Page 4 of Dragon Chosen (The Dragon Lady #1)

Fern

I thought my big adventure for today would involve finding a husband.

Instead, I found myself riding on the back of a golden queen dragon, the entire district I’d grown up zipping past beneath us.

If you’d asked me which I would’ve preferred this morning: wearing Mother’s dress or riding a dragon, I’d have picked Auren every time.

I just had no idea how hard dragon riding was.

Auren… I pushed my thought towards her almost reluctantly, but my strength was fading. Only sheer will alone kept my hands wrapped around the massive spine in front of me. Auren…!

We are here, Fern.

But where was here? The dragon’s wings flapped out, waving through the air as she made a slow descent, and that’s when I noticed the stink. Sulphurous and so strong, it was evidently wafting up from the very hot water.

This water is perfect for relaxing in , Auren told me as we landed. I slid from her back, grateful for the solid rock beneath me. I staggered over to take a look, only for the dragon to slip into the water, graceful as a snake.

“Ow!” I yelped as hot water spray stung my skin.

You are hurt? Auren swam over to the rim of the pool.

That water seems to be the perfect temperature for dragons , I replied, but humans? Unless you want a soup made of my flesh…

That thought trailed away as I stared into those great golden eyes. Did dragons eat people? There was nothing said about that in any of my books, but?—

Soup? Auren seemed confused by that. Do you mean that thin stuff humans slurp so noisily? She snorted, sending a spray of water my way. I sidestepped it this time, not wanting to be burned again. I couldn’t think of anything worse. Well, if this pool is too hot…

This time she grabbed me between her claws, something that had me squirming, right up until she went to the cliff’s edge.

A scream built in my throat, but was swallowed down as Auren leapt off the cliff.

A flap of her wings and then we landed further down, where apparently there were other pools, fed from the hot springs above.

This one should be fine , she announced, touching the water with a claw, then looking over her shoulder at me. And human? Dragons don’t eat your kind. She paused for a moment, her eyes going almost unfocussed for a second. Not as food anyway. Only when you have greatly displeased us.

I understand , I replied, sketching a little curtsey. It was what I did when addressing women more powerful than me, so surely a dragon fit that bill.

Come into the water, Fern , Auren ordered. We’ll get you clean and then see about fixing your book.

My feet were moving before I could consider a response, bringing me to the edge of the pool.

I bent down and touched the water and it was pleasantly warm, which should’ve had me stripping off.

My skin felt tight, itchy in all the places the mud had dried.

My dress was stiff and heavy with mud. So why wasn’t I getting myself clean?

Piggy , the bearded man’s label for me echoed around in my head. Little beast. Buy her a husband ? —

What are you doing? Auren swam closer. What is inside your head? Hers cocked sideways as she stared at me. Your thoughts… they are all spiky and are hurting you. Stop thinking about that.

I let out an involuntary snort at that, then remembered what he had said about my laugh. My fingers touched my mouth, as if to stop myself from making any more porcine noises. Auren went very still.

What happened to you? What upsets you, it is more than the mud and the book.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, even inside my mind. My teeth ground together, my jaw muscle twitched due to how tightly I was clenching it.

Pain… Auren said the word almost in wonder, then her tail lashed out. My yelp rang out through the cave complex as she wrapped it around me and then dunked me into the water.

I bobbed up, spluttering and blinking water out of my eyes, then looked up at the dragon.

You didn’t need ? —

Someone hurt you. It was easy to forget that Auren was a massive apex predator, but not now. Her head rose up out of the water like a snake about to strike. Who? Why?

I…

Staring into her eyes, the words came far more easily.

It was as if I was being hypnotised by those golden depths.

It felt like a boil was lanced within me and all this foulness came rushing out.

Memories of what Mother had done, of the corset and the too small dress, of the cruel suitors, Auren saw them all.

The rattling in her chest was quite alarming. It had me shrinking back, somehow sure she was going to break the rule about not eating humans for me. When her head darted closer, I shrank back with a shriek, throwing my hand out, as if that would stop her.

Your mother deprived you of food? Auren shook her head.

Is this what human parents do? Dragons nourish their young, not starve them.

And these males? How can they excuse their actions?

Males who wish to mate with a female must prove themselves worthy, not take your father’s riches and cast you aside. Why would your father allow this?

He…

My response was automatic, the excuses right there on the tip of my tongue, when I stopped.

I blinked and considered what she was saying.

With a sigh I sank down into the water, until it was up to my chin.

