Dragon Lord

by Tyler Wild

  From the concern in his eyes, Carvin knew what was coming, and he didn't like it one bit. His skin sizzled as Kron placed the tip of the sword against the wound, cauterizing the flesh. The putrid smell of burning skin wafted through the air.

  Again, Carvin attempted to stifle an agonized groan, but failed miserably. Once both entry and exit wounds were seared, Kron stabbed his sword into the dirt and let it cool.

  "Remind me to never get on your bad side," Carvin said.

  Kron chuckled.

  Carvin took another swig from the bag and handed it back to Kron who indulged himself with a healthy gulp. When he was done, he handed me the bag.

  I looked at him curiously. I had been fed nothing but scraps over the last several years. Meager portions that were near rot. Stale ale and horrid mead were my only beverages, and those were given in limited quantity. Already this man had treated me kinder than my predecessor.

  I took a sip of the ale.

  It was sweet and stronger than most. I flashed an appreciative glance, and after a second mouthful, handed the bag back to him.

  Kron took another swig and handed the bag to Carvin. Then my savior turned to me and held out his hand.

  This man was strong and powerful, but also gentle. The offer of a hand was a gesture that I could not remember receiving.

  I took it.

  His massive hand engulfed mine. It was strong and tough, but his touch was soft. His biceps flexed as his powerful arms pulled me to my feet.

  He escorted me away from the campsite. My heart thumped in my chest, and I trembled with both fear and anticipation. "Where are we going?"

  Kron said nothing. We continued walking through the forest toward a stream. The sound of the gentle water racing over the rocks filled the night air along with a symphony of crickets.

  "Why have you rescued me?"

  Again he said nothing.

  He let go of my hand at the shoreline and peeled off his clothes, revealing his sculpted body. His massive pectorals, washboard abs, and huge… thighs. My eyes widened and my cheeks turned rosy red as I took in his magnificent physique.

  Butterflies fluttered in my stomach.

  He stepped into the river and washed himself off.

  I pulled off my dress and stepped into the water. The cold spiked goosebumps all over my body. I watched Kron's eyes take in my form, staring at my erect nipples. I kept a cautious eye on him as I submerged.

  I floated into the water and dipped my head underneath, washing the muck from my strawberry locks.

  My heart pounded.

  I kept a wary gaze on Kron as I attempted to wash my dress in the stream. "What do you plan on doing with me?"

  It was a loaded question, my voice both fearful and coquettish.

  "I will take you back to my kingdom," Kron said.

  "Where is your kingdom?"

  “Pernberry is another day's journey to the west."

  "I suppose you intend to mate me?” My voice was filled with a mix of concern and anticipation.

  There was a long moment of silence as we stared deep into each other's eyes.

  “No."

  I arched a surprised eyebrow at him. "I am a dragon-shifter. You could have my power at your beck and call. Yet you choose not to do so?”

  "You are a gift," Kron said.

  “A gift?" I didn't like the sound of that.

  “For my father, the King."

  I deflated. I would have much preferred Kron take me. He was young, handsome, and powerful. I'm sure he had countless women making themselves available to him. I had no idea what type of man his father was, or how old.

  “You would willingly give away this opportunity? That seems rather selfless.”

  “My father is a great man. My loyalty will always be to him. He has ruled our kingdom with fairness and compassion. You will be pleased with him as your master."

  "I think I'd like you better."

  He smiled.

  I drifted closer to him. "Are you sure I can't entice you?”

  6

  Kron

  I had faced many challenges in my life, but resisting Aurora was one of the more difficult. She had a svelte form and perfect breasts. Her voice was smooth and velvety, and her seductive words sounded like music to my ears. Desire burned within as she drew close.

  She pressed her soft skin against mine, pushing her breasts against my chest. I was rock hard, my soldier throbbed against her pelvis.

  She whispered in my ear, “I will be loyal to you as long as you live."

  I wanted nothing more moment than to thrust myself inside her. With her ability, I would have the power to rule my kingdom without opposition. No army could stand against a dragon.

  She had been in captivity for her entire adult life. I must have been her first viable option, and she wanted to take it. Sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t.

  She wrapped her legs around me and my hardness slid against her slick center.

  "I give myself to you… willingly,” she said, her hot breathy voice steaming in my ear.

  I was so close. The slightest movement and I would be inside of her. I would command the power of a dragon. It was too enticing to resist, but somehow I managed to grab her rib cage and gently push her away.

  A distraught look twisted on her face. She didn't like rejection.

  "I am loyal to my King. I made a promise that I would return with you unspoiled."

  She frowned at me.

  I must have been crazy passing up an opportunity like this, but my loyalty to my father came before anything else. Unlike my brother, I had a tremendous amount of respect for the King. He had always made decisions and sacrifices that were in our best interest, and the interest of his people. He was a protector, a provider, and a generous man. I had never once seen him refuse a request for help. The King truly cared about each one of his subjects. Whereas my brother cared about nothing and no one but himself.

