Dragon Fire (Dragons of Perralt Book 1)

by Sher Dillard

  Her heart lurched. “It’s not silly,” she said, fighting herself to not stomp her foot. How could he think it was silly? And, how did he know what she wanted? Was she that transparent?

  “You know?” she said. “How?”

  Julian smiled and looked over her shoulder.

  “Because I told him,” a voice said from behind her. Elsbeth’s stomach fell to the floor as her heart jumped in fear.

  Her uncle stood just inside the door next to Julian’s brother. The evil glint in his eyes spoke of his joy at her misery. He so loved hurting people. Especially, his niece.

  Every hope she ever had. Every dream died at that moment. She could see it in their faces. They had been waiting for her. If she had died in the Forbidden Forest, then so much the better. But, if she lived, then they had a plan for that eventuality as well.

  Oh, Drake, she thought. What have I done? What have I thrown away for no good reason? Her world threatened to crumble. The cost, the effort. All for nothing.

  “Welcome to Sinstra,” Julian’s brother Rupert said with a slight nod of his head. “We have expected you.”

  She could see it now. See how it would play out. She would marry Julian, he would be called king, but, her uncle would continue to be the true power behind the throne. It would be her uncle who controlled the kingdom. Who pushed and tore at the people. Who ruined her lands for his own enjoyment.

  If she refused? What then?

  “I thought I could trust you,” she said to Julian, unable to hide the ache and pain in her voice.

  He shrugged his shoulders, as if to say, sorry, but tough.

  She couldn’t stay here, couldn’t allow these men to control her.

  “I was going to give you everything,” she said to him. “I was going to give you my life. To share my kingdom with you. But you threw it away. For what? To be controlled by my uncle? Is that what you want?”

  Julian laughed, “Oh you silly little girl. Your uncle has given me everything I want. Someone else to take care of the boring day-to-day problems. The title of King, the glory and riches, and you in my bed. All without having to fight for it.”

  She thought of Drake, the man never would have accepted such an arrangement. He would have fought hell itself before being someone else’s servant.

  Her heart ached with the awareness of what she had given up. For this, this … monster. That was what he was. Drake at least understood himself and held himself to a code of honor. This one wouldn’t know honor if it slapped him in the face.

  She couldn’t stay here. Not like this. Turning, she started to march to the door.

  Her uncle laughed as two towering men in full armor stepped into the room.

  “Your jailers,” he said with that sickly smile of his. “At least until your wedding. After that, you will be Julian’s problem.”

  “Oh, don’t worry,” Julian said with a look on his face that she had never seen before. “I will ensure she stays compliant.”

  Elsbeth’s bones turned cold as the man stared at her with anticipation.

  How had she never seen this before? How could she have been so obtuse?

  Her uncle nodded his head slightly, and both knights took her by the arm. She looked down at the large male hands gripping her arms. If Drake knew about this, he’d kill you, she thought. No questions asked.

  Oh, Drake, where are you when I need you?

  No, he would not come. He had returned to his forest. She had left him. He owed her nothing. He had his medallion. That was all that he had ever wanted.

  She would not be able to rely on Drake. This had been her mistake. It would be her responsibility to find a way out.

  That thought didn’t stop her from wishing she could see a dragon crossing the horizon. A large green dragon. That was all she wanted at the moment.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Drake threw another stick onto the fire and leaned back against a tree. The darkness of the night crept up to the edge of the fire light. Masking the world from sight.

  She had left, she was gone. His heart camped with despair. It wasn’t right. It wasn’t how his world was to be.

  Sighing to himself, he tried to get comfortable. It was going to be a long, lonely night.

  A faint hint of lavender caught his attention. A memory of silky skin and golden hair teased him. His insides squeezed shut as a burning need coursed through him.

  Would he ever be right again?

  Pulling the medallion from his pocket, he examined it in the campfire light. The golden coin, with its two-headed dragon, shined and sparkled as he twisted it from side to side.

  A simple coin had ruined his life. It had led him to her. Shown him what was possible, then taken her away from him.

  Swallowing an angry grunt, he shoved the coin back into his pocket and threw another stick onto the fire.

  .o0o.

  The castle walls echoed with his footsteps as he made his way to his mother’s rooms. He had one goal in life. Deliver the coin, then leave. The sooner he was away, the sooner he could become lost in his forest. Could be alone in his misery.

  He knocked on her door and waited. A gentle word bade him entry.

  Opening the door, he stepped inside. The familiar smells of his mother’s vanilla soap and the peppermint candies she enjoyed greeted him.

  These rooms had always intrigued him. His mother’s safe haven. The place she went to get away from the drudgery of ruling her kingdom.

  “Drake!” his mother said with surprise. “I didn’t expect you so soon.” Her face could not hide the worry that flowed through her.

  She studied him for a moment, as if trying to determine his wellbeing. Since when did his mother worry about him so much?

  He looked at her with fresh eyes. She is older, he realized, not the young woman of his memory. Her eyes held creases and concerns that he had never seen before.

  His heart lurched as he realized that his mother would not live forever. That someday, she would succumb like everyone else in the world. The thought was almost unthinkable. His mother had always been indomitable.

