Dragon Blood 2: Wyvern Read Free Page B

made speechless again. She couldn’t understand how Rian could be so calm about the prospect. Or even how Ronan could be so hard on his sons. She shook her head, unable to think of anything to say.
    Rian smiled fleetingly, his serious expression lightening considerably. “It is the way it has always been for me. Ronan will accept nothing other than unquestioning loyalty. He expects no more from us than he expects from himself. And as his youngest son, I am of least value.”
    “Oh, your mother was that dragon with the Gold in her lineage he captured a couple of decades ago. People still talk about that,” Maira said as her and Brann came through the French doors. “Apparently Ronan was so mad he nearly killed you and your mother when you were born with no Gold in you. How many other kids did he end up having with her?”
    “Six girls. No Golds.”
    “What’s wrong with you people?” Amber leapt to her feet. “He kidnapped a woman and had her long enough to have seven kids to him. Why didn’t anyone rescue her?”
    Only Rian bothered to answer. “She escaped once she was pregnant with me, but chose to go back when I was born with bronze in my wings. They both thought it might mean they were getting close to Gold.”
    “But why? I mean, he’d kidnapped her.”
    “Because it’s the Gold Dragons who rule.” Maira strode across the room and knelt at Kade’s feet then sat back on her legs. “I’m sorry I left Amber unprotected.” Chunky silver and black bracelets glinted as she pressed her arms against the floor. Green eyes were lowered and her head was bowed till it touched the polished timber of the floor. Her black hair, which was cut level with her mouth, swung forward and her skin seemed even darker against the golden timber of the floor.
    “Oh, get up. It was my fault, Maira.” Amber tried to tug her up. Brann stepped forward to prevent her. He was around six foot, with curly brown hair touching his shoulders, deep blue eyes and for a change his friendly grin was replaced with a serious expression. “Let me go, Brann.” Amber tried to pull away from him. Seeing Rian move for the first time, she sent a glare towards him. “And you stay out of this.”
    “Leave her,” Kade said to Brann who immediately let Amber go. “I’ll deal with this later, Maira. Get up.”
    “There’s nothing to deal with.” Amber’s hands went to her hips and her expression dared Kade to argue.
    Kade ignored her and turned to Maira.
    Amber guessed they were communicating in their minds and she worried her actions had caused problems for Maira. Kade was her last chance to serve a Gold Dragon. “If you get rid of Maira I’ll never talk to you again.”
    “Right this moment I’m beginning to think that’d be a good thing,” Kade glared back at Amber.
    “Footsteps.”
    All eyes turned towards Rian before they stared at the door leading into the hallway. Amber silently rushed to the door to check it was locked. A sigh of relief escaped when she found it was. The door handle rattled and Amber held her breath.
    “Are you awake in there, Amber? Why’s your light on?”
    Maira lightly ran into the bathroom and flushed the toilet, grinning at Amber who nodded in understanding.
    She moved away from the door before she spoke. “Can’t I even go to the toilet in peace?”
    There was a moment of silence. “How long do you need to leave your light on?”
    “I was waiting until you finished talking to me.” Amber glanced towards Kade who was closest to her lamp. He reached out and turned it off. “Happy?”
    “Goodnight, Amber.”
    “Night, Mum.” Amber stood in the darkness, listening to her mother return to her own room. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the lack of light and she was glad of the panther’s ability to see at night. “You all have to go. I can’t afford to be grounded.”
    “No one’s going anywhere. Do you have any idea what that amount of money will do?” Kade demanded.
    “Hire an assassin.