The dragon nodded once. He didn’t know if he could trust her, but he also knew she wasn’t going to let him pass.
“I can’t tell you why I’m leaving or where I’m going, but it’s important,” he said finally. “I’ll be back before my birthday, but I have to do this.”
She considered him for a moment longer. Finally, she nudged him with her nose and took to the skies.
FIVE DAYS LATER
Amos had ridden hard the entire way to Dragon Village in the far northwestern area of the Desert Kingdom. The village sat at the intersection of the Human Kingdom and Mountain Kingdom’s border, aptly named for the largest known entrance to the dragons’ den.
No one had been inside the den because the dragons were too territorial and killed any man who’d tried to throw ropes and ladders over the cliffs leading inside.
The only people who weren’t burned to a crisp before going over the edge were the sacrifices. For the last couple of centuries, the Desert Kingdom had made what the crown deemed ‘necessary sacrifices’ to the dragons in order to keep them happy.
Amos didn’t believe that for a second. He suspected it was started as a way to keep the women in line, seeing as how sacrifices were always women who dared defy the Desert Kingdom’s way of life. Whether for labor, breeding, or ornamental, women existed to please men. That’s what his father told him.
Amos didn’t understand how someone could treat another person the way some of the men treated the women. Alice assured him it wasn’t that way in the other kingdoms and that when he was king, he could change the laws here. He planned to do exactly that.
Amos led his horse through Dragon Village with his face glamoured to look like someone else. At his age, most people wouldn’t recognize him, but he didn’t want to chance it. Announcements with portraits of the royals were sent out periodically, and he had no idea how closely those in this small mountain ranching village looked at them.
After dropping his horse off at the public stable and paying them handsomely to take care of his mare for the day, Amos pulled a map from his pocket. Taking off his hat, he ran a hand through his sweaty hair, unsure how to proceed. What if the family had moved since the last population check?
Placing his hat back on his head, he trudged into the post. The older man working smiled. “Hello, young man. What can I help you with today?”
“I’m looking for the Ambroses.” He laid the map with the address written at the top on the counter. “Can you confirm this is still their address?”
The man adjusted his spectacles and scanned the paper. “Yep. That’s Marcus’ place. Need directions?”
Amos tried not to look as relieved as he felt. He’d been afraid they’d ask why he needed to know. The thought that someone would give out his mate’s address so freely made him frown. “Yes, please.”
The man, who was all too happy to assist, showed him on the map where to go. “You can’t miss it. Tell Marcus that Fulton said hello.”
Amos grabbed the map and forced a smile. “I will. Thank you.”
Once back outside, he followed the directions Fulton provided, praying it wasn’t as far as it looked on the map. He’d need to glamour himself invisible at first to observe the family and get a feel for them first, and he didn’t trust his horse, Ingrid, to not make noise.
Amos didn’t know how long he’d been watching Clover spar, but he couldn’t look away. A teenage boy stood to the side, watching. He’d called Clover’s sparring partner Ruth, and from what Amos gathered from the boy’s teasing, the two girls were sisters.
When Amos had arrived, he’d made himself comfortable on the ground not far from their makeshift sparring ring, mesmerized by his mate’s skill.
Ruth’s strength outmatched Clover’s, but his mate’s speed made up for her disadvantage. Around and around they went, all the while Ruth and the other boy gave Clover tips when she’d make a mistake.
Amos had yet to hear his mate speak, and he wanted nothing more than to hear her voice. Occasionally, she’d stop and rub her chest, and he could feel her confusion down the bond. Trying to suppress his awe and pride while watching her proved difficult.
He itched to join and experience her skill himself. Flashes of their future together, laughing and circling each other in the ring warmed his chest.
She wasreallypretty with long, curly blonde hair that seemed to float when she fought. Her cheekbones were high, and he thought she might be the prettiest girl he’d ever seen.
Luckily, the other boy didn’t flirt with her or speak to her in any way that hinted at interest, or Amos might have killed him. Another thought turned his warmth to ice: did Clover havea boyfriend? His mate held up her hand and backed away from Ruth, rubbing her chest.
Crap. He needed to keep his emotions under control. Her sister murmured something to her, and she nodded. Ruth and the boy shared a knowing glance. Did they suspect what she was to Amos? Standing, he decided to leave. Getting a handle on his emotions didn’t come easy around his mate, and he needed to vet the rest of her family before approaching them.
Things had been too peaceful, and he’d been too caught up watching the two girls. He should have known good things never lasted for him. A shadow overhead made them all look skyward just before Sasha landed gracefully beside him.
Father knows, he thought, horror creeping in.
Clover clutched at her chest and looked at Sasha with wide eyes. Her fear matched his, and he didn’t know if it was because of him or the dragon. Probably both.
“Does my father know?” Amos demanded, not caring when the others’ heads whipped in his direction. Remembering they couldn’t see him, he dropped his glamour, and the other boy sprinted to protect Clover alongside Ruth.
