smiled wider.

  “Jenny, seriously, what are you two up to?”

  “Oh, nothing at all. We just had some girl time.”

  “Girl time, right.” I checked the large clock in the library tower. “It’s starting in a few minutes.”

  “She’ll be here, don’t worry.” She grabbed Preston’s hand. “We’re going to go find our place in the crowd. You better get up there.”

  The final plant had been planted yesterday, and the final stroke of paint finished. The town had been functional for months, but today we were unveiling the official town sign. All ceremonial, ribbon-cutting, and what not, but it felt right. That, and today we were going to honor every life lost in that final battle that was nearly the end of everyone I cared for.

  The town was going to be named Shadow Valley, and I hurried over to the small platform while everyone gathered in closer to me.

  I smiled and waved, glancing toward Mahlia in hopes she would tell me what was keeping Everest when the very one in question bounded up beside me.

  “You’re late,” I said, but paused when I caught sight of her.

  My jaw dropped, and I struggled to breathe for a second. Since I met Everest, I thought she was beautiful, but now standing before me wearing a violet dress that swished around her knees, hugging everything else, her hair curled and pulled back, and done up like a movie star, I was at a loss for words.

  She smiled, tilting her head. “Something the matter?”

  “No, uh, no, not at all,” I mumbled, and she laughed. “You look amazing.”

  “You think so? Jenny and I were arguing about what dress. Never was much of a dress girl, but then again, we were in a war, and I can’t remember the last time I let myself get pampered like this and then—”

  I pulled her in close, kissing her as the crowd whistled and clapped. “You deserve a chance to be pampered I think,” I said, when I finally drew back. “We’ve been in a war for a while.”

  “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing,” she said breathlessly. “You ready to do this?”

  I nodded, and she stepped to the side as I adjusted my leather jacket and held up my hands to everyone gathered. “The past few years have been hard for many. We’ve lost family members. We’ve lost hope and heart, we nearly lost ourselves. But this past year has shown me how strong we are when we stand together, not just one clan, but all of us joined together.”

  Applause and cheers met my words, at my side, Everest clapped the loudest.

  “This town is to signify a fresh start for all of us, me included.” I reached out for Everest’s hand and kissed the back of it, the weight of the small item in my front shirt pocket feeling much heavier now. I cleared my throat and laughed nervously. “Right then, without further ado, I would like to welcome you all officially to this new town.”

  I reached over and tugged on the string to reveal the town sign. The covering slipped free, and my smile froze on my face.

  The name we’d come up with wasn’t there, but something else. Something much closer to my heart and for a second, all I could do was stare.

  “Do you like it?” Everest asked. “I know it was a last-minute change, but thought it was worth it.”

  I wiped hastily at my eyes, nodding. “Yeah, yeah, it was.”

  “Why don’t you finish your announcement?” she urged softly.

  I cleared my throat a second time, and held out my arms wide, filled with pride. “I would like to welcome you all to Leora-Pierce Valley.”

  The crowd erupted in applause, and I hugged Everest as hard as I could, kissing her through our laughter. “Glad you like it.”

  “I love it. Thank you,” I whispered, kissing her again. “What am I going to do with you?”

  She shrugged. “You could take me dancing.”

  “You know… I think that can be arranged.” I raised my voice. “Everyone, it’s time to celebrate.”

  Music started to play thanks to several talented musicians in our number. Food and drinks were served, and I escorted Everest down to the town square to dance the rest of the day away.

  “You know,” Everest said, much later in the evening after the moon had taken its place in the sky, “you really do make a great leader. Look at everything you’ve done. And not just for your clan, but everyone. You should be proud of yourself. I am.”

  I warmed hearing those words and kissed the top of her head.

  We sat on the grass close to what would be my house whenever we found time to rebuild it, the last one on the block needing to be fixed up. Laughter from the celebration reached us still, and I wasn’t about to let this moment slip by. Not now when the world was finally slowing down.

  “You have no idea how much that means to me,” I said softly. “To have you here with me still after everything we’ve been through.”

  “We saved each other, remember?”

  “Oh, trust me,” I said as she laughed, “I remember each and every time, watching you fling yourself at the enemy.”

  “It was a good move.”

  “I’d have to disagree with you on that one.” I reached into the front pocket of my shirt, carefully taking the simple silver band boasting amethysts into my fingers.

  Suddenly Everest moved and knelt right in front of me.

  “What?”

  She took both my hands in hers, smiling widely. “Slade, marry me?”

  “Wait, what?” I said, and she burst out laughing. “No, now hold on just a second. I’m supposed to ask you.” I was laughing right along with her, unable to stop. “How… no, did you know?”

  She cringed. “I may have accidentally found a ring while I was moving some of your stuff to your temporary room at Jenny and Preston’s place. I’m sorry, it just fell out I swear, and then it opened, and we both saw it and well… you know me, I like to be non-traditional.”

  “Don’t I know it.” I sighed, staring down at the ring in my hand.

