by D. R. Grady
Months later
The dusty wind blew across the new grass and fresh training fields. There were three sprawling training places on the grounds. In between all of them rose their brand new school.
Made of materials from these parts, the stone and shingled school rose out of the landscape but matched the rough terrain. A sturdy monument to the builders and designers who had aided them in making this place a reality. The structure would accommodate several students and instructors, and many different Aasguard warriors had made their way here to see the first Aasguard school of its kind.
All had expressed interest in helping to train their incoming students. Ari and Kellen had informed every one of them that their services would be welcome. She anticipated a revolving door of new instructors who might be wounded, or mourning, but who would provide a fresh perspective for their students. Their accumulated wealth had also been lavished upon the school as many of their Aasguard colleagues had been thankful for a worthy cause in which to spend their funds.
Lukas would finish his training here, but she didn’t feel it necessary, in many ways. He had started his training soon after she and Kellen scouted out this location. They had secured the land and procured the books he required to begin his training.
Taking him on as their first student had proved an excellent notion.
They now knew what did and didn’t work for their future pupils. At least Lukas had done enough training himself in recent months and continued to instruct the women in Swiftland as they built this school, and as she and Kellen instructed him. He would likely return here to this school to aid them in instructing new students as he could.
His services in teaching women to fight were in high demand. He intended to spend time in Chariovalda doing just that. When he could, he’d likely pop next door to the school to help them instruct Drika, their next student. She and another young woman from Swiftland, as well as a young man from there, would be their first students to live in the school.
Lukas and Drika had become friends and he’d quickly seen her potential after sparring with her a few times. The other young woman reminded them all of Raene. Petite, with red gold curls, and sword skills they hadn’t seen in ages, her potential had also been undeniable. After learning the basics, she had proved herself as worthy of Aasguard training.
They no longer only accepted students with royal blood. Instead, opening the school and training to any who showed promise.
Ari stopped to watch the sun go down on their new school. Ever with her, Kellen stood with her, one large arm wrapped around her. In solidarity, but more importantly, in love.
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About the Author
D.R. Grady is the author of over twenty clean romance novels. She lives with her husband near Hershey, PA and adores chocolate, laughing, collecting bags, books, and shoes. Oh, and writing clean stories that resonate with others.
Please visit her website for more information.
http://www.drgradybooks.com
Other Works by D.R. Grady
The Morrison Family Series:
The Nerd and the Marine — A self-proclaimed nerd takes in a deployed Marine’s dog.
The Corpsman and the Nerd — He has her son and her dog, but he wants her heart.
The Nerd and the SEAL — A Navy SEAL and doctor have both met their career goals. Can they now meet their romantic ones?
The Nerd’s Pocket Pets — A pediatrician is attracted to his new physician assistant but he’s confused as to why her lab coat pockets wriggle.
Shadows and Spice — A legendary secret operative comes home to protect his family. She becomes a threat to his heart.
Macy’s Parade — Her dream of becoming a veterinarian is hindered by him and his four kids.
Bad Nerd Rising — She’s a nerd in nerd’s clothing, easily identifiable, so why is a prince attracted to her?
Bad Nerd Falling — Can this nerd manage to hold on to her super-soldier?
Nerds on Fire — A lonely nurse practitioner and a neurosurgeon join forces to discover who is harassing her.
Nerds Unite — How does a woman juggle a new job, a new bff, and an old stalker?
The Trouble with Nerds — They’re circling each other, trying to meet in the middle until a new threat sends them in a different direction.
The Nerd Who Spied Me — They’re confident in their secret operative abilities, but maybe not so much in their relationship goals.
Baking with Nerds — With his baggage and her new business they don’t have time to fall in love. Or do they?
Nerds in Harmony – This musician isn’t about to let duty get in the way of love.
The Me Series:
Treasure Me — A biology teacher goes undercover to find her sister’s murderer.
Save Me — He keeps her safe from an ex-boyfriend who wants to kill her.
Trust Me — With a pending divorce neither wants and a stalker, they soon realize they’re not playing a game, they are the game.
Heal Me — Discovering the identity of a serial rapist doesn’t allow them much time to fall in love.
Love Me — A nerd falls for a mini Amazon.
The Seeking Series:
Seeking: Warrior King — Can Crown Princess Raene and Aasguard Vidar the Loyal possibly break the age-old traditions that bind them and choose their heart’s desire?
Seeking: Maiden Queen — They are thrust into a life neither envisioned, but that they must accept, or others will die.
Seeking: Warrior Mate — These two Aasguard warriors are fighting a mutual attraction.
The Dragon Chronicles:
The Dragon Chronicles: Learning — What if the maiden is the dragon? Lindy is about to find out with the unwelcome help of the most exasperating man on earth.
The Dragon Chronicles: Shifting — Hugh doesn’t mind that Keely can’t shift, but his pack sure does. Can this healer meet the challenge to claim her mate?
