Only For Her Dragon (Dragon Guard Series Book 6)(11)

“Nice work,” Aidan called out before turning to engage with one of the last hunters left standing.

“You, too,” Aaron responded, using his enhanced speed to tackle a hunter aiming his bow at the back of Kellan’s head.

Spinning as if he had eyes in the back of his head, Kellan nodded his thanks and took off after the last armed assailant. Just as the hunter fell, Rory called out the all clear. Rayne’s command quickly followed, “Kyra, keep up the shielding until all the bodies have been burned and removed. The rest of you help with the cleanup.”

An hour later all remnants of their fight with the hunters had been eliminated, and thanks to Kyra’s magic, even the grass and foliage had been returned to their original luster. Aaron and Aidan approached the original circle. The panthers and dragons had returned to human form and the other Guardsmen stood in groups discussing what had just happened.

Rian was the first to address the entire group with Max at his side. “It’s obvious this was an ambush. We haven’t seen hunter activity in this area for quite some time. It’s also obvious who set us up. I know the traitor was here. Some of the clues were real, but the majority was bogus. The good thing is we took out an entire pack of hunters and Kyra and I now have a good taste of his dragon magic. Tracking him will be much easier.”

Rayne picked up where Rian left off, “Good job everyone. Thank you to Max and his panthers, we couldn’t have done it without you. See you all this evening at seven in the Great Hall.”

It was almost daybreak as the loud ‘POP’, followed by what sounded like air escaping a balloon, signaled Kyra’s release of the shielding spell. Aaron listened as Rory and Lance gave blow-by-blow accounts of their battles. His thoughts drifted to Charlie. He reached through their growing mating bond and found his mate blissfully asleep.

She’s dreaming of me…of us.

He was so lost to the beautiful dream Charlie was having of them together, Aaron ran right into Lance’s back. The other Guardsman spun in his heels, took one look at Aaron, and burst out laughing. Aaron prepared for what he knew was about to come.

“This is better than soccer on Sunday with a case of beer and no commercials. Smartass is in love.”

“I must say it’s refreshing to see you joining the ranks of the fallen,” Royce added, sliding to the right to avoid Aaron’s fist.

“How the mighty have fallen. Thank the Heavens it’s not me,” Rory added, slapping Aaron on the back.

Aaron was just about to respond when a voice he had hoped never to hear again blasted through his mind. He spun towards Aidan, whose facial expression mirrored his own. “Laugh it up. Enjoy your fun. It’s only a matter of time, Brothers. Soon there will be nothing left of you or your pitiful excuse of a life.”





CHAPTER FIVE

Andrew sat on the highest ledge, using the little bit of earthen magic he’d been able to gather, combined with his dragon magic, to stay hidden while he sent his useless brothers a message. He knew it was impetuous, but the idiots and their brethren had invaded his sanctuary. Caused him to abandon the only safe place he could make it to with all his injuries. Injuries that weren’t healing no matter how much power he forced into them.

Kyra would track him if he stayed out in the open much longer; he just had to see the looks on their pathetic faces when he made contact. It was more than worth the risk to see their dumbfounded looks. He had always been the smartest of the brothers. The wonder twins had all their special powers, but he was the thinker of the family, the one able to see the whole picture.

His genius plan of using the hunters had worked out perfectly. Luckily, he’d kept in touch with a few of the old network. They were happy to hear from him, and even happier to come after the most elite of all the Dragon Guard Forces. Andrew had known they would fail. Hell, he’d even counted on it. It had been the distraction he needed to make them believe he’d abandoned the mountain in search of safer accommodations.

The last few years had been hard. Andrew had suffered more than anyone had a right to, and always because of others’ incompetence. John, his apprentice, had been the only one he could trust, the only one worthy–and the dragons had killed him. Living in a cave was lonely and far beneath what he deserved, but it served his purpose.