The warmth helped release something inside me.

All the anger and frustration I’d kept stuffed down came rushing up.

The pain… I turned to the dragon and tried to answer her again.

Human women are seen to be more desirable when they are small and dainty , I said. Mother was trying to turn me into something men would want.

Small? Weak? Auren’s head jerked back. Are human males so fragile they are threatened by your size?

She rose up out of the water and then looked back at her flanks.

I am one of the largest queens in my clutch.

My father says I am just like my mother…

She paused then, making me think she too had her vulnerabilities, but before I could ask a question, she forged on.

Males see me as a mighty queen and know by mating me, we will have strong progeny.

I had to laugh at her obvious pride, and that helped lighten something inside me.

If only I was a dragon , I said, standing up and gesturing to my sodden form.

We will find you other males , she said decisively. Worthy ones who see your strength and see it as a complement of their own. Your parents obviously cannot be trusted in this.

That’s not how it works , I replied, trying to explain my reality in a way she would understand.

Queen dragons are expected to find strong males to mate with and produce more dragons, yes?

Auren didn’t answer, sinking down into the water.

Well, I am a lady. I’m expected to marry a man of the same class, to bind myself to someone who will help my family’s fortunes.

But that’s not what you want.

Auren’s tone was considerably less confident now.

No, but you must know something about honour and obligation. I peered closer at the dragon. Did your father not teach you the same thing?

Auren pulled herself from the water so abruptly I struggled to keep my feet, small waves knocking against my legs.

If your mother has been starving you, then you must be hungry. As if on cue, my stomach rumbled. The dragon sniffed, then nodded to the valley below the pools. I will go and find us some deer to eat, perhaps a sheep.

Before I could say a thing, she took flight, throwing herself off the cliff edge and then coasting down to the trees below.

No, marrying a man like any of my suitors was not what I wanted, that’s what I really wanted to say, but something had stopped me.

Family, societal expectations, everything had prevented me from even forming that thought.

But now I was alone? With no one to question or judge me, it became clear that I would rather do anything other than what my family wanted.

So what would I do instead?

I had no long term solutions, but right now I’d get myself clean and then work on my dress. It was no doubt stained, which would earn me yet another scolding when I returned home.

If I returned home.

That rogue thought had me pulling off my dress and disappearing under the water.

My dress wasn’t the only casualty to my stupidity. When I went to clean it, I felt the heavy weights in the pockets.

“My books…!” I cried, pulling them out with shaking hands, then setting them down on the warm stones.

They were utterly sodden, the pages all stuck together.

Right as I struggled to work out how to save them, Auren returned, landing heavily on the stone ledge as she dropped a glassy eyed stag before me.

You are sad again , she said, then cast an eye around the pool complex. Did stupid human males interrupt your bathing?

No . I shook my head and forced myself to smile. Everything is fine, Auren.

Humans lie all the time. Her massive head angled downwards to peer more closely at me. Why do you do that?

I barely considered her questions, confronted now by her massive head and equally huge fangs.

Ahh… Perhaps it’s because we like to avoid conflict.

That definitely felt true right now.

Because you are tiny and have no protective scales or fangs. Auren pulled back with a sniff. Nor wings or the ability to breathe fire or acid. I understand. Do not worry, Fern. I have all of those abilities. I will keep you safe in any fight you might get into.

Thank you?

I hadn’t meant that to come out as a question, but all the etiquette classes I’d been forced to attend hadn’t prepared me for conversing with a dragon.

You are welcome , she replied, walking into the cave behind the pool. As I scanned the cliff faces, it was apparent that there were many caves pocking the entire mountain side. Now, come and eat. Humans cannot eat meat raw, can they?

My stomach rumbled, but that was more due to nausea than real hunger.

The stag stared at me blankly as Auren dragged it into the cave.

Inside she went over to a massive stone brazier and then blew flames onto the rocks within.

I stumbled back at the sudden wave of heat, though once the flames died down and the coals glowed red, the change in temperature was welcome.

My dress was still outside, sopping wet.

We will eat , Auren announced, and then we will come up with a plan, because…

Reticence wasn’t an emotion I’d associate with a dragon, but that’s what I heard right now.

I too am being pressured by my father to find mates.

She tossed the stag onto the coals and the cave filled with the stink of burning hair.

Perhaps together we can find a way to be free of parental expectations and become masters of our own destiny.

I sat down abruptly on a stone bench and stared up at the dragon, because up until now, I didn’t even think that was a possibility.

Count me in , I replied.