Authors: Judith Leger
Tags: #Wild Child Publishing Fantasy Romance Novel, #fantasy, #romance, #novel, #dragons
happens in a flash, branding onto their minds for eternity. I
believe this is very possible. Is it because you are from Earth
you do not believe thus?”
Not ready to explain or even to look too close at how she
felt for him, she asked, “Did you love your wife?”
His expression changed—hardened and his body
stiffened. With his reaction to her question, she regretted
asking. Lifting a hand, needing some kind of contact to help
him understand she didn’t mean to pry, she reached for him.
He stepped back. A deep sense of loss came over her.
“No. I am only honor-bound to her. The marriage was
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arranged. No links with our souls were involved.”
Seren studied him for a moment. His expression
remained blank, unreadable. “Yet you made love to her. She
became pregnant with your child.”
Pain flickered in his eyes. It flashed for a second to
disappear, leaving the blue unreadable. His grin was tight
and false when he answered. “Two people need not love to
create a child.”
The painful reflection in his gaze gave her a vital piece of
information. He had wanted to love his wife, but for some
reason, the dead woman had rejected his feelings.
Paladin had remained at Seren’s side the entire time
since she had come to this planet. He didn’t take his
responsibilities lightly. “Are you honor-bound to me?”
He raised a hand and touched the tip of her hair. “No. I
keep you close to me out of choice, not duty. Even before I
knew of the child, I wanted you to remain near to me.”
“Why?” She had to know his reasons. Had he experienced
what he’d described? Toward her?
“I wanted you. From the first moment.”
Relieved he hadn’t fallen in love with her, she leaned into
his palm. He slid his hand to her throat. He leaned nearer
and whispered. “I do desire you.”
Seren’s heart accelerated. “I loved my husband. When my
daughter died, the love ended. I often wondered if I even
knew what love was. And now, with you, all I can think of is
having you hold me, touch me....”
She shook her head and stepped back. “But it’s not love
though, it’s lust. Not a good basis for a relationship.”
“You affect me much more than in a physical way. You
lightened my days. Brought laughter and joy into my life
after I believed they had deserted me.”
Her heart clenched. When had her ex-husband ever told
her something so sweet? The answer was simple. Never.
Now, this beautiful man, the one whose child she carried,
touched her to the center of her heart with just his words.
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She blinked away the sudden burning in her eyes. She
wouldn’t cry in front of him.
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She twirled away, hoping to hide how much he had
affected her. “Then my work here is done. Come on. Let’s
enjoy this place without anyone else around.”
Running ahead of him, she sent what she hoped was a
come hither look over her shoulder. He grinned, following at
a slower pace. Sunlight flowed over her while the breeze,
coasting in from the ocean, caressed her face. Coming to stop
along the edge of the bluff overlooking the water, she waited
until he stood next to her.
“You never did tell me why you’re not a king anymore.”
“My brother took the throne in my place.”
This caught her attention. “Why? Is he older than you?”
“No. The oracles declared he would rule, so the throne
went to him upon my father’s death.”
She looked over at him. His face revealed nothing. “Are
you okay with that?”
“We were both raised to rule.”
“Is he a good king?”
“From what Largin has told me, he is acting in a fashion
unsuitable for the throne.” Paladin lifted his gaze to meet
hers. “He would see you dead before our child is born. I will
have to stop him. Not a task I look forward to.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve caused you so many problems.” Her heart
ached for him.
Voices came from the trail behind them. Several villagers
appeared on the path through the trees. Many of them called
out to Paladin. He took her hand and led her to the people.
Seren smiled, concealing her confusion over the increased
attraction for him in her heart.
* * * *
bright circle, she assumed midday had passed. An array of
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meats cooked over a fire pit, strange fruits and vegetables,
some cooked, others left raw, sent her taste buds into
ecstasy. Overstuffed from eating too much, suffering from
the drowsy aftereffects, she leaned against the trunk of a
tree, listening to the insects buzzing in the meadow. Birds
cooed and chirped in the leaves above. Dappled shade
covered the ground around her. Lids half-lowered with
lassitude, she silently admired the golden haired man
stretched out on the grass not far from her. He’d pillowed his
head with a bent arm. Dark lashes hid his eyes so she
couldn’t tell if he slept or just rested. She’d considered
crawling to his side, but with her full stomach and sleep
tugging at her to close her eyes, she’d decided to remain
against the tree, satisfying her desire for him through her
unwavering stare.
A few feet away, Felerian children sat in a circle and sang
clan songs, clapping their hands. Their youthful voices
brought a smile to her lips. She wanted to remember this day
long after she returned to Earth, every second here in this
place, keeping it locked deep within her heart. Never had she
experienced such peace.
One moment, she basked in paradise, the next, Paladin
leapt to his feet with his swords drawn and held ready before
him. Her energy returned with a blood rush to her head.
He faced the meadow with his head back, his eyes on the
sky. Flapping wings brought her focus to where he looked.
From the sound, huge wings. Her vision of Paladin, the
dragons attacking him, flashed through her mind. Fear rose
inside her.