  “So… are you going to answer or leave me guessing?” she pried.

  I said nothing for a few more moments, dragging it out until she looked ready to smack me upside the head. “Yeah,” I finally told her, slipping the ring on her finger. “Yeah, I’ll marry you, though I have a feeling you’re always going to be a pain in the—”

  She leapt into my arms, tackling me back into the grass with a kiss. I wrapped my arms around her and held her close, not wanting this night to end. But then she was pulling away and holding her hand out.

  “Come on, one more thing to show you tonight.”

  “Am I going to like this surprise?” I asked warily, getting to my feet.

  She tugged on my hand with an excited giggle, and we took off down the street toward the edge of town where there were no buildings. She set me in place, then with a wink, ran about forty feet away from me.

  “Everest! What are you doing?”

  “Just keep your eyes on me,” she yelled back, and spun around in place.

  At first, nothing happened, and I wondered if she’d had too long of a day, but then violet mist spread out from her feet. It swirled up and around her until it blocked her completely from sight.

  The air became charged with her magic and when I heard a fierce roar, my brow furrowed, and I took a step toward her, unable to see her at all now as the cloud grew larger.

  “Everest! Everest, talk to me damn it!”

  I was running now, ready to pull her out of whatever craziness she’d gotten herself into again, but then the great head of a violet and black dragon burst through the mist, roaring. Its head was thrown far back as its wings spread wide on either side. They lit up with an inner white glow, and when that head turned, and those yellow-green eyes settled on me, my heart stopped.

  “Everest… you… you shifted!”

  She lowered her head in acknowledgment, spreading her wings as wide as they could go. She huffed at me before she glanced up toward the sky.

  It
was all the invitation I needed.

  Rolling my shoulders, I shifted into my dragon form, roaring at the sense of pure freedom and letting my wings expand to their full length.

  She winked at me just as she pushed off the ground, launching herself into the sky. I was right behind her, soaring over our people and our new home.

  Soaring right into our new lives together.

  I hope you enjoyed Dragon Mark!

  Will there be more? Sure! Stay tuned!

  In the meantime, turn the page to read an excerpt from Rivals the exciting Kit Bladegrave Dragon Reign Series!

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  Rivals Excerpt

  Kate’s whole world just turned upside down. She’s hearing weird things, and seeing weird things. And Mama Lucy is a witch. No, really. Not like a capital B witch, but a capital W witch. And the guy Kate’s just saved from imminent death is half-demon. And the guy that’s after her is a dragon

  Her life redefines teen drama.

  Craig’s a half=breed, bastard son of a demon king. And he’s a thief. He’s just found the item he’s supposed to appropriate when his cousin stabs him with a poisoned dagger.

  Forrest is out to collect the bounty for capturing the bastard son of a demon king. He doesn’t plan to save the girl, or the half-breed demon. He also doesn’t plan to be the one who needs saving.

  This unlikely trio find themselves chased by enemies, known and unknown as they slip into a different dimension called Burnt World.

  Chapter One

  Kate

  From this high up, I could see the world laid out before me. The fields beyond the town, the barns, and farmhouses. I could see for miles in all directions, soaring higher to reach above the clouds.

  The air was cooler up here, but I liked it, the rush of the chilliness against my skin and the feeling of being utterly alone.

  And free. Free from the darkness of my past and the not knowing what was going to happen in my future.

  The moon was my only companion as I circled around, wanting to stay forever within the clouds and not have to touch down again. In some part of my mind, I knew this was all a dream, but I never wanted to wake up from it. Not that my life was all that bad, but I certainly wasn’t free to fly.

  I was larger than life here, above the world, but all dreams must come to an end. I faltered in mid-air and suddenly crashed down, spiraling out of control.

  Down, down, down—

  I shot upright in bed with my heart pounding in my chest as I gasped for air. I was in bed, safe and sound, not ready to die as I hit the ground from such a high height. With a groan, I flung myself back onto my pillow and glared at the dull ceiling above me.

  I missed the moon and stars already. As I lay there, I rolled my shoulders trying to ease the weird tension built up in them. But it didn’t go away and instead grew worse. I turned over, but when that didn’t help, I rose thinking standing would make it stop.

  It didn’t, and I stood in front of the old dingy mirror on my dresser, rubbing my neck and wondering if I was coming down with the flu. My body ached in weird places, and my arms were exhausted as if I’d been using them all night.

  “Kate! Are you up yet?” a voice called from out in the hall. Mama Lucy.

  “Yeah, I’m up,” I replied. “Be out in a minute!”

  “Get your sisters up,” she yelled back.

  I grinned and hurried to get dressed. They weren’t my biological sisters. No one in this huge old mansion was related by blood. We were all taken in by the woman we called Mama Lucy. I came here nearly ten years ago when she found me wandering the streets alone. That’s how most kids wound up here. She took us in without a second thought, homeschooled us, fed and clothed us.

  She was our Mama Lucy.

