Page 12 of Ava’s Legacy of the Dragons (Of Dragons, Love, and Destiny #1)

His dark eyes were narrowed skeptically.

His gaze rested attentively on her, sending shivers through her body.

Even her knees went weak, as if she were a damn teenager.

Slowly he came closer, and with each step he seemed to grow taller and broader.

Heavens, she definitely didn't want him as an enemy.

"Why do you wish to speak with me?" His voice sounded deep and dark. At the same time, there was an unspoken demand not to beat around the bush. Or should she say, around the hot dragon egg?

Ava straightened her body and approached the notorious dragon fighter, even though her legs were shaky and her hands were trembling.

How could a single man evoke such a reaction in her?

Pointedly calm, she lowered her voice and returned Kilian's gaze resolutely.

She didn't have anything wrong in mind, and she wasn't going to let this dragon take away her dignity.

"Lilly sent me. I've found something and we need to bring it to safety."

"Who's Lilly?" Rob raised his eyebrows questioningly while Kilian's eyes darted to the bag peeking out from between the folds of her skirt. Something told her that he knew what she was carrying. But that wasn't possible, of course. He was a dragon fighter, not a superhero with x-ray vision.

She leaned forward, her voice hushed, while placing a hand imploringly on the leather bag. "It would be better if I didn't take it out here. Can we talk somewhere privately?"

"What's this all about? Kilian, something's not right here!

" Rob shoved him on the shoulder to urge him to leave, but Kilian didn't budge.

He opened his mouth as unrest spread throughout the ballroom and countless footsteps approached.

Heavens, how many guests were on their way to this piano room because they had noticed Kilian was here?

He placed his hand on hers and pushed the bag back between the folds of her skirt. She ignored how close this gesture brought them together.

"One hour before midnight at the old grotto." His voice sounded quiet and imploring.

Before Ava could ask where that was, he turned around and walked away as if she were a nobody and not worth a conversation. Which was good, because this way the countless guests who stormed into the room and engaged him in conversation overlooked her.

Rob threw her one last suspicious glance before joining Kilian, and the men made their way out of the piano room.

They didn't turn back to Ava even once. How long would it take for the guests to notice that she had spoken with the dragon fighters?

After all, she had been the only other person in this room before the first visitors arrived.

She had to get out of there before someone put two and two together.

Unnoticed, she hurried to the windows, lowered her head, and snuck past the crowd of people following Kilian and Rob back to the ballroom.

She reached the antechamber and already saw the door that Lilly was waiting behind and that would lead to her freedom.

But she couldn't resist lifting her face and looking after Kilian, just once.

He stood confidently surrounded by a group of visitors, a glass in hand, while bending down to someone and whispering something in his ear. His attention wandered over the guests and landed on her. His gaze was so intense that she froze mid-movement and time stood still for a moment.

How could a man look so good and so dangerous at the same time?

"Guards, seize her!"

The call was muffled as it penetrated her consciousness, as if she were hearing it through cotton wool. Kilian's gaze shot to the side and Ava automatically followed it. What she saw catapulted her back to reality within a millisecond.

Four soldiers demanded passage through the crowd, and one of them didn't take his eyes off her. It was the captain who had sworn to remember her face.

She would never forget his face either.

How had he found out she was at the ball? Had someone betrayed her, or had a drawing of her been circulated after all?

"That's her!" He shoved guests aside and ruthlessly made his way through.

Ava ran to the door that led to the servants' staircase.

Unfortunately, the soldiers had a clear view of it, but she had no alternative.

She didn't know her way around the castle, which made another escape route out of the question.

The risk of getting lost and being surrounded by the guards within minutes was too high.

Loud laughter boomed through the ballroom, momentarily distracting from her. She thought she recognized Kilian's voice, but had no time to look.

"Out of the way!" the captain roared.

Without looking back, Ava rushed to the door, yanked it open, and nearly ran over Lilly, who had been waiting behind it. The little one took a quick look into the royal rooms and immediately grasped the situation.

"Quick."

