Lahat ng Kabanata ng Stealing The Dragon's Heart : Kabanata 81 - Kabanata 90

FrostI was in my office going over troop rotation schedules when the first distant rumbles reached my ears. At first I thought it merely thunder and paid it no mind. But soon the rumbling took on a more rhythmic, mechanical cadence. I set down my paperwork and strode to the window, peering out cautiously. What I saw made my blood run cold. A massive battalion of armored vehicles flying crimson Aldo banners were barreling down the valley pass straight for Valor Keep. "Impossible!" Our border scouts would have warned us...unless they had already been overtaken. "Dragon's breath!" Cursing under my breath, I sprinted from my office bellowing for all available guards to assemble in the courtyard at once. We were under attack.My captains reacted swiftly, barking orders to get every last soldier armed and into position. I spotted my lieutenant, Theron, and pulled him aside tersely. "Where the hell is Freya? She should be helping coordinate defenses!" Theron shook his head in confusion

Frost's POV Hot agony flared through my side as another brutal kick connected, followed by the sickening crack of ribs giving way. I curled in on myself tighter, clenching my jaw to contain the cries of pain desperate to break free. I would not give the wretched beast called Scar that satisfaction. "Not so proud now, are you Valor cur?" Scar's mocking rumble echoed around the dank cavern that had become my prison these last days...weeks? Time blurred into endless torment at his taloned hands. But I would not submit. Better to die with defiance than grovel for mercy from Lena's deranged former captor. I had to believe she and our child were safe, no matter the cost to myself. They were my sole thought during Scar's savage "interrogations" demanding I reveal Lena's location. As if I would ever betray my family!I flinched involuntarily as Scar seized a fistful of my matted hair, wrenching my head up to snarl in my face. "Your bravado is growing tiresome. Believe me, we have only just b

Lena paced the plush carpet of the lavish suite, frustration boiling inside her. The finely carved mahogany furnishings and velvet drapes only served to emphasize the gilded prison she found herself trapped in. She clenched her fists, emerald eyes flashing dangerously. How dare Hunter confine her like some fragile songbird in a cage!In two long strides she crossed the suite and flung open the heavy oak door. The two armored guards jumped in surprise, spears wavering uncertainly.Lena fixed them with a piercing glare. "On whose authority am I being held prisoner here against my will?"The guards exchanged uneasy glances, shifting on their feet. Finally the taller one spoke up, avoiding her intense gaze. "Apologies, my lady, but Lord Hunter commanded you remain in your quarters for your own protection."Lena let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Did he now? Well you can inform your lord that I demand an audience with him immediately. I do not take kindly to being locked away like some crimi

LenaThe musty smell of ancient books and crackling fire enveloped me as I sat across from Hunter in his vast library. My shoulders ached from pouring over dusty manuscripts for hours, yet I was no closer to uncovering the mysterious secrets of bonding between dragon and keeper. Hunter droned on about obscure rituals, deliberately speaking in vague generalities that revealed nothing of true import. I stifled a yawn, struggling to focus. This lesson was proving as fruitless as all the rest."The keeper and dragon must willingly open their minds to each other during the bonding ceremony, merging as one consciousness..." Hunter trailed off, seeing my eyes glaze over. He cleared his throat before continuing."Now, in rare cases, a gifted keeper could overpower their dragon's own will for a time through the link. But that practice has long been forbidden..."I sat up sharply, scattering papers off my lap. Forbidden? This was the first concrete hint he had revealed about controlling a drag

MayThe scent of hot pizza grease permeated the air as I juggled the three large boxes stacked in my arms. My stomach rumbled impatiently, eager to dig into the cheesy feast I had picked up on my way back to the dormitories. Training exercises always left me starving.As I turned down the lamp-lit cobblestone path leading towards the old converted monastery that now served as living quarters, a flurry of activity near the entrance gave me pause. Guards streamed out the heavy oak doors, shouting to one another as they took off in different directions. Curious, I pressed myself into the shadows of a nearby archway, watching the chaos unfold."Fan out and search the south gardens!" one of the officers barked. "She can't have gone far." The troops dispersed rapidly into the night.She? I wondered who they could be looking for at this late hour. My mind jumped to Lena and Freya being kept in the guest quarters upstairs. Had one of the women tried to slip away unnoticed? Deciding to get to