  I was the oldest in the house now. Those who used to be my age, had moved away, ready to be on their own, but many sent letters and visited every now and then. As I’d grown older, I’d wondered how she managed to take care of us all. I never saw any social workers come to the house, or any checks in the mail from the government.

  All the kids made up stories of where her money came from, that she had a treasure hoarded in the basement, or she was really royalty, but ran away and came to live here instead. The stories changed every year. Part of me cared to know, but another part didn’t. She gave me a home, and I was grateful.

  “Mary? Judy? Time to get up,” I said as I opened the door to the room next to mine.

  Two little girls, one blonde and one a redhead, sat up to stare at me with drowsy eyes. They were twelve and thirteen.

  “It’s too early,” Mary grumbled and tucked her head back beneath the covers.

  “No, it’s not. Come on, you don’t want to be late for breakfast, do you? The boys will eat all the bacon again,” I warned.

  Mary and Judy leaped out of bed at the mention of bacon, and I laughed as they darted past me, racing for the bathroom down the hall.

  I loved mornings in this house, listening to the hustle and bustle of the other kids and hearing Mama Lucy’s laughter and talking.

  “There she is,” Mama Lucy said the moment I entered the dining room.

  It had a long table that could fit twenty and was mostly filled already.

  She kissed the top of my head in greeting. “You don’t look like you slept well, dear.”

  “Eh, weird dreams,” I said, finding one of the empty seats.

  “You’ve been having a lot of weird dreams,” she mused. “Anything on your mind?”

  “No, not really,” I lied. I always had things on my mind, like why I kept having these weird sensations that someone else was in my head, or why my dreams went from flying to utter nightmares.

  “Hmm, I’ll make you some tea tonight. Maybe it will help.”

  I thanked her and reached for the plate of waffles and grabbed a few pieces of bacon.

  Mama Lucy hummed as she walked around the table, making sure everyone had enough to eat. Her vibrant purple shawl draped over her shoulders, and her black skirt billowed around her bare feet. She might look frail, but that woman was strong. She was stern with the kids she took care of, but she held her own against anyone who tried to give us crap, or tried to buy out her home.

  We were surrounded by businesses and modernized buildings on all sides, but her home remained. Men in suits stopped by at least once a month trying to threaten her with legal actions to get her to sell the property or at least upgrade it, but she stared them down, and the other kids and I would watch from the windows as they bolted for the street.

  But that wasn’t the best thing about Mama Lucy. She was also a witch.

  None of the younger kids knew that, and I was one of the few older ones who understood what she did, or at least what she believed in. Protective charms hung on all the windows, stars and bells, to ward off dark spirits. Several cabinets were off-limits to the kids, out in the greenhouse, but they were only filled with the herbs she grew, dried, and bottled, herself.

  Most of what she did was for teas and soaps, lotions, and things like that. Natural items she sold at the farmer’s markets, and through the tiny online shop she set up. Most of her orders came by mail, something I always teased her about.

  She offered to show me how to make certain teas to relieve various symptoms a person might have, and even taught me words of protection—if I believed in that sort of thing, she would always tease at the end of our random lessons.

  Whether she was a real witch or not didn’t bother me. She was the only mom I’d known. The only parent I had since Dad died.

  I lost my appetite thinking of him and pushed back from the table to take care of my morning chores in the greenhouse before lessons started for the day. All the kids had chores once they were old enough to help around the house. I liked
being in the garden and the greenhouse the most, so Mama Lucy let me take care of her veggies and herbs.

  “These are delicate plants,” she’d told me. “They need love and care, not just water and to be weeded. These plants pick up on a person’s emotions. You must always be aware of yourself when caring for such fragile things.”

  I took her words to heart, and before I entered the greenhouse, tried to leave behind any dark thoughts of the day I lost my dad. When I failed, I turned to the garden instead, hopeful that tugging some weeds out would help ease the pain blooming to life in my chest. I pulled on my work gloves from the fence, grabbed a spade, and went to work. I weeded around the tomato plants and the peppers, moving down the rows of vegetables, but apparently, this wasn’t a good enough distraction. Soon I was lost in the memory of that day.

  The worst day of my life…

  “Katie! Get away from the window!”

  “Daddy, what’s going on?” I asked, standing on my toes to try and look outside.

  He was there and shoved the curtain over the window. “You can’t let them see you! Hurry now! Grab your bag and come with me.”

  I picked up my backpack and held his hand as he tugged me through the house. “Where are we going?” He was scared. I’d never seen him scared before and it terrified me. I heard shouts outside and car doors slamming. “Daddy?”

  “Hush now,” he whispered as we neared the back of the house. He crouched before me. “Do you remember what I told you?”

  I stared fearfully towards the front of our tiny cottage that was meant to be safe out in the middle of the woods. My bottom lip trembled, and tears sprang to my eyes.

  “Katie,” he whispered sternly. “Do you remember?”

  “The bracelet, never take it off,” I recited, staring at the silver bangle with the gold runes set in it around my upper arm. “Never speak my last name to anyone. Never return to where we’ve stayed before.”