  Evron was selfish, entitled, and overindulgent. He rarely found himself in battle, and when he did, he was in the rear with the gear.

  We were so different!

  Our outlooks on the world were polar opposites. I was loath to acknowledge that we were actually related. But I took some solace in the fact that he was a half-sibling—a child of the King's first wife. And in that regard, I had my suspicions that he may have been the product of infidelity.

  Unfortunately, Evron was next in line for the throne, and I shuddered at the thought of that eventuality. He would most assuredly become a tyrant and rule the kingdom with an iron fist.

  I often wondered what I would do when that day came? I couldn't serve a ruler like that.

  My half-sister, Malvina, was even worse.

  I left the water and changed into fresh clothes. I handed Aurora a bear skin to wrap herself with while her dress dried.

  By the time we reached camp, Carvin had slugged down the entire bag of ale. He lay on the ground with bloodshot eyes and a slight grin on his lips. Hovering beside the fire, he hadn’t moved.

  "How are you feeling?" I asked.

  "I feel like I need more ale.” A devious grin curled on his lips. “Did you get to all of those hard to reach places?"

  "No," Aurora said, with a disappointed tone.

  Carvin arched a curious eyebrow.

  "Are you losing your touch, big guy?”

  I stared at him. "I swore an oath to the King, and I intend keep it.”

  I strung a line between two trees and hung our wet clothes close to the fire. They would be dry by morning. With some Elven rope, I tied Aurora's hands behind her back and bound her ankles. I didn't think she would try to run during the night, but I wasn't going to take any chances.

  She didn't like it one bit, and her protests echoed through the forest.

  I scooped her from her feet and carried her into my tent. I set her on top of a blanket and covered her.

  "Is this really necessary?" Aurora asked. "I promise. I'm not going to run.”


  I smirked at her and then climbed into my blankets. I fluffed a pillow under my head and closed my eyes.

  "I could kill you in your sleep, you know," Aurora said in an attempt to sound menacing.

  I peeled open one eye and gazed at her beautiful form. "Good luck with that,” I said, flatly. “Let me know how it works out you.”

  She clenched her jaw, and her face twisted with frustration. Then she huffed and rolled over. She didn't say anything for several minutes, but just as I was dozing off she said, "I'm cold. Could you adjust my covers?"

  Her chest was exposed, and her beautiful breasts beckoned my eyes. Her nipples were fully erect.

  I crawled closer to her and pulled her blanket up to her chin.

  "Thank you," she said with appreciative eyes. They lingered on me a moment too long, and I could almost read her mind.

  "Do you have any ambition?" she asked.

  “My ambition is to return you to my King," I said.

  She looked disappointed.

  "You could have all that you desire.” Again, her velvety voice massaged my ears and re-kindled my desire. “Take me now, and I will serve you faithfully."

  The offer was tempting.

  There was no doubt about it.

  My soldier stretched and pulsed. This woman was gorgeous. I was stiff just thinking about it. But I refused to betray my father, no matter what the offer.

  “Bang her!” Asgoth said, his voice booming in my head. “What are you waiting for? Bang her! Fuck the shit out of her!”

  I ignored him and forced myself back to bed and tried to focus on other things besides the gorgeous woman next to me.

  “What is wrong with you? Don’t tell me you've switched teams?”

  The sword was beginning to get on my nerves. I grumbled, “I haven’t switched teams.”

  “Excuse me?” Aurora asked, unable to hear the demon.

  “Nothing,” I muttered.

  “Look at her. She’s tight, wet, and willing. Do you need a map? There is treasure in that booty.”

  I continued to ignore him.

  “If I was free from this sword… oh, the things I would do to her!”

  There was no way to get his voice out of my head.

  “I’m so disappointed in you.”

  Asgoth continued to taunt me incessantly while Aurora kept trying to entice me with her silken voice and seductive words. Her voice entered my ear and tickled my brain, creating an avalanche of lustful thoughts. She was like a siren calling me to my doom.

  7

  Kron

  I feared the worst.

  The sun climbed over the horizon shooting dappled rays of light through the canopy of trees. There was a damp chill in the air.

  I peeled my eyes open and glanced across the tent to see Aurora still asleep. She was a stunning vision, and I could certainly get used to waking up to that every morning.

  Several times throughout the night I had checked on Carvin. His injury was worrisome. I had seen my share of battle wounds, and arrows could be particularly difficult to survive.

  A wound to the extremities was usually survivable unless the arrowhead nicked a major artery.

  Wounds to the torso were survivable if no major organs were punctured. It was better to be shot in the chest than the abdomen. Though, puncturing a lung could be disastrous. It could fill with fluid and collapse, and victims were prone to respiratory infection.

  A shot to the abdomen was almost always fatal.

  If the person didn't die from internal bleeding, they surely died from infection.

  Carvin was still alive when I entered his tent. The area around the wound was black and blue. But he was still breathing. His eyes opened when I called his name.

  "How are you feeling?" I asked.

  "Like dogshit.”

  “We need to get moving. Are you up to it?"

  “I’m sure as hell not staying here."

