Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“Do you want backup? I’ll come with you. You could check all the doors faster.”
“I’ll call for the others. They will come.”
The man rattled off his address and Khadar sent it on to the dragons with a message asking for assistance in finding Lalani. “I’ll go open the door and send them down. Are you going to the right? That’s where I heard the sound.”
Having lost enough time, Khadar dashed off, confirming right as he ran. Each door he discovered soon lay in splinters in front of him. He searched two homes, much to the surprise of the residents living there, before he heard voices coming down the hall. Familiar gruff voices.
“Lalani was stolen from her mother’s home this morning. She is hurt and not responding.”
“We’ll help,” Drake jumped in. “We saw your mark on the door. Everyone, use a heat signal to show which houses we’ve cleared.”
The next door popped open before they could get there. Instantly on edge, Khadar strode toward the older woman in the doorway. “Where is she?”
“I don’t know, Khadar, the green dragon. The man who shot you today by mistake has sent runners to all the founding families with instructions to help find your mate. You should find the rest of the doors open to you. Please come in and search so you can eliminate another house.”
With a nod, Drake stepped forward to go through the house. When he disappeared, the woman said, “I never expected to see the gold dragon in my home.”
“Do you have any suggestions for where I could find her?” Khadar forced himself to pause and ask.
“All the families would never presume to interfere between a mate and dragon. I knew it would be trouble when it was reported that repairman, Aaron Peterson, was spotted during a repair.”
“Peterson,” Khadar growled.
“I agree. That whole family caused problems. It was a sad day in Wyvern when they purchased a house here. Aaron didn’t live with his family. Even he couldn’t stand them. He has an apartment in the newer section of town to the east.”
“You don’t have his address, do you?” Khadar asked.
“I’m sorry. I know it is in the Dragon’s Arms complex. He told that to the woman who allowed him to discover the tunnels. The last house that way is just on the edge of the old town. That’s the house where Aaron found the entrance. The apartment complex is close.”
“Thank you. What is your name?”
“I am Elenore of the Battlefield family.”
“Thank you, Elenore.”
“Go, Khadar. We will search the rest of the homes here. You go on ahead to the Dragon’s Arms. We will join you soon,” Drake told him.
Khadar sped off down the passage, confident that he was finally on the right course. The corridor ended when he reached the third door remaining in front of him. As Elenore promised, the doors were open. A sobbing woman stood next to the door.
“He has her. It’s that Peterson man. They went out the front door. I’m so sorry I’ve caused all this,” she called, waving to him.
Khadar sent a message to the dragons. He’s up on the street now.
“He is evil. Not you,” Khadar growled as he passed, thundering through the house and heading outside. He caught a glimpse of a cart turning the corner up ahead. There!
His dragon burst forth. Taking to the sky, he covered the distance with one flap of his wings and landed in front of the cart. The spooked horse occupied all the driver’s attention as he tried to regain control. A scrawny man vaulted from the back of the cart and dragged Lalani out. She tumbled to the ground, moaning as she struck the hard, cobbled brick street.
“Stay back. I can kill you with this.” Aaron Peterson dug a burlap wrapped ball and a lighter from his pocket and held it menacingly like he would lob it toward Khadar.
“Don’t do it, Khadar. It’s the smoke bombs. He’s been bragging about it. The only thing that can kill a dragon,” Lalani called.
Khadar hated the sound of pain in her voice. This brute had wounded his mate. He would die.
Unable to use his sound for fear of killing his mate and the others around him, Khadar needed to keep him talking as he came up with a plan.
“Another Peterson,” Khadar announced in a bored voice. “I thought I got rid of all your family.”
“You tried.”
“I wonder if they’re still alive. If they were smart, they’ve abandoned you here,” Khadar commented easily as he sent a calming thought to the horse to keep it from panicking and dragging the cart over his mate, who had not yet gotten to her feet.
“They wouldn’t have left me. As soon as this bitch is gone, I’ll take stuff we can sell and live on in another town.”
“You think Barbie Ann is waiting for you? I only met her for a few minutes and figured out she was totally focused on herself,” Khadar said and watched Aaron take a couple of steps forward, away from his mate.