The time was at hand when he would finally be able to exact revenge on the brother that left him for dead and the pieces of shit that he’d once called brethren. His thoughts of revenge and the prophecy had been all he’d focused on during his weeks in seclusion. Using John’s notes, and what he remembered of a long forgotten dragon language, he’d translated more of the ancient texts. It was more prose and flowery writing than Andrew liked. More than once, he’d wished the writers would just get to the point, but at least it had been something to keep his mind occupied and sharp.

Clutching the old, worn volume to his chest, he pulled his remaining Concealment Amulet over his head. Creeping back to the alcove deep inside the cave he’d been inhabiting, he was careful not to dislodge the makeshift splint or tear the stitches he’d painstakingly knit into his own skin. Andrew held in the groans of pain for fear of discovery. The throbbing was debilitating as he crawled on his elbows and one knee, dragging the disabled appendage behind. The only thing that kept him moving was his promise to make every one of the useless, good for nothing dragons die… slowly and painfully.

Sweat-drenched and out of breath, Andrew leaned against the cool rocks of the cave walls. His head fell to the side merely from its weight. His mind drifted into a twilight state, something between asleep and awake, protecting as much of his body as it could from the pain. He drifted into a memory of one of his first days at the lair following his parents’ death.

Andrew walked towards the training pit looking for his brothers. He knew he had big shoes to fill and couldn’t wait until the day the giant with the shocking red hair gave him the go ahead to train with the real Guardsmen. Rounding the corner, he heard the clang of swords. The air filled with the sheer determination of the trainees trying to beat their trainer.

Cutting through the courtyard surrounding the Great Hall, the sound of crying cut through all the other noise. It was so pitiful, such anguish, such loneliness. One of the most painful things he’d ever heard. The female’s sobs reached right into his chest, squeezing his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.

Unable to move forward, Andrew changed directions. Pushing through the bushes heavy with blooms, he used the girl’s pain as a beacon. Just past the fountain, he caught sight of a royal blue sweater and one small white tennis shoe peeking out from under the grape arbor.

Paying more attention to the girl than his surroundings, Andrew stubbed his toe on a bench, knocking a small brass bell from the corner. The clang scared the girl, causing her to cry out and scramble even farther under the arbor until totally hidden from view.

He crept towards her, calling out as he neared. “It’s okay. I’ve just come to check on you.”

He reached the edge of the structure draped in vines, heavy with huge leaves and grapes. The muffled sounds from underneath let him know she was trying to silence her sobs and mask her pain. Any other time he would have turned around and left her to deal with her own problems, but something about the sounds of her grief, combined with her scent and the mere fact that he felt her anguish, kept Andrew glued to the spot and forced him to speak again.

“I promise I’m a good guy. I’m a Guardsman in training. Maybe you know my brothers. They’re the twins, Aaron and Aidan.”

Waiting to the count of ten, Andrew wondered if maybe his transformation had left him a little crazy and he’d imagined the whole thing. He’d never heard of anyone suffering lasting damage, but there was a first time for everything. Impatient with the lack of communication from the wounded creature inside, he called out for the third time.

“Okay if I come in? I’m feeling a little crazy standing out here talking to the leaves. I’m sure if anyone can see me they’re gonna report me to Mrs. Walsh and she’s going to want to check my melon.”

The giggle he heard was like the sound of the little bells on his mother’s favorite bracelet. His spirit soared and his dragon purred just to know that he had soothed her. Bending at the waist, he lifted the leaves out of the way and entered the arbor. There, in the corner, sat a tiny slip of a girl. Even in the limited light, her silky brown tresses shined as they swept across the top of her shoulders when she bowed her head. Her large brown eyes, red rimmed from tears, were so dark he could barely see her pupils. In the single glimpse he got, they sparkled like the rarest onyx. The sweet scent of daffodils invaded his senses and for just a moment, he felt lightheaded.

The female’s sobs had stopped, but there was a lingering sadness that Andrew felt compelled to soothe. Kneeling just a few feet from where she sat, he cooed, “Wanna talk about it?”

The silence stretched between them until Andrew was sure his question would go unanswered. Just as he was about to speak again, she lifted her head and looked him right in the eye. Shaking her head, she whispered in a defeated voice, “Wouldn’t do any good anyway.”