Heart Of The Dragon: BBW Romance (Her Dragon's Bane Series Book 3) Read online

  “She loves being outside. But I think she knows something's going on too, so she’s come to say goodbye.”

  “Hey, Charlotte, are you sure you’re going to be OK? You look a little upset.”

  “No. I’ll be fine. I have Zoah to look after me. Although, despite the fact he’s like hundreds of years old, he still hasn’t mastered the art of tidying up after himself. I guess I’ll be on dish duty while you’re away.”

  “He’ll look after you, though. Make sure no harm comes to you.”

  “Now who’s worrying? I’ll be fine. Samuel is dead, and I’m back at school, life is returning to some kind of normality.”

  “Speak for yourself,” Serena said, stroking her stomach.

  “Wow. I still can’t get used to the idea I’m going to be an aunt. To a dragon. How cool is that?”

  “I wouldn’t mind not being cool. A normal life would be nice.”

  “Don't kid yourself. You love Connor, and everything about him.”

  “I know, but what about this little one?”

  “I hope he doesn’t breathe fire until he’s older. Can you imagine? He’ll burn the place down.”

  “I don't think he will be able to change until puberty.”

  “I can’t wait to see him. I asked Zoah to change for me, but he wouldn’t.”

  “You saw Zoah as a dragon.”

  “I know, but it was all a bit of a muddle. I asked him when he was showing me the grounds, but he refused. Then went off in a huff.”

  “You’ll see Connor tonight, when we leave.”

  “I know. But Zoah’s blue, and I don't know ... I just wanted to see him.”

  “Charlotte, please be sensible when we're away,” Serena blurted out.

  “What do you mean? I’m always sensible.”

  “I know, but you’re growing up. You’re not a child anymore.” Serena looked at the young woman in front of her. The few months spent as Samuel’s captive had changed her, made her grow up too fast. She had seen things, experienced things no one ever should, yet alone a teenager.

  “Oh, you mean boys? I thought I wouldn’t be interested. But there is someone...”

  “Oh, Charlotte. Be careful. You should wait until you're older.”

  “Serena, we’re fifteen.”

  “We?” Serena asked, confused.

  “Yes. Malc. He’s a boy in my class. He’s asked me on a date.”

  Serena couldn’t say a word. What was there to say? You can’t date a boy; you’re the mate of a dragon. An arrogant, conceited dragon who’s wandering around like a lovesick puppy.

  “Don’t look so shocked. I’m not that ugly.”

  “Of course You’re not. You’re beautiful.” Serena searched for something to say, and found nothing. She had to let this play out. If there was such a thing as fate, it would play its hand and things would work out for the best. If not, Zoah was going to be the one with the broken heart. “It’s just happened so fast. You’ve only been back at school for a few days.”

  “I decided ... after what happened ... you know, that I wasn’t going to hang around waiting for life to happen.”

  “A date?” Serena asked, trying to forget about how Zoah would take this. “What kind of date?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. A movie, I’ve never done this before. I thought you would be pleased. We can’t all have a dragon.”

  Serena smiled at Charlotte, and then went to hug her. “I only want you to be happy, Charlotte.”

  “That’s all I want for both of us, Serena. Isn’t it time we both had a chance at being happy.”

  “Just don’t rush into anything.”

  “It’s a date. I have no intention of having sex or anything.”

  “I hope not, you’re so young, Charlotte. Make sure you wait for the right person.” She couldn’t say man. She wanted to say dragon. Maybe this might do Zoah some good, wake him up to what he was all too willing to lose. Yet she was torn. All she really wanted was for Charlotte to have a normal life. “But more than anything please have fun. Forget all about what’s happened.”

  “That’ll be hard when you’re not here.”

  “I’ll be back before you know it. I could always leave Tara here. Perhaps you could persuade her to stay behind. I wouldn’t mind at all if she didn’t come with us.”

