Page 146

Large, thick, coarse rope was tied around his snout, rendering it impossible for him to speak, or bite. Even without it, he wouldn’t be able to unleash fire.

He could feel they had already hexed him.

He was unable to grow small, was unable to break the shackles that the strength of his kind should be able to. They hexed him, not just once or twice, but multiple times.

He was rendered weak and incapable of escaping. He felt as feeble as a human.

The room he woke in wasn’t one he’d ever seen before. It appeared to be some form of dungeon. There were no windows, no bars, nothing but four walls of grey stone and a singular, heavy, metal door.

Where am I?He couldn’t remember coming here, nor had he been awake to know he was being chained.

He would have fought otherwise.

He hadn’t been picked apart, hadn’t been visited since he awakened. He was left with questions as he tried to figure out how to escape.Where is Amalia?

Rurik feared for her safety. He wasn’t sure if she allowed the male into his lair on purpose or not.It is not something I think she would do. She would not allow someone such as he to enter my cave.Someone who would harm him and possibly herself.

The area was uncomfortably silent. At leasthecouldn’t hear anything. They may have placed a spell on him to dull his senses.

Why are they not pulling my scales from me?Usually, they would make quick work of Dragons.This is unusual.

Not only did they capture him, but they had relocated him from his lair. Typically, they would pull the Dragon apart in their caves, unwilling to carry them around alive.

No, something is different.

He was trying to figure out what.

He was angry, he was confused, and he was determined to escape. If he discovered that Amalia was in danger here, he would fight for her and escape with her in tow.I cannot leave her here alone. She will not be safe.

I must protect her at all costs.

Chapter 29

“Have we had a nice conversation with daddy dearest?” The stranger asked with a grin, opening the door to her father’s prison tower. He examined her teary state, and that grin widened. “Good, I can see you now believe your mind has been altered. Let us remove the spell.”

“Leave her alone! She does not want this,” her father yelled. “She has always been pure-hearted, leave her as she is. She will never accept you.”

“I want what she will give to me more than anything else in this world.”

Then he stormed forward, his face of satisfaction never fading even when she tried to scramble back.

“Stay away from me.”

She put her hands up to keep him away, but he grabbed her wrist and yanked her to her feet.

“No!” Her father yelled when they crossed through the doorway, and the stranger slammed the door.

Then he turned her with his features falling. “You will give me what I want.”

His voice was stern as he grabbed her face, and she tried to pry herself away with her hands, her cheeks squishing when she attempted to force her head back.

“And what is that?”

“Everything will make sense when your memory is returned.”

Once again, Amalia was pulled. She almost stumbled when she was forced to take each step back down the spiralling stairwell.

“I do not want to be evil.” She attempted to twist her wrist from his hand when they reached the bottom step.