Dragon Force: The Complete Series

by Lucia Ashta

  I nodded, ignoring the tingling feeling that was beginning to build in my extremities. I crouched back down so I could face her. Luma and Rane’s arms followed me down, where their hands touched.

  I pulled in a deep breath and stared into the deep, black eyes of a dragonling I realized I’d learned to love as much as any family member. I put a hand to either side of her scrunched snout, and pushed the thought from my mind to hers. Hi girl, I said.

  She smiled a stunted-snout smile that illuminated the depths of her black eyes and made my heart sing.

  Oh hi Rosie girl. Tears were coming and I couldn’t stop them. It was all so... amazing. So much of what I’d barely dared to hope could become my life. I love you, I said before realizing I would.

  The emotions bubbled through me, making the tingling spread from my extremities to the rest of me. If I kept going like this, I wouldn’t even be able to stay on a dragon.

  Hi Anira, Rosie said in the voice of a little girl. Unlike Granelle, Rosie’s voice was free of seductive, smoky tones. Her voice was pure and sweet. I’ve been waiting for you to talk to me, she said, almost shyly.

  I laughed, I cried, I was a mess. Oh girl, now that I know I can talk to you, we’ll talk all the time. We’ll be best friends.

  I thought we already were. Rosie thought in the simple terms of a child, as yet unburdened by the weights of adulthood. Somehow, Rosie had survived all she had with purity of heart.

  Of course we are, I said.

  Luma cleared her throat behind me, and said through her mind, What do you girls say? Shall we take to the skies and figure the rest out later?

  My heart skipped a beat. Was I really ready? Who knew, but I wanted to be.

  What do you say, Rosie? I asked.

  She smiled, looking perfectly ridiculous with her already-sharp teeth, stunted snout, and floppy ears. Let’s do it!

  I nodded, not sure what to say anymore. Everything tingled and felt warm and fuzzy. I stood and asked Luma, I’m not going to ride Rosie, right?

  No, not yet. She’s strong, stronger than you think, and she could already hold your weight, even with her unique body, but she needs to learn a lot before she’s ready for that.

  Unique. That was right. Rosie was unique, just as I was. Just as my twin was. We weren’t freaks, we were special, and we were now on the path to discovering just how special we were.

  First she needs to learn to be a dragon, Luma continued. Her kind of dragon. Rosie? Do you think you could fly next to Granelle? She’ll help you as you go.

  I’d love that! Rosie said, as if dragons, invisible forbidden twins, and shadow people had conversations every day. It seemed that in the new life I was opening up to, they did.

  Great. Then let’s do it.

  Luma took three swift, sure strides toward Granelle, gaining speed, hooked an arm onto her leg, and shimmied up it. In seconds, Luma sat atop the magnificent iridescent beast, whose scales flashed a shiny green in the dark sunlight.

  Granelle looked meaningfully at Rosie, and then Rosie started to flap her stunted wings. She rose to hover next to Luma, and I realized that Granelle had said something to Rosie I hadn’t heard.

  Rosie wasn’t just my responsibility anymore. In this tribe the shadow people and Alpha Team were forming, we helped each other.

  Rane kissed my cheek, whooped, and took off at a run. His ascent onto Granelle wasn’t as graceful as Luma’s, but for a first attempt, it was strong and graceful.

  I can do this, I thought, just to myself. No one else was there to hear me, though I felt the eyes of warriors all around me. I have to do this. My feet and hands felt numb. I had to move before I no longer could.

  I’d be damned if I’d be left behind.

  I breathed in, hoping to pull in some courage. I failed, feeling myself start to shake.

  Just move, I thought. Just freaking move.

  And I did.

  I trained my sight on the gigantic, clawed, scaly leg and ran, letting my body do what I knew it could do if I just allowed it.

  I didn’t think. I just moved.

  I reached the leg, hooked my arm, and bound upward. I wrapped my second arm around the leg, and moved as fast as I could, gaining purchase with my bare feet so I wouldn’t slide.

  I scaled upward until Rane reached a strong arm and pulled me toward him.

  I slid into place behind him.

  He released my arm and hooked it around his waist. I circled my other arm, and latched onto him.

  He brought both arms around Luma’s waist.

  The three of us sat in a row, and before I could even look to check on Rosie, Granelle flapped her giant wings.

  Once, twice, and we rose above the tree tops.

  My heart fluttered. My breath stuttered before it settled into its normal rhythm. I was free of my limitations at last.

  Free of all constraints, we flew. The wind rushed past my face, everything about me tingled, and tears of freedom and purpose streamed into my smile.

  I thought I might never again wonder who or what I was. In moments like this, those things didn’t matter, not even a little.

  I was pure magic. I was already everything I was ever meant to become.

