Dragon Legends (Return of the Darkening Book 2) Read Free Page A

hadn’t been for Commander Hegarty and Seb, you wouldn’t be here. You of all people, know the danger we face. And that we cannot alarm Torvald with rumors and tales.”
    Sudden, quick memories came back—a stabbing pain, the glint of light on Lord Vincent’s sword, a cloying, suffocating darkness, and a sensation like falling. I shook my head. “I didn’t die, Ryan.”
    “Only because of the Healing Stone. Hegarty used it to bring you back. But even that is something not to be spoken of. The Dragon Stones are—”
    “A myth. A story. So powerful they must be guarded. I know all that. You don’t need to treat me like a child. But because I know, those are all the reasons to tell me why you’re here and what’s going on.”
    He pressed his mouth closed and his stare slid away. “We’re bringing Erufon to the main enclosure. The king himself ordered it, saying that it was unfair to keep Erufon alone. It’s hoped he may even breed and we’ll have a new line of golds.”
    “Dragon poop!” I hissed. I could always tell when he was lying because he wouldn’t look at me. “You and the prince have been away for a long time. Why, in the last three months I’ve hardly seen you, but I have seen riders coming back saddle-sore and looking as though they’ve been flying for weeks. Do you think we’re all blind here?”
    Ryan frowned again.
    I grabbed his arm. “You’re out looking for the Darkening, and the other Dragon Stones. King’s Village was saved, but you’ve been trying to find Lord Vincent—and discover if he has new forces? In the north or the wild lands and the mountains.”
    “Agathea Flamma!” Ryan snapped out the words and drew himself up. He knocked away my hand. “I am going to give you two bits of advice, one as your senior officer, and one as your brother, and you probably won’t like either of them but that’s your problem. As your senior, I am saying you need to let this go. Ever since that…well, you know what, you’ve become…I don’t know, more eager to throw yourself into harm’s way. You need to stop. Give yourself time to heal. And leave the business of the senior riders to them. As your brother, I am going to only say this—our mother is worried for you as is our father.”
    “When are they not?” I muttered.
    He gave me another sharp, disapproving look. “We didn’t tell Mother what happened to you in King’s Village. Father knows. But both have been talking about how important it is to have a stable family—as you would know if you ever visited home. But no…you want danger and you court disaster.”
    I shook my head. “I’m not.’”
    Ryan shrugged. “Mother’s been arguing with Father about what’s best for the family as a whole. And she’s swaying him. They look to the future for the name Flamma.”
    “Fine—if they are worried, you marry. I’ve no interest. I’m a Dragon Rider!”
    Ryan looked away. “What if the prince agrees with them?”
    I laughed, but Ryan didn’t. “Please…I’ve known Prince Justin since…well, forever.”
    “I know. We’ve shared nurseries and tutors. The prince wants what is not just best for you, but for a royal house as well.” Ryan put a hand on my shoulder again. “It’s all a part of being a noble and being a rider. You must walk in two worlds. So keep yourself safe. Make Mother and Father happy. Wear a dress every now and again and don’t give anyone a reason to petition the king for your removal.”
    Waves of rage and terror battled inside me. Ryan patted my shoulder and moved away, but I could only stand there, sucking in huge breaths of air, my skin hot and my fists clenched. We were the king’s riders—we were here to do his bidding, so if he asked any of us to step down, we must. That would leave Seb without a protector—he would have to stop being a rider, too. And Kalax…I would never see Kalax again. I’d never fly the skies, I’d never stand on the landing platforms and turn my face to the