  Charlotte laughed. “There is no way she’ll stay here. Her bags are packed. In fact, I think she’s already moved them up to the top of that tower. I’m not sure if it’s the thought of going to see the other dragons, or just the fact that she can’t wait to ride on the back of your dragon. That has to be the coolest thing.”

  “Argh, don’t remind me.” Serena turned away from Charlotte to hide her distaste. “It feels like she's making him cheat on me.”

  “Serena, he would never do that. You need to chill a little. You do know that the more she sees how much it gets to you, the more she enjoys winding you up?”

  “I know. I’m an idiot. It’s just the way she looks down on me. As though I really am a dumb whore. That it’s only because of some unknown force that Connor even gives me the time of day.”

  “You are the one giving her that power over you. Let it go. She has her own reasons for wanting to go to Spellholm. And I’m damn sure it’s not to steal your dragon. She’s been planning this her whole life.”

  “Her whole life? How do you know that?”

  “When I was being held by Samuel, she used to come down and talk to me. Sometimes I would be asleep, but her voice would wake me, and I’d listen to her. Whatever is in Spellholm, she needs it. You and Connor, all of us, have just been a stepping stone to that.”

  “And that woman would step on anything that would get her what she wants.”

  “So what I’m saying is, the way she makes you feel is like the icing on a cake. She doesn’t actually mean to make a play for your dragon, but if she can make you miserable along the way, then it entertains her.”

  “She is foul.”

  “I think she’s jealous of you.”

  “What? Why?”

  Charlotte shrugged. “You have something she hasn’t, and that something is the one thing she can’t get.”

  “A dragon.”

  “Love," Charlotte said. "She’s lonely.”

  “Don’t expect me to feel sorry for her.”

  “I don’t. Now let’s not spend our last day talking about Tara.”

  “You’re right.” Serena turned back to Charlotte, studying her face. “When did you get so wise?”

  “I spent a long time thinking when I was kept prisoner. There wasn’t an awful lot else to do.”

  “I’m so, so...”

  “Stop.” Charlotte held up her hand. “No more. Let’s spend the rest of the day thinking happy thoughts.”

  Hope sat purring on the bed; Serena sat down next to her, kissing the top of her head. “I am sure going to miss this little bundle of fluff.”

  Chapter Four - Connor

  “Are you going to cope?”

  “I thought it was you who was taking off on some stupid quest for something that doesn’t exist.”

  “Zoah, we’ve been through this. I have to take the chance. And just think if it does turn out to be real, you will have the knowledge to pass on to your mate.”

  “I don’t have a mate,” Zoah said, turning angrily towards Connor, fists clenched.

  “Fool yourself if you need to, but I can see it in your eyes. You yearn for her. That is never going to go away.”

  “No. I am going to go away instead. Far away, to live out her lifetime high on women and adrenalin. In a blink of a dragon’s eye she’ll be dead and gone, and I can return to normal.”

  “I don’t think it’s that easy. She will haunt you through the rest of your life. You’ll regret it Zoah, like nothing you’ve ever experienced.”

  “I’ll take my chances.”

  Connor looked at the set expression on his brother’s face, and let the subject drop. Perhaps the weeks they were to spend alone
together would change his mind about Charlotte. Perhaps not, but Connor had other, more pressing, things to worry about. Zoah had a few years on his side, years in which Charlotte would reach womanhood. Before then he trusted his brother not to do anything rash.

  He smiled to himself. Before Zoah met Charlotte, Connor would never have thought his brother had any self-control, now he felt proud of him. At least they could go away and not have to worry about any harm coming to Charlotte. No one would dare lay a finger on her while Zoah was around.

  “We leave tonight,” Connor said, taking the conversation back to the present. “Is there anything you need before I go? I have left you instructions about what needs to be done if we don't return.”

  “Those instructions didn’t contain anything about coming to rescue your ass.”