  Granelle flapped her wings and pinned them to her sides. We climbed so high that the ground faded from view.

  Clouds flickered by, the sun grew larger, and I whooped and hollered until Rane joined me. The sounds of Luma’s laughter filtered through the breeze to warm me.

  Thanks for Reading

  If you enjoyed this book, please help spread the word by reviewing Dragon Force: The Complete Series on Amazon or by adding your review to the site of your choice. Thank you! Favorable reviews help so very much.

  Want exclusive content and offers I share only with my newsletter? Sign up to be the first to find out when my next book releases.

  Would you like to connect? I love chatting with readers and giving away cool book swag. Find me in my Facebook reader group at facebook.com/groups/LuciaAshta.

  Most of my worlds intertwine, and many of your favorite characters make cameo appearances throughout my other series. Find out how all my series connect at LuciaAshta.com/books/reading-order.

  Encounter an error or problem with this eBook? Please let me know at AuthorLuciaAshta@gmail.com.

  As always, thank you for reading!

  I write these books for you.

  Other Books by Lucía Ashta

  ~ FANTASY BOOKS ~

  WITCHING WORLD UNIVERSE

  Witches of Gales Haven

  Perfect Pending

  Magical Mayhem

  Charmed Caper

  Magical Creatures Academy

  Night Shifter

  Lion Shifter

  Mage Shifter

  Power Streak

  Power Pendant

  Power Shifter

  Sirangel

  Siren Magic

  Angel Magic

  Fusion Magic

  Magical Arts Academy

  First Spell

  Winged Pursuit

  Unexpected Agents

  Improbable Ally

  Questionable Rescue

  Sorcerers’ Web

  Ghostly Return

  Transformations

  Castle’s Curse

  Spirited Escape

  Dragon’s Fury

  Magic Ignites

  Powers Unleashed

  Magical Arts Academy Omnibus, Books 1-4

  Magical Arts Academy Omnibus, Books 5-8

  Magical Arts Academy Omnibus, Books 9-13

  Witching World

  Magic Awakens

  The Five-Petal Knot

  The Merqueen

  The Ginger Cat

  The Scarlet Dragon

  Spirit of the Spell

  Mermagic

  The Witching World Omnibus, Books 1-3

  The Witching World Omnibus, Books 4-6

  Light Warriors

  Beyond Sedona

  Beyond Prophecy

  Bey
ond Amber

  Beyond Arnaka

  Light Warriors: The Complete Series, Books 1-4

  PLANET ORIGINS UNIVERSE

  Dragon Force

  Invisible Born

  Invisible Bound

  Invisible Rider

  Planet Origins

  Planet Origins

  Original Elements

  Holographic Princess

  Purple Worlds

  Mowab Rider

  Planet Sand

  Holographic Convergence

  Planet Origins Omnibus, Books 1-3

  OTHER WORLDS

  Supernatural Bounty Hunter

  (co-authored with Leia Stone)

  Magic Bite

  Magic Sight

  Magic Touch

  Pocket Portals

  The Orphan Son

  STANDALONES

  Huntress of the Unseen

  A Betrayal of Time

  Whispers of Pachamama

  Daughter of the Wind

  The Unkillable Killer

  Immortalium

  ~ ROMANCE BOOKS ~

  Remembering Him

  A Betrayal of Time

  Acknowledgments

  I’d write no matter what, because telling stories is a passion, but the following people make creating worlds (and life) a joy. I’m eternally grateful for the support of my beloved, James, my mother, Elsa, and my three daughters, Catia, Sonia, and Nadia. They’ve always believed in me, even before I published a single word. They help me see the magic in the world around me, and more importantly, within.

  I’m thankful for every single one of you who’ve reached out to tell me that one of my stories touched you in one way or another, made you laugh or cry, or kept you up long past your bedtime. You’ve given me reason to keep writing.

  About the Author

  Lucía Ashta is the Amazon top 100 bestselling author of young adult, new adult, and adult paranormal and urban fantasy books, including the series Witches of Gales Haven, Magical Creatures Academy, Sirangel, Magical Arts Academy, Witching World, Dragon Force, and Supernatural Bounty Hunter.

  She is also the author of contemporary romance books.

  When Lucía isn't writing, she's reading, painting, or adventuring. Magical fantasy is her favorite, but the romance and quirky characters are what keep her hooked on books.

  A former attorney and architect, she’s an Argentinian-American author who lives in North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains with her beloved and three daughters. She published her first story (about an unusual Cockatoo) at the age of eight, and she’s been at it ever since.

  Sign up for Lucía’s newsletter:

  https://www.subscribepage.com/luciaashta

  Hang out with her:

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/LuciaAshta

  Connect with her online:

  LuciaAshta.com

  AuthorLuciaAshta@gmail.com