Page 79 of A Witch and Her Dragon
“His name?”
There’s a brief pause. Then Tristan says, “Raelan Ashvale.”
“Keep my name off your vile tongue,” I snarl.
A ripple of tension moves through the air. The female lets out a low chuckle.
“A dragon shifter. Never thought I’d see one.” There’s an air of reverence to her voice, even as I sit chained and blindfolded. “Get up, Ashvale. Let’s go.”
I remind myself, probably for the hundredth time, that all of this is for Alina. I will not endanger her. I will comply.
As I push to my feet, the chains binding my arms to my sides clink heavily. Every step I take is weighed down, and my boots thud across the wagon floorboards. As I step up to the edge of the open doors, someone reaches up to take my elbow, trying to steady me, but I shake them off with a barely restrained growl.
In one smooth movement, I jump from the wagon, vision still obscured, and land with a grunt, the chains trying to drag me down. But I don’t let them. I stand tall and square my shoulders. All around me, whispers are exchanged.
“Now I will see my granddaughter,” the king says from off to my right.
“Of course, good king. A deal is a deal.” The woman lets out a low whistle. “Bring him.”
Something prods me in the side, and I’m sent walking through the darkness, using scent and sound to guide my way. I’m in only a tunic and trousers, no cloak, but my anger and my dragon heat me up from the inside, keeping me warm despite the crisp autumn air.
We walk a short distance, then the woman calls, “Stop here. You two, get her.”
Her. Alina.
My dragon coils, its magic reaching for her.
Boots hurriedly move away. I can still smell Tristan, and I imagine what I’ll do to him once Alina is safe. If I have anything to say about it, he will not live to see another sunrise.
No one betrays her and gets away with it.
On a brush of wind, Alina’s scent hits me. I jerk upright, the chains clinking. She smells like herself, delicious and intoxicating, but with a tinge of fear.
If they’ve hurt her, I—
“As promised,” the woman says. “We will exchange her for your dragon.”
“What?” Alina snaps. “What’s going on?”
She’s so near, every cell in my body urges me to run to her, to hold her close, to wrap her in my arms and carry her far, far away, to a place where no one will ever find us.
“Give her to the king. But leave her shackles on,” the woman says.
“No!” There’s the sound of a struggle. “Grandfather, you can’t do this!”
“Alina, come,” he says, voice low, calm.
“No!” she yells. “Raelan!”
There’s such pain in her voice that it makes my chain burn white-hot. I say nothing, focusing all my attention on not losing control of myself and my dragon. I just need her out of here, and then I will do everything in my power to—
Boots scuffle over the dirt, and someone gasps. Then feet thump across the leaves, and a moment later,Alina is throwing herself against me, her head nestled upon my chest despite the chains wrapped around my body.
I would know the feel of her anywhere, even without my sight.
“Raelan,” she whispers, her body trembling against mine, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I’m so sorry.”
“Go,” I tell her, with no uncertainty in my tone. “Get to safety. I’ll be fine.”
