Rowen scrambled to her feet and turned to the Dragon. He outstretched his beautiful black wings and lifted himself back into the air.
And, without a goodbye, he flew away.
Rowen was left dumbstruck.
Who was he?
The question fleeted almost as quickly as it popped into her head as she realized something.
She was alone. She had no money.
And, worst of all, she had nowhere to hide.
Rowen spun around and took in her surroundings. The road led from the port to the city of Harrow. The woods led to another road that would take her to the border that separated the Dragon realm from the human realm.
The pain of her hand left her weak. She needed new clothes and a new identity.
What would she do, now? She couldn’t go home to the Duke.
Rowen closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.
She would do all that she could.
She checked that the map was still in the front of her dress, and ran.
Chapter 25
Prince Rickard lingered above the clouds, his eyes fixed on the half-blood dragon girl below.
He was at peace with his decision. Shielding her from the prison torturer had been easy, but rescuing her from a burning ship with the navy there to witness it was trickier.
Rickard pumped his wings and steadied himself in the sky. To touch her once more was out of the question. To reveal himself for what he really was had to wait.
It seemed that everything he did was to protect her, even from the truths she was not ready to learn. Watching her run into the woods sent a pain into his heart. Her journey would be hard, and he wouldn’t be able to always save her.
Now, she would be on her own.
With a sigh that produced a puff of smoke from his nostrils, Rickard abandoned going back to the Withrae Navy ship that had led him to Rowen, and flew back toward his castle.
His brother was dead.
His father was ill.
Soon, he would rule all of Withrae. And, soon he would be faced with righting all of the wrong his father and brother had done.
Just a little while longer to keep his plan a secret.
Just a while longer to let her continue hating him.
Rickard flew over Harrow and made one last stop. He landed on a merchant road and shifted back to his human form. Dressed in the same simple cloak over leather pants and a plain shirt, he would blend in with the common crowd. He didn’t need any Dragons recognizing him and ruining his plans.
A manor awaited up ahead, one that he had visited a few times before.
Glenick Manor.
Rickard walked along the rocky road and toward the front gate. There she was, his accomplice. She waited for him, her hands before, red, and nearly wrung raw.
When her golden eyes caught a glimpse of him, she ran to the gate and wrapped her hands around the bars.
“Prince Rickard,” Duchess Nimah Glenick breathed with relief.
He placed a finger to his lips and stood before her. “Shh. Don’t call me that. You know better.”
Nimah nodded, her eyes darting from side to side and back up the white path that led to the manor she shared with her ridiculous husband.
“Is she okay?” she asked, her face pale, her eyes wide with worry.
Rickard nodded. “She is. I made sure of it. But, I can’t do much to help her now. She will have to protect herself until I am king.”
Nimah’s eyes watered and she covered her face with her hands. “I shouldn’t have allowed her to go. I should have kept her here with me and out of all of this.”
“No,” Rickard said. “You did the right thing.”
“But, she can’t even come home to me. She knows nothing of what the world holds and what dangers await. I should be there with her.”
Rickard’s jaw tensed. “No,” he said, lowering his voice. “You will stick to the plan, keep your mouth shut, and wait for my word. Don’t get sloppy and ruin everything. Understand?”
Nimah sucked up her tears, looked him in the eyes, and nodded.
“Did you manage to make sense of what Elian’s old scribe sent in the message?”
Rickard shook his head. “Elian killed him before I could transcribe everything. Something about the map isn’t working anymore. The rest is what we already knew. He’s after the Red Dragon.”
Nimah huffed. “He’s always been after it. It’s all he cares about.”
“Do you think he knows that Rowen is his?”
“I don’t know. I never told him. I can’t believe he showed up and rescued her.”
Rickard scratched his bearded chin. Itchy. Rough. It was time to shave it off and start anew. “At least something worked in our favor,” he said.
His ears picked up the sound of footsteps coming from afar.
The Duke.
