Being the first female Dragon born in Umaria in a thousand years, Princess Elodie’s life was sheltered. Watching the world from her little window, her spirit longed to take flight. When the time came for a betrothal alliance, she unwittingly chose the prince from the Middle Kingdom, causing tensions with the other Dragons.
In the years following her engagement, Elodie fantasizes of a handsome rogue rather than her fiancé. When the man of her dreams mistakenly takes her hostage, she embraces her last bid for freedom. Nonetheless, her Dragon is poised to claim her mate, leaving no room for hidden secrets.
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Zain’s decision was made in a moment. He wrapped his arms around her and covered her mouth with his hand so she couldn’t scream. An amused grin widened across his face as she wiggled in his arms. While the enchantress had spirit, she was no match for his brawn.
“Please stop, priestess. I didn’t mean to frighten you. If you promise not to scream, I’ll lower my hand. Nod if you understand.”
She nodded, causing goosebumps to creep up his arm as her lips brushed against his palm. With a sudden jerk, he dragged her roughly into the shadows. She stumbled as he pulled her along. A breeze picked up, rustling the leaves overhead and casting eerie shadows in the mist.
The maiden struggled against his grip and the darkness swallowed them as they reached the tree line. Her labored breathing broke the silence.
He pulled her along, not stopping until they were lost among the trees, obstructing their view of the castle. Judging from the distance, he was sure if she tried to run, he’d easily be able to catch her. It was important for him to remain within distance to the rest of his party.
“Tell me why a priestess is lurking about after midnight?” he demanded.
“Who are you?” she asked, blinking up at him.
His mind worked quickly, concocting a plausible cover story. He was not inclined to readily admit that he was indeed a thief. Knowing this woman was in service of the Dragons, he felt he could easily convince her he was as well.
He let her go and held up his hands in an attempt to disarm her. “I didn’t mean to frighten you, m’lady. I trained all day and had a hard time sleeping. You startled me during my evening stroll.”
The lie easily rolled off his tongue. It was a previously concocted backstory that he hadn’t thought he’d need to use.
“I startled you?” she hissed. “You dragged me into the forest.”
“I’m sorry.” He bowed respectfully. “Please forgive me.”
Stepping closer, she examined his body intently. He offered her a crooked smile, letting his guard down, which turned out to be a mistake.
The young woman who barely reached his shoulders and had to look up at him lifted her hand and slapped him across the face. She was swift as she turned around and ran away.
He quickly shook off the shock and rubbed his cheek with chagrin.
“Guards,” she shrieked.
His heart beat like a war drum as adrenaline fueled his chase. If she managed to alert the guards, it would spell doom for Bastian and the rest of their comrades inside the stone castle.
A cold wave of dread washed over him as he imagined their brutal fate at the hands of merciless Dragons. He could hear the priestess’s panicked breathing as her flowing kirtle billowed behind her in her haste.
He’d already failed in his role of lookout. Now that she’d screamed for guards, he couldn’t let her go. But he wasn’t the kind of man who would harm a defenseless woman. So what would he do when he caught her?
Just before she broke into the clearing, he caught up to her and lunged forward, his outstretched hand grazed the edge of her kirtle. He tightened his fist around the silky fabric and yanked.
She yelped as she nearly toppled into him. He pulled her back flush against his chest and thrust his hand over her mouth again. He stepped back into the shadows, allowing them to blend into their surroundings.
Zain took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. With determination, the maiden resisted his grasp and fought back by forcefully jabbing him in the stomach with her elbows. As he lifted her from the ground, she kicked back.
“If you want to live, don’t do anything stupid.”
His threat toward the woman in his arms was an empty attempt to instill fear within her and force her cooperation. Deep down, he knew he could never bring himself to harm her or any other priestess. They were revered by Dragons and humans alike. No matter the circumstances, there were some lines he would never cross.
Zain had been trapped in a web of emotions and conflicting desires from the moment she looked up at him. He imagined throwing her over his knee and spanking her ass until it turned pink. A twisted yearning to possess and dominate her flashed through him. He chastised himself for allowing such thoughts about a woman deserving of pure dignity and respect.
Maybe there was a way to make her understand what the humans faced without sacrificing his integrity or her dignity. If he showed how hard life had grown for those in the village, he could take her for a drink at the tavern. Perhaps she would be willing to shed her kirtle and leave her service behind one day.
Her feeble attempts to escape him made him chuckle. Eventually, she tired herself out and stilled. When he lowered her back to the ground, she spun around to face him.
“Let me explain, enchantress.” He bowed again. “I am Zain, and I live in the local village.”
