Dragonfyre Read Free

finger,” Aimery said as he walked to his queen. He scooted a chair to her. “Now sit before Theron has my head.” Rufina sank into the chair with a sigh. “We were looking for Theron. Do you know where he is?”
    Aimery saw the concern in her blue depths. She had also felt the shift of magic. “I don’t know.”
    “Aimery?” Nearra said as she tapped his cheek. “I came to tell you something.”
    “What is that, little one?”
    She smiled, her many flaxen braids making her look more of a mischievous pixie than a princess to the Fae realm. “I’ve decided I shall marry you.”
    “Is that right?” He glanced at Rufina to see her eyes wide in shock.
    “Aye,” Nearra said. “We get along good, and you know to give me what I want.” Aimery chucked and kissed her forehead. “By the time you’re old enough to consider marriage, you won’t be thinking of me.”
    “You’re wrong. Trust me.”
    Aimery was ever surprised by the little minx. He adored her as if she were his own daughter. The longing he had every time he held her only grew. He had thought to have his own children by now, but he had given up ever finding a woman who stirred his heart as well as his blood. “You know I do trust you.”
    She nodded and grabbed his face with her chubby fingers to kiss his cheek. “You may put me down now. I’ve more to do.”
    Aimery set her down, and she raced from his chamber. He then held out a hand and helped Rufina to her feet. Rufina held a grace that went unmatched by any Fae in the realm. She held the typical long, straight flaxen hair with swirling blue eyes and a lithe figure, but as queen Rufina held something no one else did—Theron’s heart. Though Rufina was more of a sister and Theron a brother to him, Aimery couldn’t stop the envy of the love they shared.
    “That child,” Rufina said with a shake of her head as she watched her daughter run down the corridor. “She certainly keeps the palace on its toes.”
    “She’s adorable, and she knows it.”
    “She is, isn’t she? “ Her smile vanished, and she faced Aimery. “Something has happened.”
    “I know. I was about to look for Theron.”
    “Hurry, Aimery. I fear the worst.”
    They parted ways at his door. Aimery turned left. He figured he would find Theron in the throne room. Why Theron hadn’t called to him already left him nervous. Whatever had happened must be bad. Very bad.
    “Aimery.”
    Finally, Theron’s call. Aimery lengthened his strides and hurried to the throne room, the white and bright blue squares of the floor blurring in his haste. The double doors to the throne room opened as he approached.

    “Aimery,” Theron called and greeted him in the middle of the massive circular room.
    “I felt it.”
    Theron sighed. “Every Fae felt it. Some might not know what it is, but most will.”
    “How bad is it?”
    “Terrible, old friend. Terrible indeed.” He ran a down his face and let his weariness show. “A Blue has been killed.”
    Aimery blew out a breath and shook his head in disbelief. The Blues were their greatest dragons. They weren’t the largest, but they had the strongest magic. The realm couldn’t sustain another dragon death. “How?”
    Theron shrugged his shoulders, his white and blue robes moving with him. “I don’t know.”
    “And the maiden priestesses of the Dragon Order? Have they not determined what killed the Blue?”
    “Nay.”
    Which meant it was far worse than terrible, it was disastrous. “What do you need me to do?”
    “It’s going to be dangerous.”
    Aimery grinned. “I live for danger.”
    Theron returned the smile. “I’m a fool for sending the best warrior we have, but I’d be a fool not to.”
    “Just tell me what is going on?”
    “We don’t know what happened to the Blue because the priestess has been unable to get close to the dead dragon to discover what killed him.”
    Aimery crossed his arms over his chest. He knew enough about the Dragon Order to know each dragon