Two gigantic dragons glided over the rim of the bluff
overlooking the water. They coasted for several yards. Blue-
green scales glinted in the sunlight. They extended their back
legs, both heavy with muscles, and landed several yards
away. The ground shook. The leaves bounced in the nearby
trees. Birds took flight, squawking in fear.
Paladin stood like a physical barrier between Seren and
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them. He lifted his right hand, the sword glinting in the light.
“Be gone, Biaotoc. Be gone from here.”
Both dragons lowered their massive bodies to rest on
their shorter arms. Long necks, the scales rippling with their
movement, stretched to the side, their lime green eyes, the
pupils slit, focused on her. An inner lens opened and closed
then stopped.
Low mewls came from their gaped mouths. Those low
grunts, growls, and mewls transformed into words. She
glanced around to see if anyone else heard, but most of the
Felerians, their bodies tense, faces lined with unease,
watched from behind the trees edging the meadow. They
seemed unaware of the dragons speaking.
“We have come to see the truth.”
The words, slow and elongated, slid into her thoughts.
Paladin answered. Her attention caught on him. He
understood what they’d said too. “What truth, Biaotoc?”
The second dragon, smaller than the other, leaned toward
the left, its words softer, more feminine in tones.
“Our king.”
Biaotoc, the male with its much larger body, stretched its
head nearer, its nostril flared with its inhalation.
“We have
heard the King has been created.”
“It is no concern of yours.”
A gust of sea-scented air shot toward Paladin as Biaotoc
reared back.
“Human.”
He twisted his head to the other
dragon.
“A human carries the dragon king.”
Icy shards of fear lashed at Seren’s insides, freezing her
limbs. Someone touched her arm. She tore her gaze away
from Paladin to where long, ebony fingers curled over her
upper arm. She looked up, meeting Leo’s eyes. He squatted
next to her. “It’s okay. They shouldn’t attack.”
“Oh, that’s great,” she mumbled. His reassurance did
little to relieve her.
In the seconds it took Seren to look back at the huge
creatures, the other dragon slipped her head forward.
“I can
smell him. Oh...he sleeps in his human mother.”
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“You will not call to him,” Paladin ordered, taking a step
toward them.
A white blur passed in front of the female’s face. It landed
with a dull thump in the grass before the beasts. Standing on
its lanky hind legs, the lone white drac spread its wings. The
miniature dragon cawed and flapped its wings at the two
larger ones.
Biaotoc’s nostrils widened, his eyes narrowed as he stared
down his snout at the drac.
“You dare order me—leader of
the sea dragons.”
The drac flapped harder. Frightened for the small beast,
Seren jolted upright. The little reptile shooed the larger
dragons away. She raised a hand and the words spilled out
before she thought, “Please...don’t hurt it.”
The male dragon focused on her for a moment then
looked at the drac.
“You have been magic-kissed bold one for
your actions this day. We will leave you in peace.”
He nudged the female’s neck with his nose.
“Come,
Faelee.”
Paladin remained with his back to Seren, swords ready.
The dragons rose, their wings stirring the grass along with
the flowers. A moment later, they took flight.
The drac hopped in place a few times then wobbled to
Seren. It flopped down onto the ground next to her, lying on
its back. Rear legs stretched out, the front ones hung over its
chest, leaving the smooth white belly unprotected.
Without giving any thought to the matter, Seren touched
the drac’s stomach. She marveled at the soft texture of the
scales. “He’s so pretty.”
Glancing over his shoulder, Paladin grunted. “He is a she.
Do not grow attached, they do not survive long. Few live to
be dragons.”
Surprised at his uncaring comment, Seren glared at him.
“I don’t know. She has a ton of courage. She’ll live. Maybe
even become
the
great white dragon.”
The tension faded from his stance. He turned to her and
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slid his swords into their scabbards before he responded.
“Perhaps. Her actions reveal strength.”
Seren scratched at the corner of the young female
dragon’s jaw. Low, deep moans rolled from the drac’s throat
and one back leg bounced. Laughing, Seren passed a hand
over the downy neck to pat her narrow chest.
Paladin squatted next to her, bringing her attention to
him. “We must depart. Come, the storms will return before
long.”
Disappointed, Seren nodded and stood, brushing the
pieces of debris from her rear. The little drac rolled over and
came to her feet, tilting her head toward Seren. With a laugh,
Seren motioned with her head, speaking to the drac. “Come
on, you can ride home with us.”
They told the villagers goodbye and promised to return
soon. Seren turned to walk down the path to the village.
She’d miss this place and its peacefulness.
The pat-pat of the drac’s feet came from behind her.
Surprised the little beast had listened when she’d told her to
come, she glanced at the drac. Her lips stretched over
pointed teeth in what might be called a smile. Seren giggled.
Turning to Paladin, she asked. “Can we keep her?”
He looked at the drac, shaking his head with a grin.
“Dracs do not belong to anyone. They are free to come and go
how they please. From the look of her though, it appears she
might stay for a while. There must be a purpose for her
appearance here. I for one do not want to anger fate by
driving her away.”
Seren took his arm with a grin. He cocked a brow in
question. She touched her cheek against his shoulder and
murmured, “Thanks.”
They hurried to the village, where they mounted their
well tended dragoons. Seren turned in the saddle for one last