  “That’s because it would be too dangerous. If something happens to me, to us.” He paused, thinking of Serena, and all of the nightmare scenarios that had passed through his head in the last few day. “You are to take Charlotte, kicking and screaming if needs be, to the safe place we talked about.”

  There was no way Connor was going to say the name out loud. He didn’t trust Tara not to be listening somewhere. He and Zoah had spoken at great length about contingency plans. Those conversations had taken place miles away from the house, and the witch.

  Neither of them knew her end game and, because of that, neither of them trusted her. She would sell their souls to the highest bidder if it suited her. He was sure of that, but he had to go along with her plans. He had to trust in her visions of the future. Although they had all decided, she may very well be telling them a huge stinking pile of lies. Anything to get him and Serena to Spellholm.

  “I’ll take her, but then I will come for you Connor. You are my brother; we have stood side by side many times. I am not ready to live out the rest of my accursed life alone.”

  “You won't be alone. You’ll have Charlotte.”

  “Don’t...”

  A sound down the hallway halted the conversation. Probably just in time, or else Connor would have been leaving with a black eye and a split lip. Instead, Zoah slipped quietly away, a moment before Charlotte and Serena came into the kitchen.

  Chapter Five - Serena

  Her teeth chattered, although it wasn’t cold, and she had wrapped herself up warmly. This was a chill of a different kind. They were flying off into the unknown. When all she wanted to do was settle down to a quiet life with Connor and their child.

  She glanced sideways at Tara, despising her for persuading Connor to do this. It didn’t matter to her if their son was the last dragon; she simply wanted him to be born safe. To go to Spellholm, to meet other ancient dragons, was madness. They had no idea what they would find. Or perhaps Tara did, and that was the point. Had she been in league with them all along?

  “Serena.” Charlotte came to her, handing her some food, and a flask. “For the journey. You have to keep your strength up for my nephew.”

  “Thank you, Charlotte.” She nearly said the words, ‘I wish you were coming with us’, but she stopped herself. It was bad enough Connor was in danger, without Charlotte being there too. She had suffered enough already. “Look after yourself.”

  “I will. And Zoah is here, he’ll watch out for me. It’s like having an older brother.”

  Serena looked across to where Zoah was talking quietly to Connor. Not for the first time, Serena felt pity for the proud arrogant dragon. Still, that was a worry for another day. Right now, they had to allow Connor to change, and then fix the bags to him. He would look like a packhorse by the time they had finished, but it was the only way to travel. He refused to use normal human transport, not trusting it.

  So it was decided the only way for them all to get there was if he carried them. Her gaze shifted to Tara, looking excited, but with just a hint of fear in her eyes. Was the fear for the journey, or what she foresaw when they arrived? One thing Serena knew beyond all else, if Tara betrayed them, she would happily plunge a dagger into her heart. No matter what Connor had told her about how killing a person changed you. She would rather do that, than allow Tara to live, if she caused the death of Connor.

  “It’s time,” Connor said.

  They all moved away from him. Standing grouped together against the furthest wall of the exposed tower, they waited. The air shimmered, for a moment. The image of Connor hung in the air before he faded out of this world. He came back together, tendrils of matter coalescing. To be finally replaced by a huge dragon.

  The electricity in the air crackled, and sparked around him. Making him look magnificent, framing him against the dark sky.

  “That didn’t happen before,” Serena said to Zoah, who stood next to her.

  “It’s his mood. He’s anxious.”

  “I wish we weren't going.”

  “He’ll never rest until he’s visited them.”

  “Why Zoah?”

  Zoah opened his mouth to speak, but the air filled with the low roar of the dragon before them. Whatever Zoah was about to say was lost in the noise. “It’s time.” Was all he said before going forward and strapping the bags to Connor.

  “It suits you brother. A picture of domestic bliss. You would make a good cart horse.”

  Connor puffed smoke at Zoah, who coughed in response, and then turned to Tara. The witch was itching to climb onto the dragon's back. Like an excited child, she fidgeted from foot to foot. Serena noted that the one good thing about this whole endeavour was that it had silenced her. She was in complete and total awe of the dragon crouching before her.

