Dragon Kin: Resistance |
| by Selena Illyria Cover art: Zuri |
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| ISBN: 978-1-60521-607-2 |
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| Genre(s): Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, BDSM |
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| Theme(s): Interracial, Magic and Mayhem, Elves, Dragons & Magical Creatures |
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| Series: Dragon Kin (Multi Author) |
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| Length: Novella |
Blurb:
It's been two weeks since Katrina last saw Braydon. She's beginning to have her doubts about their relationship. Braydon refuses to let Katrina's insecurities keep them apart. No matter what it takes, what walls she he has to break down and what excuses she makes, he's going to prove that they belong together.
Excerpt:
Dragon Kin: Resistance
Selena Illyria
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2011 Selena Illyria
This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.
Braydon flipped open his cell phone and checked the bars. No signal. With a sigh, he closed it and looked around. Trees, shrubs, rocks and a dirt road surrounded him. The sky above looked like a cauldron of steel grey, black with patches of white. Humidity weighed heavy on the air, pressing against his body, and causing his shirt to stick to his skin. No matter how many times he wiped his brow, the sweat returned and streaked down his face in thick droplets.
"Looking for a cell signal, sonny? You won't find it here. Wards fuck up the reception." A small gnome with only one tooth meandered out of a dilapidated wooden shack standing a few feet away. The structure looked like it was held together by spit, gum, string and a lot of swearing. Braydon shook his head, his attention on the shorter ragged man in torn brown coveralls and a stained white shirt. He carried a spittoon which made Braydon's stomach roil at the sloshing sound coming from inside. A strong breeze picked up. He tried not to grimace as the strong odor of tobacco and herbs wafted toward him.
Swallowing, pushing down the bile rising, he said, "I need a letter sent and a fast messenger to take it. Any of your men up to the task?" He didn't see anyone else, but that didn't mean there wasn't someone lurking around.
"How fast you want it?" the gnome asked. He made a snorting sound before spitting a large wad of black viscous fluid into the urn.
Braydon tried not to retch. He'd seen a lot of things in his lifetime but watching someone spit whatever it was the man had discharged still made him queasy. Clearing his throat, he managed to say through clenched teeth, "I need a letter taken to Utopia Bay, as quick as wings can carry your messenger. I'm willing to pay ten dragon eye rubies for it. No more."
The man's eyes widened. Hunger caused his dull brown eyes to become dark and luminous. He grinned, showing off a lot of gums and that one tooth again. Braydon swallowed. Is this going to turn into a scene from Deliverance? I refuse to squeal like a pig. He crossed his arms over his chest but relaxed his body, readying himself for battle.
"If you want one of my boys to fly fast enough, you have to make it twenty dragon eyes. Utopia Bay is a looooong way from here. And you're asking them to go through treacherous territory. Last I checked, we had an uneasy peace with those Werewolf packs that roam the fringes near there. One of my boys disappears, I'm gonna have to replace him." He peered at Braydon, eyes glittering with lust, but his face was slack. It was as if he was at war within himself on how to proceed with such a possible fat payday.
"The wolves haven't been an issue in years," Braydon pointed out. So far he didn't sense anything dangerous from the man other than the teeth and the horrible stench from the spittoon.
The gnome shrugged. "That don't mean they won't become one. 'Sides, what if one of my boys gets pinched and changed? They're not like you pretty Elf boys. They're small, defenseless. They aren't warriors."
You don't mention they can grow in size. Braydon sighed. He didn't want to spend all day haggling with the man. "Fifteen dragon eyes and not a ruby more. You have the letter there by tomorrow morning, and I may come back and give you a bonus." He extracted the letter to Katrina from his pocket and held it out to the gnome, hating that the man's grubby paws would be touching anything going to Katrina.
The gnome smiled. "Deal. I'll get one of my fastest men on it." He snapped his finger and a green blur darted out from the bushes. It darted all around the gnome before taking the envelope and flying off down the way Braydon had come.
Braydon dug into his pocket and opened up a small satchel. He counted out fifteen dragon eye rubies, adding an extra one for expedited service, gave the gnome his payment and headed back to his car. As he slammed the door shut behind him, he prayed Katrina would get the letter letting her know he was all right. So far none of the messengers he'd sent out had returned to him and that worried him. Maybe the Werewolves really are acting up.
He started up the vehicle and took off. Returning home hadn't been the quick trip he'd thought it would be. His parents had been thrilled to see him and to have the deed to the land which had saved their leadership positions, but a new crisis had reared its ugly head. His brother Finan had disappeared with no word. It was normal for his brother to take off but not without leaving word on how to reach him. Braydon ran a hand over his face. It had been two weeks since he'd left the tree house palace, and he'd gotten very little sleep during that time.
His nights were either filled with going in and out of bars and his brother's known hangouts, or trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in his car. He would have stayed at a hotel or inn but didn't want to chance the possibility of getting word about his brother and having to take off on short notice. At least he was close to the wheel and could drive after his sibling at a moment's notice.
To top things off, he was worried about what his absence was doing to his relationship with Katrina. No messengers had returned to him and -- due to the magical warding of Elven lands -- his cell phone and laptop were useless. There was no signal for them to latch onto. He hadn't spoken to Katrina since he'd left that Monday morning after their weekend together.
Braydon prayed that Katrina wouldn't think he was flaking out on her. His grip tightened on the wheel at the thought of Katrina erecting her walls between them.
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