Rickard took Nimah’s hand from between the bars. “I must go. Trust me. She’s strong, stronger than we gave her credit for. She will survive, and I will always be there for her if I can.”
Nimah nodded. “Thank you, Rickard. She’s lucky to have you.”
Rickard twisted his mouth. “Luck?” he asked. “Never believed in it.”
Then, he shifted, and took to the skies.
The plan was in place. The prophecies were going as foretold. And, the woman he’d chosen as his mate was alive.
That’s all that mattered.
For now.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review. The sequel to Half-Blood Dragon, Magic-Born Dragon will be available for preorder January 20th 2017.
Check out my epic fantasy novel, Rise of the Flame here.
* * *
Don’t Forget to Subscribe to K.N. Lee’s Newsletter to Receive Freebies, Exclusive Content, Cover Reveals, Giveaways, Sales, and More!
(link to newsletter here)
An Exclusive Excerpt from Rise of the Flame
CHAPTER ONE
LILAE FLOATED BARE-SKINNED beneath the bright crescent moon, her arms outstretched on the lake’s calm surface. Winter never seemed to end in northern Eura, but she braved the frigid water for the solitude offered by an evening swim.
Alone, she thought, just how I like it.
Just as she began to relax, Lilae felt the presence of her Elder in the black shadows of the forest.
This is not good. She peeked over and saw Delia in the human form she’d stolen when she was forced to leave the Underworld, her pale face illuminated from beneath the hood of her wool cloak. She held her wooden staff in one hand and Lilae’s discarded cloak in the other.
“Lilae!”
Lilae swallowed and then flipped over to swim back toward the shore, closing the gap between them. She quickly got out of the water and dressed, taking the heavy cloak from Delia’s grasp and flinging it over her shoulders to ward off the chill in the air.
“What is it? What’s happened?” Her breath escaped her lips like a puff of smoke in the darkness.
Delia looked over Lilae with dull blue eyes. “I don’t like how close they are getting. We need to leave before dawn.”
Lilae tucked her boyish pants into her boots. Only a few years ago, she would have refused; she would have run away to stay with another family in their village. Now, at almost eighteen, Lilae resigned herself to their nomadic lifestyle.
That’s because she had finally learned why they moved so much: Lilae was being hunted.
Lilae followed Delia through the forest to their little cottage on the edge of town. It was a small structure, built into the side of a hill. Though it was once a cave, Pirin had made it into a real home. A squat chimney protruded from beneath the soil, a trail of smoke wafting from its mouth into the gray sky.
Ducking, Lilae stepped inside. Pirin, Lhana, and the twins, Risa and Jaiza, were already awake. Her surrogate family. They glanced at her and, without a word, returned to their preparations. They all moved slowly as the cold air in the room bit at them.
Pi
rin put his arm around Lhana. She stopped packing and buried her tears in his shoulder, sighing. “Just tell me why? Every time we finally get comfortable and make friends, you make us leave.”
He smoothed her blonde hair and kissed her cheek. “And every time you ask me this same question. The answer will not change. They are coming. We don’t have time to waste.”
“Let us stay behind. It’s not the girls and me that he wants.”
Pirin grabbed Lhana by the elbow. The room fell silent, and Lilae tensed, her eyes darting from Lhana’s stunned face to Pirin’s stern expression.
Pirin lowered his voice, but Lilae heard every word. “We stay together. She is my responsibility.”
Lhana swallowed and arched a brow, her jaw clenched. Her eyes may have glared in defiance, but her voice wavered. “I thought she was the Elder’s responsibility. You trained her. Your duty is done.”
Pirin pulled Lhana closer. “I will not hear another word about it.” The discussion was over. Pirin’s word was law. Everyone went back to packing.
Lilae glanced at Lhana and wondered if the Ancients knew how much Lhana hated her. Lhana met Lilae’s eyes, her blond brows furrowing. It was a look that hurt Lilae more than anything; there was almost nothing she wanted more than to finally feel that woman’s love.
