by L M Lacee
Dragon’s Gap Fantasy Romance Adventure
Set #2 4-5 plus Love’s Catalyst
By L.M. Lacee
Copyright © 2012 L. M. Lacee. All rights reserved. Published by PrivotelConcepts
This Dragon’s Gap set No.2 is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
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Be certain to check out the back of this book for other stories in the Dragon’s Gap Series.
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Ash & Olinda
Ace & Harper’s Story
Love’s Impulse
BOOKS IN THE DRAGON’S GAP SERIES
Ash & Olinda
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE:
CHAPTER THREE:
CHAPTER FOUR:
CHAPTER FIVE:
CHAPTER SIX:
CHAPTER SEVEN:
CHAPTER EIGHT:
CHAPTER NINE:
CHAPTER TEN:
CHAPTER ELEVEN:
CHAPTER TWELVE:
CHAPTER THIRTEEN:
CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
CHAPTER FIFTEEN:
CHAPTER SIXTEEN:
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN:
CHAPTER NINETEEN:
CHAPTER TWENTY:
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE:
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO:
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE:
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR:
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE:
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX:
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN:
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT:
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE:
Ace & Harper’s Story
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE:
CHAPTER TWO:
CHAPTER THREE:
CHAPTER FOUR:
CHAPTER FIVE:
CHAPTER SIX:
CHAPTER SEVEN:
CHAPTER EIGHT:
CHAPTER NINE:
CHAPTER TEN:
CHAPTER ELEVEN:
CHAPTER TWELVE:
CHAPTER THIRTEEN:
CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
CHAPTER FIFTEEN:
CHAPTER SIXTEEN:
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN:
CHAPTER NINETEEN:
CHAPTER TWENTY:
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE:
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO:
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE:
EPILOGUE:
Love’s Impulse
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE:
CHAPTER TWO:
CHAPTER THREE:
CHAPTER FOUR:
CHAPTER FIVE:
CHAPTER SIX:
CHAPTER SEVEN:
CHAPTER EIGHT:
CHAPTER TEN:
CHAPTER ELEVEN:
CHAPTER TWELVE:
CHAPTER THIRTEEN:
CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
CHAPTER FIFTEEN:
CHAPTER SIXTEEN:
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:
EPILOGUE:
BOOKS IN THE DRAGON’S GAP SERIES
Ash & Olinda
CHAPTER ONE:
T he female dragon lay dying. There was nothing they could do to save her life. The grief Commander Ash Battle felt at losing a dragon, especially a female who was so young and heavy pregnant rippled through him and through his Shields.
When Ash and his warriors had come upon the female, her and two males who were in dragon form, were fighting shifters and humans. By the amount bodies, at least fifty or more who lay dead or dying, Ash would guess they had been fighting for a while.
The dragons had placed the female between them and the side of the mountain. But it looked like a shifter or two had tried to snatch her from her position. She had retaliated and killed at least one. The other was crawling away dragging his leg behind him with a knife sticking out of his thigh.
Within minutes of coming into range Ash’s Shields had killed all but five of the attackers. Ash and Rowling, the unit’s healer, rushed to the fallen female who had curled in on herself in what looked like excruciating pain.
Ash slid to the ground besides her explaining she was safe. That the Shields were there to help. She must have heard and believed his words because she allowed him and Rowling to gently role her over.
She screamed as they moved her onto a blanket, drenched in sweat and with blood soaking her dress she cried out. They saw at once why, she had been pierced with a sword. Ash prayed the blade had missed the hatchling inside her huge extended belly.
Rowling slapped a bandage over the entry wound then grabbed Ash’s hand to cover the cloth. “Put pressure on that.” He growled out. Ash pressed firmly against the pad covering the wound in the hope of stemming the flow of blood. It seemed an impossible task to him.
Rowling worked fast as the males that were with her stood a little away. They were explaining to Ark and Axl that Ash’s brothers and captains were not with the female. They had happened upon her as she was holding the humans and shifters at bay.
She had been obviously outnumbered, and it seemed like the attackers were trying to persuade her to go with them rather than forcibly grab her. When she had called out to them, they had flown down and been attacked by the humans and shifters.
Ash faintly heard Ark explain to the two wild dragons who and why they were there.
Rowling had shaken his head when Ash had asked what the female’s chances were. Truthfully with the amount of dark blood, she was losing Ash had been in no doubt she was not long for this world. Rowling had then demanded that they try to save the hatchling. Ash had immediately agreed a dragon’s life was too valuable for them not to try.