The Dragon Chronicles: Healing — Healers Ewain and Marissa play at getting along. Then the enemy targets Marissa and suddenly they don’t have time to make war on each other.
Free Short Stories:
Math Nerds and Mechanics
Tall Golf
Please visit my website for more information on these stories.
http://www.drgradybooks.com
Available Now!
Seeking Series - Book 4
Chapter 1
Felicity the Valiant’s heart dropped at the news that the one man she did not want to see planned to arrive at any time.
“They should be here in time for the school opening.” Ari the Noble and wife of Kellen the Mighty had extended an invitation to all Aasguards to come and teach at their new school, or heal from wounds, or just spend time figuring out what they wished to do next. Felicity and her blue dragon, Maeze had arrived a couple of days ago to help with the official school opening.
She and Ari had become fast friends and kept in touch. Felicity and Maeze had taken Ari and Kellen’s place in Swiftland, Ari’s brother’s kingdom which needed much work. The people had hunkered down to die until Lajos the Swift and his wife Stefana arrived to revive the country. Ari’s other brother had married the reigning queen of another country. He wed Queen Raene of Montequirst and had taken over the duties of king there upon their nuptials. It was in his realm where Lajos met his future bride. Both Aasguard warriors had proved to their kind that they could do better than merely protecting treasure and persons of wealth.
Now Ari and Kellen had set out to train new Aasguard warriors. They had decided upon this course of action after learning the dismal
numbers of their rank who had passed on to the next life. With a noticeable dearth now in the Aasguard ranks, this school provided hope for their own revitalization.
Felicity admitted to excitement at being a part of this school but the pending arrival of the one Aasguard she didn’t wish to see made her heart twist.
Ari must have caught the nuance. “It’s going to be difficult for you to see Rykert?” Her friend sent her an encompassing look.
Felicity’s mouth twisted. “It’s not that I don’t want to see him.”
“It’s that you shouldn’t.” Ari’s mouth thinned. “Felicity, it’s been months since Kellen and I joined our lives together. There is no reason why you and Rykert can’t do the same.”
This proved to be new. “What? I thought we were supposed to hold off?”
“It’s been over a year. Swiftland is prospering, and Lajos and Stefana haven’t opened any additional portals. Neither have Kellen and I or Vidar and Raene. Raene is a full Aasguard now as well.” She had gotten to see Stefana’s birth to Aasguard when they battled desampus, nasty reptilian demons from another dimension. Ari and Kellen’s marriage was said to have opened the portal. A theory that could neither be denied nor confirmed.
Their wizards had locked all known portals and they had discovered a couple of young wizards who could sense portals. Every one of them had been locked. Their belief however was that Aasguards should refrain from joining their lives together until they could be definitive on whether it was safe to mate.
Thus far she had resisted, despite Rykert’s overtures. He didn’t seem to believe in the precautions and the man had been pursuing her relentlessly.
“So I can give in to the blasted man?”
Ari’s head jerked up and she searched Felicity’s face. “He’s been chasing you?”
“With fervor.”
The chuckle that escaped her friend’s mouth helped. “I can see that. He knew he wanted you from the moment you met, didn’t he?”
“Yes. And now Maeze is old enough to mate, and Felix is also making noises about joining.” Maeze, her blue dragon, had been too young upon their first meeting of Rykert the Bold and his bright yellow dragon, Felix. Now, Maeze was fully adult and her crush on Felix appeared to have developed into something deeper.
She remained understanding as to why Felicity drug her heels. She had been present during that portal opening and the ensuing battle. The only battle to date that Felicity had feared the outcome.
“I didn’t just relieve your mind.”
“What if we give in to this and something really bad happens?” Felicity’s insides iced.
Ari didn’t rush to reassure her. More chill crept around her.
Rubbing her own arms didn’t help.
But by then it was too late anyway. The image of a dragon and rider appeared on the horizon. Felix’s bright yellow girth couldn’t be missed. Much less the large, easy going warrior riding him. This pair brought sunshine and light to the masses, if the masses cared. At least to the Aasguard population. But Felicity had seen another side to the man.
The side that took him through the rigorous Aasguard training so long ago and kept him in this world for the milennia he had endured with only Felix for company. Dragons slept. A lot.
Therefore they made good companions, but not great ones.
A warm hand gripped her arm. “I think you should give in to the urge to marry that man.” Ari squeezed her arm before releasing her.
They watched the dragon land with all the skill of one who has done so countless times through the centuries. The man who dismounted and patted the dragon is what drew her attention, however.
Tall, broad, muscled, but those red-gold curls caught the sun and played with the beams of light. Those same curls did not detract in anyway from the impressive man or his skills. They might throw the unwary off.
His blue eyes landed on her. Rykert’s long legs carried him quickly across the expanse of lawn to them. He nodded to Ari, but swept her into his arms.
Felicity gasped in surprise before his magnificent lips claimed hers.
