Dragon Pirate: Riders of Fire Dragon Masters, Book Three - A Dragons' Realm young adult epic fantasy adventure by Eileen Mueller

Author:Eileen Mueller [Mueller, Eileen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Phantom Feather Press
Published: 2022-06-08T16:00:00+00:00

Kidnapped

Rusty woke in a warehouse, surrounded by barrels, piles of crates and stacks of trunks. Her wrists were bound with rope that was strung to a beam above her. Her feet could touch the ground—but only just. Gods, the back of her head throbbed and her arms ached. How long had she been out? And how long had she been strung up like a goose?

Takoda was leaning on a chest, arms folded, his long legs crossed at the ankles. A lantern hanging from the stone wall cast shadows across his face. “Ah, you’re awake,” he said. “I hope your head doesn’t ache too badly. It was necessary to knock you out so I could bring you here. It’s rather unfortunate that the cobbles were so hard.”

“Necessary?” Rusty snapped. “I would’ve come with you if you’d asked.”

He smirked. “Yes, of course.”

“It’s true. I’m trying to escape the Scarlet Hand.” And now she had to escape a mage. Great.

Takoda examined his fingernails. “If you’re trying to escape the Scarlet Hand, why are you posing as his cabin boy?”

“So I could save my own life. A pirate ship is no place for a woman.”

“Exactly. Unless you’re under the captain’s protection.” Takoda’s dark gaze roamed over her torso.

“As his cabin boy, I was.” Rusty wanted to twist away from his gaze, to shield herself, but she couldn’t.

“No, not as his cabin boy, but as his lover.” He strode over and flicked his fingers. Sparks flew from them, trailing over the front of her shirt. Flames sprang up. Smoke wafted from the burning fabric, stinging Rusty’s eyes. She bucked and twisted, but the flame seared through the fabric, heat stinging her chest.

“Stop!” she screamed.

He closed his fist, and the flames extinguished.

“Why are you hurting me? Why am I tied up?”

“I need answers. Who is Scarlet Hand? Tell me his real name.”

“I don’t know.”

“You slept in his cabin, probably in his bed, and you don’t know?” Brilliant-green mage flame seared toward her torso.

Rusty ducked sideways and the flame careened into the stone wall behind her. “Why won’t you believe me?”

“Where is Master Mage Findal?” Another flame danced at Takoda’s fingertips.

“In the brig, on swayweed,” she panted. By the First Egg, her arms were tired. All the blood had drained from her numb hands. And the burnt patch on her chest throbbed.

“Who’s been feeding him swayweed? “

“I have,” Rusty blurted. Gods, no, that sounded terrible.

“So, you are in league with the Scarlet Hand. I knew it.” Another bolt of fire flew at her. Emerald flame flickered along Rusty’s breeches licking at her knee.

“No,” she yelped. “Put the fire out and I’ll explain.”

His hand curled into a fist, and the flames died.

Rusty’s breath rasped in and out of her throbbing chest. “One of my duties was bringing Master Mage Findal his food and water. Once I was thirsty, so I accidentally drank his swayweed tea. It was awful. I found myself bound to the Scarlet Hand’s will.”

“So that’s when you became his lover?”

“I’m not his lover!” She glared at the stubborn mage.

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