He talked quietly to the female when she had regained some semblance of awareness as he begged her to tell him her name. She had said it would make no difference. He told her quietly it would make a difference to him. She had caressed his cheek with her bloody fingers and told him she had no family, no one to care whether she lived or died.
He had held her hand as the medic Rowling performed an emergency caesarean section. His first he said, but he seemed to know what he was doing. Every male there watched and waited to see if he would be successful. A feeling of relief and triumph washed through the shields as he successfully delivered not one, but two hatchlings. Their first startled cries touched each of the hardened male’s hearts.
She refused to look at the hatchlings swearing they were not hers. Ash found that hard to understand as he asked. “You carried them inside your body. You are giving birth to them. How can they not be yours?”
Her voice was so weak she could barely talk. He placed his ear over her mouth as she answered him and what she said had him confused.
“A gift! They are a gift.�
�� She gasped out. “Dragon’s Gap.”
“What about Dragon’s Gap?” He demanded urgently. “Tell me what of Dragon’s Gap?” She only smiled as her hand dropped away and with her last breath she called out, “Goddess!”
Then she was gone. Her life force taken to the beyond.
Every dragon there bowed their heads in respect and honor reciting the Ancient blessing.
May you always have wind beneath your wings.
May you always remember, you did not soar alone!
Ash sadly kissed her forehead in farewell and climbed to his feet, sorrow clawing at his soul.
His dragon sadly said. She was a brave warrior.
Ash sighed as he answered him. She was. She will be missed.
What name will she be remembered by?
We will call her Owena!
A good strong warrior’s name.
Yes!
Ash watched as one of his males came over with a wrap for the female. As he wiped the female’s blood from his hands and face sadness remained a hard knot in his chest.
Rowling stood holding both hatchlings which he had wrapped in cut up blankets. “Ash they have to go to the castle as soon as possible.”
Ash looked up from the female. One of his shields was wrapping in preparation to carry her back to their base. “So go!”
Before he had finished talking Rowling was shaking his head. “No! I cannot fly as fast as you, no one can. You have to take them Ash we only have a small window here, they need specialized help and master Sharm if they are to survive.”
Ash grunted agreement as he made ready to shift issuing orders to his captains. “Finish up here, take the prisoners back to base, they can play with them there.” He grinned when he heard the whimpers from the six humans and shifters that had survived, including the male with the knife in his leg.
“Then make your way back to Dragon’s Gap. We are off rotation.”
A whoop echoed through the hills at Ash’s announcement. It had been a long sad and hard six months since they had been home. He knew his shields did not blame him or his brothers for keeping them from Dragon’s Gap.
He and his brothers appreciated their silence and support but he had known for a while that his brothers and he had to return and face their past. So now was as good a time as any, he decided.
There were four Battle brothers. Ace the eldest was in seclusion and had been for months. Ash was the second oldest, then Ark, making Axl the youngest. They were separated by a year apart and were a united family whether together or not their motto being. ‘We stand together. We kill together!’
Axl had thought it up when they were very young dragons, they had needed something to counter the young Kingsley brother’s motto of. ‘We will kill you!’
Either the motto had grown with the Battle brothers, or they had grown with the motto. Ash was never sure.
He shook off his thoughts as Ark and Axl came to him. Ark who would lead the Shields in his absence said. “I will make sure we all get home with the wild ones, they seem receptive. Go and take care brother.”
He clapped each of his brothers on a shoulder and growled. “Be careful. Arrive home in one piece, or our lady will be distraught and I will be in trouble. Then you will pay!” An often quoted warning which made his brothers grin at the mention of Lady Verity, their mother by proxy.
Ash gave one final nod to his brothers and let his dragon flow into being. Rowling stood and waited with both hatchlings inside the pouch that would go inside what resembled an overly large back pack. They were normally used by dragons to transport equipment when in dragon form. The packs were usually tied over the dragons back. For this flight that would not be possible.
Ark and Axl hooked the straps over and around Ash’s front legs so the pack that held his precious cargo could hang just under his enormous chin. The position would protect the hatchlings and keep them warm.
Once settled they all stepped back as Ash gave one almighty shake. When nothing loosened Rowling placed the pouch with the hatchlings inside the pack and fastened them tight saying a small prayer that they would survive.
Only when Rowling stepped back and gave the signal for the all clear did Ash rise slowly into the air. When he felt that the pack would not fall or slip he turned and headed to the castle.
When Rowling had said Ash was the fastest dragon, he meant of all dragons. None could match his flying or his battle speed and style in the air. Not even the fire dragons.
Ash’s dragon was colored smoke grey. When in battle he used clouds to his advantage by camouflaging himself and launching attacks from within, an effective fighting technique. Like all his brothers he measured seventy feet long. Each of the brothers had been bred solely for war.
