AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As Galen settles his dragon, mine pushes furiously against me, urging me to free him. The move is one of fury and rage. I instantly rise out of the throne, frightening the sorcerer who cowers and lowers his head. My dragon settles and my forehead pinches in confusion. My breathing is uneven, and I take a moment to regain my composure. I search the room for a threat, but there is none. Adelle’s eyes widen, but she remains somewhat poised. It’s been quite some time since I’ve felt the push from my beast. I grunt and retake my seat, not knowing what the hell got him riled up. My eyes dart to the door as I hear the men enter the room, each followed by a woman.
The woman on the left and closest to Cyrus is a young, petite blonde, far too skinny and pale to be well. She stares at the floor as she walks. Her hands are shackled, and her breathing comes in short pants. The clacking of the metal chains banging together echoes through the empty hall. The red-headed woman on the right is no doubt of similar age and health. They’re both in desperate need of a good meal and reek of fear and uncertainty. My nostrils flare in anger.
As the men plant their feet, the two women go gently to their knees and bow before us. Shackled and trained to submit. Victor has brought us slaves as a gift. I clench my fist and consider ending his life. The only reason I hesitate is the possibility of this Isabella. I shift uncomfortably as I decide what I want to do. He swallows thickly, sensing my anger.
“We have a third, my Lord.” My brows raise in surprise. He thinks I’m angry that there are only two. What a stumbling fool. My jaw ticks, and my dragon attempts to leap from my chest once again, furiously batting his wings. The urge to leave the room is overwhelming. To go to something. The movement of my dragon distracts me for a moment as the doors open and a woman in chains is pushed through, stumbling and falling hard on her knees.
My dragon relaxes and pushes slowly against me, focusing only on the woman. Her dirty blonde hair is a tangled mess. She’s in the same condition as the others, but she’s different somehow. “Come!” Victor’s hard command to her makes my dragon’s fire burn in my chest.
Her eyes find mine as she raises her head. She spits her words. “I’d rather die.” My heart flames and my blood heats. Her hard eyes of defiance light a deep, buried need within me. I rise and walk to her slowly.
“Bow to him.” I ignore the sorcerer, striding by him and stalk the length of the hall.
“Fuck you!” She bites out the words through clenched teeth and the movement of her jaw emphasizes the bones sticking out from her skin. She’s so thin. Far too thin. The spell of a whip cast by the man who dragged her in sings in the air as it pierces across her neck and down her shoulder, ripping into her soft flesh.
I snarl in anger and allow my dragon to come forth. Scales impale my skin and flow down my back as my jaw stretches and the heat of fire scorches my throat. I grip the man’s throat and squeeze, digging my sharp talons in as my teeth sharpen and lengthen. I don’t let my dragon fully take over; I merely allow his strength to show.
Fire smolders deep in my belly as I hiss flames through my teeth and scorch the man. He screams a strangled cry in agony. I’m only vaguely aware of the hushed gasps, it all happens so quickly. His flesh burns with a nauseating stench I’d almost forgotten as he struggles in my grasp. I don’t let up on the fire consuming him until he’s still and burned to a crisp. The hall is silent as ashes of his remains scatter. My eyes flash reptilian and I know they must be red as my dragon grants my human body control and the scales, talons, and fangs retreat. The pain is pleasurable. My dragon protests, but I am far stronger than he is. With a hiss and a snort of fire, my human form recovers. The bones crack into place and my head slowly turns to the focus of my ire.
Victor and the other man drop quickly to their knees.
“You will go and gather your army.” Galen’s command from his throne surprises me. “Now.” The man and sorcerer stumble to rise, then leave quickly and silently, whispering their thanks. They should be dead.
I watch them leave before turning my attention back to the woman.
“Does she really mean that much to you?” I hear Cyrus ask Galen, gathering my attention.
“I’ll let him live until I see this Isabella.” I nod knowingly as a fire burns within me. Victor’s days are numbered, but he may be useful in attaining this mate he speaks of.
Ever so slowly, I reach down to the woman who’s seething in pain from the slash on her skin, kneeled over and trembling. Blood drips down her shoulder and I move to wipe it, to offer her comfort. Her hard eyes find mine and she grimaces. “I’ll kill myself before I let you hurt me. I’ll starve myself to death if you keep me caged.” She swallows thickly, pain and stubbornness equally reflected. “I won’t be your slave.” Her throat is dry and her words are strangled, but her fight is commendable.
I smile down on her, loving the spirit she has. “I have no intention of you being a slave.” It takes a moment to steady my breath as the tense air crackles between us. “What name do you go by?”
She stares at me with wide, wild eyes and slight disbelief and presses her lips together. Unwilling to believe me. Defiantly disobeying me. The words behind me are a distraction. Cyrus and Galen tell Adelle to feed the other women and grant them housing in the castle. Deliberately and carefully, I reach down to push the woman’s hair out of her face and that’s when I smell it.
Her heat.
I struggle to remain composed as my blood rushes and my heart beats chaotically. There’s no way my brothers would be able to scent her so far away. I look over her small, damaged body and frantically smell her again. I have to resist the urge to flip her over and bury my nose between her legs.
“I hate you all.” Her words barely hit me as I stare into her heated gaze.
She’s fertile, but she may lose her heat as she stays within my proximity. It’s happened before. A woman seems to heat for us, but it’s not ours to take. It dies quickly and never returns. But this is the strongest I’ve ever scented a woman. There’s a possibility that she’s capable of heating for me. That she’s intended for me. Or one of us. The thought makes me tremble with rage.
Mine! My dragon hisses in my chest.
“Take her to my bedchambers.” I nearly choke on the loud words that escape my lips without my consent.
A shocked tone resonates behind me. “You can’t be serious, Drago.” Galen glares at me with disbelief as another servant enters and attempts to pick up the woman. My potential mate. I hear a scuffle and turn to see the servant stumble, but she doesn’t fall.
She may think she can fight me, but she cannot.
“I’ll do it.” I grit out with irritation to the servant as I turn my back on my brothers. I know if they find out she’s in heat, there will be hell to pay. I grip the small blonde woman forcefully and pin her to my chest as she struggles against me.
“Drago!” Cyrus calls after me as I carry her away from them.
The woman cries out in my arms, wriggling her body. I ignore her attempts as I hear my heart beat louder and louder. The look of disgust on Cyrus’s face makes me aware that he misunderstands my intention. I look over my shoulder at my brothers who stare back with confusion and incredulity.
My dragon hisses. My eyes flash reptilian and flames burn in my chest. My dragon wants her now, but he’ll have to wait. I won’t touch her until she’s ready to carry my dragonlings. Her fists pound against my chest even as I hold her with a single arm. She’s weak and frail.