  Connor placed his leg out to the side so Tara could use it as a step to reach his back. The witch was visibly shaking when she put her foot upon his scaly limb, and hoisted herself up. Serena gained some satisfaction from watching Tara flail around. Over balancing, she nearly toppled straight over the other side of Connor. He didn’t move to try and save her, he was not so chivalrous towards the witch. Although Serena wondered for whose benefit that was for, and found she didn’t care.

  “Serena,” Zoah said, holding her arm and drawing her back away from Connor. “Do you have what I gave you?”

  “Yes.” Serena glanced up. Luckily, Tara was too preoccupied with touching dragon scales to take notice of them whispering. Even Charlotte had gone closer to have a look at Connor. Who could blame her when he was such a magnificent sight?

  “Good. I do not think Tara can see that I gave it you. She still asks me about it. I believe she went back to the ruined church, to have one last look through the rubble.”

  “That was risky.”

  “I know. Which is why I think she can’t see it.”

  “But she’s a seer. Surely she should know what you did with it?”

  “That’s what I thought.” He shook his head. “I have no idea what she’s up to. But I thought you should know. It seems she’s not so infallible.”

  “So the question is, does she really need to accompany us to Spellholm? Or can I simply push her off into the sea.”

  He laughed quietly. “I would keep hold of her for now. The stone is your leverage, but I have no idea how.”

  “Thank you Zoah. I know you don’t like me...”

  “Didn’t. Like you. I think you have given my brother something to live for. Put a flame under him so to speak.”

  “And perhaps one day the same will happen to you.”

  “I hope not.”

  “You don't mean that.”

  His eyes drifted up to look at Charlotte. “I would do anything to let her have a normal life.”

  “You may get your wish. I believe she’s going on a date tomorrow night.”

  “What?” He voice was loud and harsh, and now the others, including Connor turned to look at them.

  “You wanted her to have a normal life.” With that, she kissed his cheek, and walked up to Connor. Effortlessly, she pulled herself up onto his back. She took her place near to his head, stroking his warm scales. Connor quivered under her touch, and
she leaned forward to speak to him. “Let’s go.”

  With one last look at Zoah, he crouched low down, and then sprang up off the tower. His wings moved in strong downward beats. Each stroke lifting them effortlessly into the air. Serena watched her sister get smaller and smaller as she stood watching the dragon. Zoah stood close to her. Serena could see his arm raised, almost as if he wanted to put it around her protectively. However, he couldn’t allow himself even that.

  Lifting her hand, she waved, and Charlotte waved back. Then they were lost in the clouds, moving high up into the cold air where no one could see them. With a shift in his body, Connor changed direction. Now they skirted around the city, before flying off towards the coast. They would travel over the sea, where there was less chance of them being seen by human eyes.

  As the wind whipped her hair from her face, Serena tried to shut out the woman sat quietly behind her. If only she could pretend it was only her and her dragon flying through the night air. Above them the stars shone, it was a beautiful night. The moon was just rising, shedding little light on them. From below, they would be nothing more than a shadow in the night. A mixture of cloud and sky.

  At this moment, Serena pitied the people who lived below. How sad to spend your whole life oblivious to the wondrous beasts that lived amongst you.

  Unlike when she had flown with him before, he didn’t dip his wings into the sea and spray her with the salt water. It hammered home to her how different this trip was. She tried to shut off her inner voice, which rambled on about turning back. It warned her against trusting Tara, and told her to get far away from Spellholm.

  Connor continued to fly, his wings making a steady rhythm. While the night wore on, and in some round about route, they came back over land. Below them lay open fields, and forest. A large uninterrupted expanse, unlike any other part of England she had ever seen.

  She couldn’t recall ever seeing such a place on any map. It was such an extensive area it would be hard to miss. Neither could she remember ever hearing the name Spellholm.