Many years in the past Ace, Ash’s older brother, had found evidence that their father had paid someone to tamper with their genetics. At the same time Ash had also found an autopsy report that stated their mother had died due to genetic manipulation. They believed their father was directly responsible for her death which was something they had never forgiven him for. So when it had come time to testify against him at his trial for treason against the crown. Not one of the brothers had turned away from their duty. For them it was delayed justice!
His dragon asked. Why are you thinking of that time?
I do not know. The hatchlings maybe!
We have more important things to think about. There is a head wind.
Well! Let us do our best.
Ash poured on the speed as he flew through the pale morning sky. He could feel the hatchlings sleeping in their pouch. His dragon seemed to be entranced with them crooning a lullaby as they flew. After an hour, he said to his dragon.
I am worried it is three days to Dragon’s Gap. I know we can shave some time off that but will it be enough? Rowling has said the hatchlings will survive if we get them to the castle and Healer Sharm within that time. What do you think?
His dragon snorted his disagreement with the medic’s opinion. He was being optimistic in his time frame. The hatchlings if they are to survive need attention quickly. I like hatchlings they are special!
Ash let him see his smile as he told him.
All hatchlings are special my friend otherwise one could not stand all that crying! His dragon laughed, but Ash could hear the worry in his voice as he said. These hatchlings must survive. I feel they are important to us. To all of dragon kind.
We must fly as we have never flown before!
With that as the only warning his dragon accelerated up above the clouds where the air was thinner. Ash hoped the hatchlings with their little lungs would cope. He trusted his dragon, if he thought they would be safe, he would believe in him.
They made the three-day trip in twenty-four hours. The fastest recorded time flown by any dragon!
CHAPTER TWO:
T hree months was a long time to avoid capture especially when you have no money, friends or family to turn to. A person learns not to relax their guard or to trust easily. To trust means letting your guard down, and if you do that, you could very well end up betrayed and caged or worse.
Olinda knew this very well as she sat on a bus surrounded by women and children as she sipped the first coffee she had tasted in weeks. She sighed and fought closing her tired eyes as she let her mind wander back over what had brought her here, to this point in time.
Eighteen months ago she had given up her job as head librarian at a prestigious city library. She did this to care for her mother when she had been diagnosed with advanced liver cancer.
Olinda moved back to the small town her mother had retired too. Taken a part time job as a waitress in the local restaurant after most of her savings had gone towards her mother’s medical bills and back rent.
Sadly, four months ago, she had buried her loving mother. Then moved out of her mother’s rented townhouse and into her own cheaper apartment along with Thea her friend from the restaurant.
They had known each other for a year. She had b
een there for Olinda throughout most of her mother’s illness helping and supporting her and her mother. After the funeral it was Thea who advised her to stay in town and keep working at the restaurant while she processed her grief. That was how her friend, that was no friend, explained it. Olinda shook her head, Stupid, so stupid!
Now thinking back on those days Olinda saw where she had lost her common sense. Grief must have been to blame otherwise she would not have allowed herself to so easily be duped.
Well, that was what she told herself otherwise she was a gullible fool and she so did not want to be a fool! For the following month after her mother’s passing Olinda had taken on more hours at the restaurant. It was a stop gap measure. She had known she would not stay working there forever but for the weeks when her grief was so raw it had helped get her through each day. Plus there were bills to pay.
Five weeks after her mother’s funeral a man and woman had come in for dinner. Her friend and flat mate Thea had introduced them as her brother and his wife. She had suggested they all get together after work at their place for a few drinks.
For reasons unknown to her then, Olinda had taken an instant dislike to Thea’s brother and his wife. They had felt wrong, there was no other way to describe the feeling that had come over her at the time. The couple had just felt wrong!
As they talked to Thea and she introduced them to Olinda. She suspected there were things not being said, but felt in the undercurrent of the conversation as though Thea and the couple were acting a part. And she was the only one who had no idea it was a play.
Olinda had not wanted to meet with them again but could think of no plausible reason not to. And she could not tell her friend she felt uneasy around her family, so she had reluctantly agreed.
Thea finished at eight o’clock after the dinner rush had slowed down as it usually did on a Tuesday night. Small towns closed early during the week. She seemed to be so happy her family was visiting. She told Olinda that she would go home with her brother and his wife and they would get a light supper ready with a few drinks.
Unsure why she was hesitant, Olinda agreed then hurriedly went to serve a customer. Coming back with an order a little later Olinda was relieved to see that Thea and her family had gone.