Despite the tension, they all enjoyed a hasty breakfast of buttered toast, eggs, and fried potatoes, aware that this might be the last they would have for quite some time. They all ate silently and packed their leftovers in sacks. Lhana also packed dried toast and fruit for the journey. They would have to buy more supplies as they went on or rely on Pirin to hunt while in the wilderness.
While the others gathered their belongings, Lilae sharpened her dagger. For her, packing was always quick. She had nothing of value. She wore her only trinket of worth around her neck. It was a simple silver necklace with shiny stones around a ruby. Besides that, a sack of clothing and an extra pair of boots was all Lilae needed.
Jaiza’s grunt sounded like exasperation as she stuffed her favorite dress into her travel bag. She reached for her bow and arrows and headed toward the door, not even looking at Lilae as she passed by.
Once everyone was ready, Lilae hooded herself and followed the procession into the woods. Soon, the sun would rise, and farmers would tend to their cattle and crops.
Delia led the way as they quietly crossed the village to the path leading east. Always east. She cut through the darkness, taking them from gentle paths directly into the thickness of the woods, where the grass was knee high and the hungry bugs were ready to feast on any exposed skin they could find. They were all used to it by now. It would be just another long, hard journey to a foreign land.
Whenever she saw Delia look into the sky, eyes glowing and staff raised, she imagined that she could actually see the Ancients peering down at them from their homes in the Overworld. When Lilae glanced upward, she saw only stars.
“I am glad we have a moment to speak, Lilae. I’ve been wondering how you feel, now that you’re approaching your eighteenth birthday.”
“I feel fine.” She stuffed her gloved hands into her pockets to warm them. “I am ready for a new journey. I feel more at peace in the wilderness. No one can be mean to me out here, and no one can hurt me.” She shrugged it off and forced a smile Delia’s way. She didn’t want to complain.
“No one can hurt you, Lilae,” Delia said, “unless you let them. Have The Winds spoken to you lately?”
“No, they have been quiet.”
“Well. Perhaps it is a good thing. They warn you of danger that even I cannot see.”
Lilae nodded. “Yes. I don’t need The Winds to tell to look out for boys. I’m glad to be free of Jameson’s taunting.”
“Tell me about this boy.”
“He smells like the pigs and always tries to wrestle me in the pits.” Lilae scrunched up her nose. “I won’t wrestle him, even if I want to twist his arm off.”
Delia chuckled softly as she glanced at her. “I’m glad to hear it. I hope you know he wants more than to wrestle, Lilae. I’m sure he fancied you.”
“Gross.”
“Risa and Jaiza enjoy the company of boys. I’m sure they are ready for marriage, but you know you’re different, right?”
“I know. I guess I don’t care about the same things that they do. I do not care about friends or boys or starting a family of my own.”
A small smile formed on Delia’s lips. “Of course not…” She winked at Lilae. “—you’re too young to think of such things.”
“Am I?” She couldn’t see a boy falling in love with her or raising children of her own. But that didn't mean she wouldn't like an adoring, handsome boy professing his love to her; she just didn't think that it was possible. She looked odd. She acted differently. It was better not to dream about such things.
“Don’t most girls get married at my age?” She stepped over a fallen tree and waited for the others to do the same.
The grass grew taller, nearing their necks. It was covered in ice, making it so sharp that they had to walk through it with caution. So many years of walking, of moving. When would they stop?
“Sure, some do. There are scores of young girls who, at the first sign of womanhood, begin bearing children, too. And they will do so continuously until the seed no longer catches. But that’s not the life for you. You have a future, Lilae. There’s a bigger, more important task for you than just producing babies. You are different.”
“How? Why? Because there's something wrong with me?”
“No!” Delia waved a flippant hand and peered at Lilae. “Nonsense. There's nothing wrong with you. You’re special. You have a very important destiny.”
