d under the wei

as a shattering, primal noise that rattled the high wi

ng beneath a thick armor of obsidian scales that sp

doors blew inward as iron-soled boots

bellowed over the soun

ned entryway, his sword drawn, the bl

raised a thick iron chain, the links etched with

tted as he moved to flank the left side of the bedchamber. "

way outside. "Don't hurt him!" but her voice

was g

reature of terrifyin

amber, his wings half-unfurled and scraping against the stone

h deadly spikes, swept across the floor, splin

ng on the rug as he swung the chain. "He's lost to

s sights set directly on the base of V

" I sc

into the gap between the drawn swords

g my own frail, human body direc

second, the sword singing as he forced the tip down. The ti

s chest heaving, and his jaw set in frustration. "Mo

ust-filled room. My heels were locked against the edge of the carpet, my

ween his gloved hands. "He doesn't know you! He doesn't know anyone! For ten y

back just enough to keep both the guards and th

only by the crackle of burning sconces and the

ashed his tail at Torin or snapped hi

lack head lowered slowl

en sun, and remained fixed on me. He ignored the sword pointed

forward. A hot, scented plume of air blew p

aw of nature in the room, the massive black dragon nudg

held my ground. The black scales along his jaw were hot to the

three inches, his mouth hanging ope

rs..." he whispered, his voice stripped of all its military authority. "In ten long years of watching the curse cons

ured, my heart pounding a f

my chest, thrummed with a low pulse. It wasn't dragging me forwa

scales along his jaw, resting my palm di

e wild heat surging through his massive body began to ease, th

ng the full, staggering weight o

dible over the crackle of the hearth. "The counc

hem, my eyes fixed on the dragon resting at my fe

ng my face with a possessive stillness t

ut the quiet that replaced it