The Dragons' Chosen by Dandridge Gwen

Author:Dandridge, Gwen [Dandridge, Gwen]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, azw3, epub
Publisher: Hickory Tree Publishing
Published: 2016-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

When we returned to our cave room, Chris tugged at my sleeve. “Okay, now we know this was all a scam. Let’s leave. I don’t believe these guys will try to force you to go with them. They’re not going to stop you from returning to your family. We can walk out of here and be back to your people in, oh….” Her voice trailed off as if she realized what she was suggesting. “Four or five weeks?”

As the afterglow of my temper wore off, I realized what I had done: defied dragons. Five of them, to be precise. I hid my trembling hands at my side and shook my head at her. Chris was opposed to my staying here and engaging with them; there was no need to let her know how frightened I really was of these creatures. Or how I had longed for one of their company to comfort me.

I investigated the contents of the satchel that James had pressed on Chris. “Lovely, just a cheery stroll through wolf-infested lands. No food, no horses. Or perhaps you see us flying high above, clutched protectively in the dragons’ talons.”

Chris didn’t respond.

“And then after we return from this casual walk through the wilderness…” I put my finger on my chin.

“Yes, I can see myself going before my parents now. No, they were not going to eat me; there never was any danger. And, yes, it would have made an excellent alliance. Yes, I was willing to go to my death for duty, but not to marry. I walked away.”

I had to stop speaking or I would cry. I remembered my mother’s last hug, her face white as she gripped me as if she would never let me go.

I covered my silence by pretending interest in unpacking the contents of the satchel while I gained control of my tears.

I pulled out a simple divided gown, made for riding, and some small-clothes. There was also a cloak made of short brown fur and a pair of sturdy boots; all seemed to be my size. I cringed inwardly, realizing these creatures were so knowing of my person. They had planned everything carefully, every detail considered.

“I need to think on this. I need information and time.”

Chris threw her hands up in disgust. “What is there to think about? They are talking about an agreement from eight hundred years ago! That’s like forever.”

I shook my head at her again. “No, it isn’t. Many treaties are that old or older.” My hands clenched and unclenched. I struggled to relax. “It isn’t much different to what was always my destiny—a negotiated marriage to some royalty in a far-off kingdom. It’s merely taken a different form than I anticipated.” I willed myself to face the thought of marriage to Hugh—a dragon. A monster.

Chris started pacing. “You can’t be taking this seriously.” She looked around our quarters as if searching for a solution among the roughly crenelated stone walls. “Maybe I can take you back to Berkeley with the card.

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