  After I packed our gear, I helped Carvin mount his horse, and the three of us headed back toward Pernberry.

  Carvin winced with each step. He hunched over his horse, clinging on for dear life. I couldn't tell what hurt him the most, his hangover, or his arrow wound.

  Aurora clung onto me as we rode through the Lorewood Forest. We moved through the lush green oasis as quickly as possible. The King’s royal sorcerer would be able to cast a spell or make a potion that would aid in Carvin's healing. My stepsister had become a powerful sorceress in her own right, but she was loath to do me any favors.

  By late afternoon, we had arrived at Pernbury Castle. The majestic silver citadel stood atop a sheer cliff—a pilar of stone that rose from the ground, making it virtually impenetrable. A dangerous moat surrounded the base.

  Stable-hands took our horses, and two pages led Carvin to the infirmary. He forced a reassuring smile "I'll be right as rain in no time."

  "I have no doubt,” I said, trying to sound confident.

  The frail pages attempted to give him a hand, but Carvin pushed them aside, too proud to take assistance.

  The cobblestone streets bustled with activity. Citizens scurried about, taking care of daily errands. Vendors sold goods on the streets. The citadel was a sprawling metropolis—a place where you could find just about anything.

  Citizens gawked as I escorted the dragon-shifter into the Great Hall and brought her before the King. The palace was opulent—a symbol of my father's conquests. He had brought back untold riches from the far corners of the globe.

  The Great Hall was a cavernous space. Large pillars supported a vaulted ceiling. The hall was adorned with intricate stonework, exquisite sculptures, and vibrant tapestries. It was like walking into a magnificent cathedral.

  The King's court filled the Great Hall. People stared with wide eyes, and whispers danced around as they gossiped. Some were astonished, and some doubted this was truly a dragon-shifter. I could see it on their faces. I could also see worry and concern.

  My father sat atop an iron throne elevated by a riser. The throne was more like battle armor than a decorative work of art—a symbol that this kingdom was built on steel. A wide grin played on his face as he saw me.

  The King rose from his throne and descended the steps to greet me warmly. He put a proud hand on my shoulder. “What have you brought me?" he asked, knowing the answer.

  "The last dragon-shifter!” I said with pride.

  The King's eyes fell upon Aurora, taking in her luscious form. Behind his eyes I could see a million thoughts running through his brain.

  Despite his age, my father was still strong and capable. His muscles were carved from stone. He had a square jaw, deep blue eyes, and a short beard that was graying. His long flowing hair was also well on its way to full gray.

  In his day, he had been a deadly warrior, now he was still more than capable, though old enough to realize battle was a young man's game.

  "Tonight, we feast in celebration of my son’s victory,” the King proclaimed. “With this gift, he has brought lasting peace to our land!”

  The hall erupted with cheers.

  "Now leave us," the King commanded. "I have personal business to discuss with my son."

  The hall emptied quickly. I stood before my father with Aurora in the vast space.

  “You have returned her unspoiled?” He asked.

  “Yes, father.”

  His eyes narrowed as he peered deep into mine. “Are you sure?”

  “I swear.”

  He paused for a long moment. His solemn face gave way to a smile. “I knew you would not fail me. I have a special reward for your loyalty.”

  I didn’t steal the last dragon-shifter for any type of reward. And what my father offered me I could never have imagined.

  8

  Kron

  The King glanced around to make sure the chamber was empty. He leaned in and spoke in a hushed tone. "Take the girl directly to your chamber and mate with her. Now!”

  Confusion twisted on my face. "But—“

 
; "She is not for me. She never was for me. You have demonstrated your loyalty and trustworthiness. I will make an announcement that you are heir to the throne, not your brother."

  My eyes widened with surprise.

  "He does not have the character to lead,” my father said. “He is far too selfish and irresponsible. I've known this for quite some time, but I was hoping he would change. I fear if he were ever to rule this kingdom, it would bring nothing short of misery to the people."

  “Evron is not going to be happy.”

  "I couldn't care less. It's the right thing to do. With the power of the dragon-shifter, you will be invincible."

  I stood there, speechless for a moment. "I don't know what to say—”

  “Don't say anything. Just accept what has been given to you. Make haste!” My father smiled.

  I wasn't going to argue.

  “And when you are done, I have something else I need to discuss with you.”

  I left the great hall and made my way through the palace to my chamber, keeping Aurora close at my side. My mind filled with a million thoughts. I wondered how long my father had been planning this? It seemed that sending me to retrieve Aurora was just a test. One that I had passed, though not without great difficulty. And I wondered what else was on his mind.

  "I'm so glad you didn't bang her," Asgoth said.

  My brow crinkled. "That's not what you said last night.”

  “What?” Aurora asked.

  "Nothing. Sorry. I'm just…" I wasn’t sure how to explain the situation. Asgoth only made his voice audible to some people.

  I hurried through the halls of the castle, knowing full well that once word got out, Evron would do everything in his power to stop my succession to the throne.

  Unfortunately, I underestimated his ruthlessness.