“But why, Delia?” For as long as she could remember, she just went with whatever Delia or Pirin said was best. “How am I special? Why am I being hunted? I’ve never hurt anyone innocent. I have killed, but I follow the judgment of The Winds.”
Delia was silent for a moment. “Soon,” she said and patted Lilae on the shoulder.
“She is ready,” Lilae heard Delia whisper to herself as if praying to the Ancients above.
Chapter 2
WEEKS HAD PASSED SINCE Lilae and the others had seen another village. They kept off the worn paths and stayed as close to The Barrier as possible. The massive stone structure stood as a constant reminder that they were far from civilization. No one ventured near The Barrier; it was feared.
As they climbed over foothills and through mountain passes, Lilae glanced at the top of The Barrier, where a green haze rippled from the top of the stone to the clouds. She hoped that she’d catch a glimpse of a Silver Elf. Silver Elves shared a wall with the humans, and, in her mind, they were the friendliest of the six remaining races.
The terrain changed from treacherous mountains and valleys, where the snow and wind whipped past their nearly frozen faces, to smooth plains and dense forests. It was like a dream to see the different landforms of Eura.
They crossed over a bridge that connected two massive mountains. When they reached the top, it felt as if they were in the clouds. Whenever Lilae had the nerve to look down, all she saw was a white mist that resembled smoke. Though she couldn’t see it, she knew that a river rushed through the valley below. Its waters crashed along the rocks, causing a deafening roar to fill the valley.
Too high, Lilae thought. The wind whipped around her, making her red hair fly into her eyes.
Lilae gulped and tried to catch her breath. Her hands started to shake as she imagined herself plummeting to her death. She hoped the bridge was sturdy enough to support them. Her hands gripped the rough ropes that served as railings so tightly that they cut into the palms of her hands.
Lilae was usually at the head of the pack, but now, she was the last to gather the nerve to cross. She willed herself to move her feet, forcing her mind to stop feeding her images of falling and hitting her head on every rock that lay below.
Her breath sped up. The slats of the bridge were crackin
g; some were already missing. She looked to Pirin with terrified eyes.
He seemed too far away. Lilae saw him motion for her to cross.
“You can do it, Lilae,” Pirin yelled above the roar of the river below.
Lilae looked down again, the mist curling up around her ankles.
“Just take your time.”
His patience with her gave her courage. She nodded, more to convince herself that she was ready than anything else.
Lilae took a deep breath and headed toward Pirin. She would hate for him to think of her as a coward. She walked carefully across, praying the entire time. She drew a breath of relief when she safely reached the other side and joined the others.
They began down a steep trail that led back into the wilderness. They were all tired. Everyone was moody. Risa and Jaiza stayed close to each other, as always, and looked simply miserable.
Lilae walked ahead of them all, trapped in her thoughts, clinging to her more pleasant dreams to keep her going. Hunger nagged at her stomach. Her feet were calloused and sore from hundreds of miles of walking. Still, she refused to complain.
Pirin once told her that complaints and excuses were signs of weakness. From as early as she could remember, his words were like law, and she lived by his and Delia’s teachings.
“Please, Pirin.” Lhana stopped abruptly. She breathed heavily, coughing from the cold in the air. She dropped her bags onto the ground with a thud and folded her arms across her chest. “We have been walking since dawn and without a decent break. I am exhausted.” Her shoulders slumped. “Please, darling, can we rest now?”
Pirin gave her one look. She was pale, her cheeks red from the wind. There was a small clearing at the mouth of a cavern. He looked to Delia.
The Elder placed her staff on the ground, looked around, and nodded her approval.
That’s how it always was: Pirin checking to make sure Delia was in agreement. He shrugged his heavy pack off of his back and held it with one hand.
He nodded toward the cave. Lilae looked at it. It was a small opening in the side of the gray mountain, and all she could see was black inside. She was glad that she wasn’t as afraid of the dark as she was of heights.