She didn't need to be told twice. They slammed the door behind them and raced down the stairs, even though countless servants crossed their path.

"Stop them!" the captain's voice pursued them. Judging by the loud boot steps, he had entered the servants' passage and was running after them, accompanied by his men.

They reached the ground floor and slammed the door behind them, causing the wall hanging to sway violently back and forth.

Nevertheless, the captain's shouts were clearly audible.

The maids and servants looked up, some stopping in their tracks.

A servant stepped in their way, but was so half-hearted about it that Lilly was able to nonchalantly push him aside and Ava slipped past him before he could stop her.

They rushed to the side door that led outside into the courtyard, but the guards were hot on their heels.

Though Ava ran as fast as she could, the voluminous and heavy skirt made it more cumbersome than pants would have been.

She barely paid attention to the route Lilly took, keeping her gaze focused ahead so she wouldn't trip, as the wide garment made it difficult to see the ground.

Lilly darted around the corner with Ava right behind her. Hadn't they taken a different way on the way in? Hopefully, the girl hadn't gotten lost in her fear.

"Hurry up," Lilly hissed, heading for a side door that led to a shed and that was secured with a padlock. She didn't sound scared at all, but rather composed and experienced. How many chases had she already been through?

The adrenaline gave Ava unexpected strength, allowing her to keep up.

Lilly was quick and skillful as she worked on the lock, and a second later, they heard the click.

They pushed through the door even though a kitchen boy appeared and watched them.

Lilly put a finger to her lips and winked at him, and he in turn winked back, looked away, and whistled while going on his way as if he hadn't seen them.

The door closed behind them, and Lilly secured it with the padlock so that the guards would have to break down the door to get in.

There was a small window, and more daylight seeped in under the door.

Straw and tied-up sacks were piled against the wall, and on the opposite side stood a table with discarded tools.

Ava was able to muffle her loud breathing with effort, but their escape had definitely left its mark. Add to that the excitement and the fact that they couldn't escape if the soldiers broke down the door...

"Do you have the pastries?"

She looked at the girl in disbelief. "You want to eat something now?"

Lilly shook her head but continued to look at her questioningly. Only when Ava nodded did she turn away with a thumbs up, creep to the door, and press her ear against the wood.

Heavy boot steps stopped right in front of the shed, and a guard cursed. "Where did they go?"

"I didn't see anyone," came a voice that surely belonged to the kitchen boy.

"You can tell that to your grandmother." They could hear as the soldier struck the boy to the ground.

Ava's heart clenched. "We have to help him," she whispered, but Lilly held her back by the arm.

"If we go out, they'll get the egg, and that can't happen. Besides, Marc knows how to take care of himself."

"You know the kitchen boy?"

"Of course, we lower-class kids stick together."

A pompous voice sounded. "Begging your pardon, gentlemen, I saw them run into the shed."

Ava's eyes widened, while Lilly clenched her fists. "Alfons, that dirty traitor! We have to get out of here."

"Where to? I don't see a back exit."

The soldiers rushed to the door, hammering and ramming it with their shoulders, causing a loud rumble. The hinges wouldn't hold much longer.

Lilly headed for the window. She opened it and peered outside. Then she waved Ava over, jumped onto the sill herself, and struggled through the small opening. How was Ava supposed to fit through there?

Lilly landed silently on the cobblestones outside and glanced once more at the castle courtyard, but the soldiers were relentlessly beating against the door. It could only be a matter of seconds before they broke it down.

Ava froze, but Lilly waved frantically at her, prompting her to hoist herself onto the windowsill and try to squeeze through the hole.

Her wide hoop skirt got stuck. Damn it! She jumped back into the shed, took off the hoop skirt, and climbed onto the sill again.

She fit through the tiny opening with difficulty, and not a second too soon—for just as she landed next to Lilly on the ground, there was a crash, and the soldiers stormed into the shed.

"Quick." Lilly grabbed her hand, Ava scrambled to her feet, and ran with her.

"Not so fast!" A servant stood in their way, hands raised. At least he didn't have a weapon.