  Her eyes searched his, waiting, watching.

  “Things went well, mother,” he said as he removed the coin from his pocket. “Here it is, as promised.”

  His mother didn’t take her eyes off of his.

  “What of Elsbeth?” she asked.

  His heart dropped to his stomach. He so did not want to talk about this with his mother.

  She saw the pain in his eyes and looked away. Walking over to a small cabinet, she removed a long, slender, highly polished, wooden box.

  “I had this made after you left,” she said as she opened it.

  The box was lined with purple velvet. Five small indentations had been created in line.

  Taking the coin from his hand, she examined both sides, then turned to him with a slight, regretful smile. He could see that she was aware of the pain this small coin had caused.

  Sighing at her son’s anguish, she placed the coin in the first indentation, laying the silver chain on top.

  Drake expected her to close the lid and put the box away. Instead, she set it on the table, then removed her own medallion.

  “It is probably best that these be kept together. As it only takes one to ruin our heritage.”

  He watched, as she placed her own medallion next to Elsbeth’s coin. Both medallions rested easily, but Drake was instantly drawn to the three missing coins. Their empty spots calling to him, demanding to be filled. His family would never be safe until they were.

  “You did well, Drake,” his mother said as she gently ran her hands across the medallions. Her fingers seemed to caress the coins, as if afraid they might disappear.

  His mother’s compliment didn’t improve his feelings. Nothing would.

  “I will leave you now, mother. Return to my exile as per your instructions.” The anger bubbling just beneath the surface threatened to erupt. His life had gone to hell in a handbasket, and he couldn’t turn to his fam
ily for solace.

  Her hand reached out to stop him.

  “There is no need now,” she said, her eyes softening with concern.

  “Why?” he demanded. “What is different? I will serve out my arbitrary sentence, and then return as per your demands.”

  His mother looked at him for a moment. He could see her mind turning a mile a minute as she tried to determine what to say. If he had not known better, he might have thought a small tear formed in the corner of her eye, but surely he was mistaken.

  He blinked, and any sign of wetness was gone. Heaven knew, his mother didn’t cry. The thought was preposterous.

  “Why?” she said. “Because you have accomplished what you needed to accomplish.”

  His world shifted. Had she really just said that?

  “The coin?” he asked as he glanced at the box on the table. “You banished me so that I would find a coin. How could you know I would come across it?”

  She smiled at him and slightly shook her head at his foolishness.

  “What?” he continued. “Was I banished for some other reason and have earned my way back into your trust by locating a small piece of metal?”

  She smiled up at him. That all knowing smile of a mother’s. The one that drove him crazy.

  “Oh Drake, it isn’t about the coin. It was never about something you had done.”

  “Then why, mother?” he demanded. His voice rising higher than it should when addressing his mother. A year of pain combined with the loss of Elsbeth came to a head. “Why did you send me away and now allow me to return? All with no explanation?”

  Her hand ran up and down his arm.

  “It isn’t about the coin,” she said again. Taking a deep breath, she continued, “I sent you away so that you might find your soul mate. I was perfectly aware that you would not find her here in the valley. Heaven knows you went through every girl and woman in the valley. And, there were more than enough willing.”

  His brow narrowed in confusion.

  “Now, that you have found her, there is no longer reason for you to be banished.”

  “Found her?” he said.

  “Elsbeth,” she replied, as if the answer were obvious.

  Drake stepped back, drawing a deep breath. “Mother, you are mistaken. Elsbeth is not my soul mate. She is destined for another. Her honor demands that she care for her people. We discussed this, remember?”

  “Drake, I am perfectly aware of Elsbeth’s honor and why she has taken the actions she has. I commend her for it. That doesn’t alter the fact that she is your soul mate. She calls to the beast inside of you. She makes you stronger, wiser, and a little bit kinder. Whether you are together or not. It doesn’t change the fact that she is the only woman you will ever love. Correct?”

  “Sending you back out into the world would achieve nothing. You will never love another. Only Elsbeth will call to your soul.

  His heart lurched. His mother spoke of love so casually. He could not think about it. Would not think about it.

  “I don’t believe I know how to love,” he said as he stepped away from her.

  “Oh, Drake,” his mother said as she shook her head. “You have more capacity for love than any man I know. The only thing holding you back is fear.”

  The hackles on the back of his neck sprang to full attention. How dare his mother accuse him of being afraid?

  “You seem awful carefree about the subject,” he said. “I would think that knowing Elsbeth is lost to me would upset you. I will be alone for my life. No grandchildren to bounce on your knee. Flint and Thaddaeus will have to be the ones to carry on the family name. A fact that I would not put a lot of hope in knowing my brothers. I would think it would bother you. At least a little.”

  His mother smiled at him, then gently laughed. “Drake, life is a long time. It has only been a few days. Give it more time. Things might very well change. You never know.”

  He scoffed and turned for the door. His mother didn’t understand. She would never understand.

  “I don’t want to talk about this,” he said as he paused in the doorway. “I will leave tomorrow. I’ll help with patrols, but I’ll base myself in the forest.”

