Page 11 of The Dragon of her Dreams

“Let’s do it,” Theo said and began a count down. “Three...”

I dove straight off the side of the balcony without waiting, and closed my eyes as the wind came rushing past my face. My dragon clawed up to greet me, taking over my body. My eyes popped open as my wings materialized, stretching wide. The side of the castle’s turret was straight ahead, and I banked sharply to the left, the stones missing my nose by a mere inch.

I flapped my wings and soared up and over the castle, climbing higher until I reached the clouds. Up here I was in heaven. Up here, I was free. Free from the weight of the world that had tried so hard to crush me since I was a child. As I settled and headed south, two male dragons drew up beside me, flying at my wings. I glanced over at them, their expressions impossible to read in dragon form, so I kept my head forward, flying in the direction of Bravadok.

We passed the Black Mountain Kingdom on the way, and we just kept heading south.

The dragon I believed to be Theo bumped my wing to get my attention at one point and began flying a slightly altered course.

I didn’t fight him on it, having never been to any of the other kingdoms before. If he was saying King Stavrok’s kingdom was that way, I’d follow. We flew on and on, until my wings ached, and I was sick to death of staring at the endless sea of trees and snow. Since flying was my freedom, it was not something I ever thought I’d find myself thinking.

The air felt warmer here, though the snow still fell. There was also much more greenery. Nature seemed to thrive in a warmer climate, where it wasn’t as harsh. It had a chance to blossom, rather than merely survive, which was yet another thing I couldn’t wrap my head around.

All I’ve ever done is survive.

Finally, up ahead, a large castle appeared. It was truly magnificent. It wasn’t a crumbling, decrepit building in need of repair, but a huge, vibrant, and well-lit palace. The township below us was bustling and lively, with pops of color springing up in the form of swathes of fabric and blooming flowers.

I followed my half-brothers all the way to the top of one of the towers, letting them land first. I flapped my exhausted wings as they both shifted back to human form.

Servants appeared instantly, coming to attend to them with large, warm robes.

When they were finally safe indoors, I let my body drop, landing on the stonework, and my dragon withdrew. The air was so warm here that I barely shivered as the same servants offered me a large black robe of my own.

“Thank you.” I took the robe and slipped it on, wrapping the tie before anyone could see my nude body.

“Come in,” Theo called from the glass door.

“After you,” I told the young male servant as he hurried indoors once more. I shut the glass door behind me, then came face-to-face with none other than King Stavrok, himself.

“You must be Jaegar,” he said.

There was no one else this man could be. He was well into his older years, with graying hair and the battle of years upon his face. But he was dressed well, and he was as tall as me, looking me straight in the eye with a keen intelligence I hadn’t seen often before.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” I said, dipping my head, though I bowed to no one.

“You let them land first,” he observed. “Why?”

I lifted my head and frowned at him. “It was the safest way.”

“Weren’t you tired?” he pressed.

I shrugged. I was fucking exhausted from that flight but wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing that.

We stared at each other for several moments before Theo broke the tension.

“Jaegar, this is our Uncle Stavrok.”

The king glanced over at Damon’s son, then back at me. Long, assessing moments passed before he stuck out his hand in welcome. “Call me Stavrok.”

I nodded and offered him my own in return.

His hands weren’t soft as I’d expected of a King of the South, but strong and roughened as though he trained daily. There was a strange look in his blue eyes. If I didn’t know better, I’d say there was a growing respect kindling there, but that didn’t make any sense. He didn’t know me.

“Stavrok, are they here?” a woman called out, walking along the hallway. A very curvy older woman dressed in a royal purple dress stepped up next to Stavrok, a large grin on her pretty face. “Hello. You must be Jaegar. It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Lucy.”

This time, I offered a semi-bow. The human that had managed to claim and tame the heart of the king deserved it. “Hello,” I managed to say, though I couldn’t help but look around for my half-brothers, who’d disappeared.

“The boys have probably run off to look for Iain or Anselm,” Stavrok said, noticing my gaze.

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