Page 4 of Ava’s Love of the Dragons (Of Dragons, Love, and Destiny #2)

The soldiers didn't come back. They neither gave her anything to drink nor did she hear them talking. Were they even still nearby? Or were they just waiting for nighttime to kill her? Maybe they were waiting for her to die on her own.

Ava leaned against the wall. She was exhausted, yet she didn't doze off.

If these were her last living minutes, she wanted to use them consciously.

Because maybe an opportunity would still present itself, a chance, anything.

She couldn't leave Lilly believing she had abandoned her.

The girl would never trust anyone again.

So she stayed awake, so her head worked tirelessly, so she listened for every sound—and that's why she heard exactly when the door quietly opened and someone entered the shed.

Fear crept up her back and cold sweat broke out on her forehead as someone quietly crept towards her. Like a ghost.

Without hesitation, he pulled the sack off her head, but the gag remained in her mouth. Since it was dark outside, she couldn't see anything at first, but then his face became faintly visible in the moonlight. It was one of the border guards, and he had his finger to his lips.

"Be quiet, or they'll hear us." He said it without making a sound, but she could swear his lips had formed those exact words. Or was she just imagining things? Was her mind playing tricks on her because it couldn't accept the hopeless situation?

"Do us both a favor and don't scream, understood? I'm going to remove your gag now."

No, her mind was working perfectly fine. Had this soldier really come to help her?

She nodded silently, looking him straight in the eyes, trying to understand his motives. He untied the knot at the back of her head and pulled the rag out of her mouth. He watched her with bated breath.

Ava swallowed, moved her jaw, and took a deep breath. She had never taken such deep breaths before. Her senses came alive, her mind started working faster, and feeling returned to her body.

Since she didn't scream, he began to untie the bonds on her back. Shortly after, she felt the ropes fall away and immediately pulled her arms forward.

He crouched in front of her with his hands raised defensively. When she didn't attack him, he put his finger to his lips again.

She watched him in disbelief. Was this a trap?

"Why are you doing this?" she asked, barely audible.

"My wife is expecting our first child. I don't want to be barbecued by a dragon before then."

She looked at him suspiciously. "Is that why you're going against your boss?"

His eyes glowed darkly. "Would you rather stay here?"

She shook her head. "Where are the others?"

"The captain's long gone home, two men are guarding the border, and I'm officially at home with my wife."

She opened her eyes wide in disbelief. He had come back secretly? She looked at him, confused, without blinking, until she swallowed. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me! Just make sure no one sees you, especially no dragons, before you're far from here.

And if you tell anyone I set you free...

" He pulled a knife from his belt and put on the face of a ruthless soldier.

No doubt about it—he didn't care about her.

He hadn't come to save her life, but his own.

He didn't need to threaten her; she understood. Casually, she pointed at the ropes. "The bonds weren't tight enough, so I was able to free myself."

He nodded with narrowed eyes. "I'm going to leave now, and you'll wait twenty minutes. If you leave earlier, I'll find out and become your personal nightmare."

"Why do I have to wait so long?" She wanted to run away right that moment.

"Because I want to be far from this border post before you escape. Understood?"

She nodded, already working on an escape plan in her mind. "Is there a horse I can take?"

"I wouldn't recommend it; the others would notice immediately. Besides, the animals are well-trained. They wouldn't carry you far."

True, she had experienced that firsthand when she had tried to escape in the evening.

"Sneak away on foot, that's your best chance. And don't go to Belmonde." He was referring to the king's residence city, less than an hour's walk away. The city where she had met Lilly and where she would at least have a contact in the helpful tailor.

The soldier seemed to read her thoughts, for he raised the knife again and looked at her warningly.

"You should heed my advice if you want to live.

The city guards drag anyone who wanders around at night before the king, and the captain has eyes and ears there.

The city belongs to him, so to speak—but officially, I never said that. "

"Of course, officially you're not even here."

His gaze rested on her appraisingly, as if doubting she would make it. "Don't get caught."

She nodded. "Thank you."

He left without fanfare and without giving her another glance. She would have given him everything she owned as thanks. Although apart from the necklace around her neck with the broken heart pendant, she didn't have anything of value with her anyway. And she wouldn't have given that up after all.

As he left the shed, she crept after him and lingered at the door. With her senses on high alert, she waited and listened. When she was sure that at least ten minutes had passed, she pushed open the door and slipped out into the night.