  “Drake,” his mother called out to him. “Please don’t tell your brothers. I might want to use the same tactic on them. Heaven knows. I’ll probably have to shove them out the door to get them to leave.”

  He shuddered thinking about the pain his brothers would suffer. To hell with them. It’d be good for them. Stomping up the hall towards his own room, he thought of what his mother had said. She had been so sure that Elsbeth was his soul mate. The one and only woman destined to share his life.

  If she was, that meant he would always be alone. Always be without true happiness. The thought made the beast inside of him angry.

  It wasn’t right, it wasn’t fair.

  .o0o.

  Drake studied the morning sky. Elsbeth had left him almost a week ago. The pain hadn’t diminished. Still, his mother’s words echoed inside of him.

  Sighing to himself, he called forth his beast and set him free. Erupting into a shower of flame and smoke, he transformed into a dragon.

  Stretching his wings, he tasted the air, felt the heat burning inside of him. This was his only joy, now. Letting his true nature out.

  Jumping into the air, he flapped his mighty wings and crawled up into the sky. A few beats and he was above the trees. A few more, and he had risen high enough to see to the edge of the forest.

  His mother’s castle stood in the distance. A slight wind blew from the east, and the sun warmed his armored scales. Life would be good, except.

  Grumbling deep in his chest he turned to begin his patrol of the forest. Oh, how he begged for something to challenge him. Every fiber of his being yearned for a fight. Something upon which to unleash the tension and pain inside of him.

  Dipping a wing he swerved to the right. His senses probing the distance. His beast exalting in the feeling of being airborne. Floating above the world and all its concerns.

  Riding a warm thermal, he flew higher, and higher. Drifting, not really thinking, just being. It was as close to peace as he could come.

  But, it would not last for long. It never lasted. His mind would wander to Elsbeth. How was she? Had she regained her land, yet? He really needed to check in with the tavern keeper. See if she needed him.

  His heart jumped at the thought of her needing him. Seeking his help. He lived for the moment where she needed him.

  It was not to be, he thought. It would never be.

  Raising his head, he roared as loud as he could. The deep vibration of the sound echoed off the distant cliffs. Letting the world know that there was a dragon in the area, and he was upset.

  The world beneath him cowered in fear.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Elsbeth stared out of the carriage window at the distant forest. The green trees called to her.

  Her heart broke for the thousandth time. Where was he? What was he doing at this moment?

  Probably chasing castle maids.

  She glanced at the two young woman Julian had assigned to watch her. He had said they were to be her maids. But, she well knew that they reported to him. Every secret, every action was told to Julian and therefore to her uncle.

  The carriage hit a bump, bouncing, rocking from side to side.

  Oh, that it would tip over and splinter into a million pieces. Freeing her so that she could run for the forest.

  Instead, it continued on. The trip was intolerable. This long trip to her personal hell. She didn’t know which was worse. The journey or what would happen when they got there.

  A cold shudder passed over her as she thought of marriage to Julian. He had betrayed her. Betrayed her so easily. All for a title and glamour. Not for anything real.

  For the first time she was beginning to realize what kind of man he was. Those thin shoulders should have given her a clue. The thought of him sharing her bed made her physically ill. The th
ought of her people continuing to suffer under her uncle’s power filled her with despair.

  When she had threatened to refuse the marriage ceremony, her uncle had laughed. Actually thrown his head back and laughed.

  “How many people do I have to torture and kill to get you to the alter? I wager, the first night filled with screams and the wailing of children will have you there the next morning.”

  Her heart had dropped, and her stomach rebelled. He was right. All he need do is threaten her people, and she must do as he said.

  She had failed. Failed on so many levels. Drake had tried to warn her. Tried to make her see. Why hadn’t she listened?

  Shaking her head, she peered across the fields at the forest. Unable to take her eyes away. Unable to stop thinking of the man who had made love to her with such tenderness and strength. Of the dragon that could fly through the air like a falcon and roar like the mightiest of lions.

  Every thought, every memory brought a sadness to her heart. She clasped her hands in her lap, squeezing. Trying to force the pain away.

  Nothing worked. Nothing would ever ease the loss she felt.

  .o0o.

  Drake took another bite of the beef stew the castle kitchens had prepared. He had grown tired of rabbit and decided to eat in the castle this night.

  His family ate silently, the normal banter and teasing put aside for the evening. They had quickly learned to leave him alone in his misery.

  “Have you visited Regan and Janice?” his mother asked. “I am sure they would like to see you, again.”

  The thought of seeing his friend’s domestic bliss filled him with anguish. His stomach turned over at the thought of seeing their laughing eyes and secret looks. Of watching Cade and Teagan playing in the yard. All the while, knowing he would never have such things.

  “Not yet,” he said. “I’ve been busy.”

  “Moping is not busy,” his mother mumbled under breath.

  “Mother I … “his angry tirade was interrupted when Thaddaeus stepped into the room.

  “Oh good, I’m not late,” he said as she slipped into the seat next to Drake, across from Gwyn.

  “Aren’t you supposed to be on patrol?” Drake barked, turning his anger on his younger brother.