Dragon Actually. G.A. Aiken

      FEARGHUS WATCHED ANNWYL SLEEP

      They talked long into the night. And she fell asleep lying against his side, a handful of hair wound around her fingers. When she started to slide to the floor, he picked her up, laid her out on the bed, and covered her with one of the furs.

      His affection for the human grew steadily by the day. Sometimes by the minute. And it wasn’t simply her beauty, but her utter lack of fear of everything and anything except her brother. She didn’t fear dying. She didn’t fear battle. And, most importantly, she didn’t fear Fearghus. She touched him. Ran her hands across his scales and through his mane.

      But it was when he covered her up with the fur and she sighed his name in her sleep that he lost his heart.

      DRAGON ACTUALLY

      G.A. AIKEN

      ZEBRA BOOKS

       Kensington Publishing Corp.

       www.kensingtonbooks.com

      To Cypress B. and Terri O.,

       the first fans of Fearghus the Destroyer

       and his kin.

      As they both know,

       there is nothing like having the loyalty of dragons.

      Contents

      DRAGON ACTUALLY

      Chapter 1

      Chapter 2

      Chapter 3

      Chapter 4

      Chapter 5

      Chapter 6

      Chapter 7

      Chapter 8

      Chapter 9

      Chapter 10

      Chapter 11

      Chapter 12

      Chapter 13

      Chapter 14

      Chapter 15

      Chapter 16

      Chapter 17

      Chapter 18

      Chapter 19

      Chapter 20

      CHAINS & FLAMES

      Chapter 1

      Chapter 2

      Chapter 3

      Chapter 4

      Chapter 5

      Chapter 6

      Chapter 7

      Chapter 8

      Chapter 9

      Chapter 10

      Chapter 11

      Chapter 12

      Epilogue

      Dear Reader:

      Just admit it. You’ve wondered what it would be like to have a boyfriend with wings and scales…and a tail. You’ve wondered what it would be like to walk through the mall and have people move out of your way because they don’t want to anger “the dragon’s wench.” Or maybe you’ve even wondered what it would be like to pick your fangs with your very own talons.

      Okay, fine. Don’t admit it. But I will.

      Since I can remember, I’ve wondered what it would be like to be part of the dragon universe. Not only from the human perspective but from the dragon’s. And what started as a short story has turned into the dragon world I’ve always dreamed about.

      The first story, Dragon Actually, was originally e-published in 2004 (and titled To Challenge a Dragon) and is about my very handsome Fearghus the Destroyer. A black dragon who likes being alone in his cave and has no desire to change that. Until Annwyl the Bloody drops into his life.

      And while I was writing Fearghus’s story, more and more of his family kept appearing, including his lovely parents. This led to the second story, Chains & Flames. A fun little tale about dragons in love…with some chains…and lots of flames. Originally Chains & Flames was created for my newsletter, but I’m so excited to have it included with Fearghus’s story.

      So welcome to the world I’ve created of handsome warrior dragons and the bloodthirsty females who love them.

      Enjoy.

      —G.A. Aiken

DRAGON ACTUALLY

      Chapter 1

      He’d heard the sounds of battle for quite some time. But, as always, he ignored it. The wars of men meant nothing to him. Never had. But those same sounds right outside his den? Well, that did stir him to move.

      His tail unwound from around his body and he slowly moved to the entrance of his home. He didn’t know what to expect and was not sure he even cared, but things were pretty boring right now and this just might prove interesting. Or, at the very least, provide dinner.

      The blade entered Annwyl’s side, ripping through armor and flesh and tearing through organs. Blood flowed and she knew she was dying. The soldier smiled at her cry of pain, which only brought out the telltale rage Annwyl had become famous for.

      She raised her blade and, with a cry of pure bloodcurdling fury, swung it. The steel sang through the air as it swiped through the man, separating his head from his neck. His blood slashed across her face and arm. The other soldiers stopped. They had handily disposed of her small band of warriors without much trouble once they had them backed into this desolate glen. But she never allowed them an easy path to the killing blow. Until now.

      Her life’s blood drained from her body and she knew her time grew short. Her vision hazy, she felt weaker and lighter. She struggled to breathe. But she’d fight as long as she had breath in her body. Annwyl raised her sword, clasping the handle in both bloody hands, and waited for the next attack.

      One of the men stepped forward. She could tell by the look on his face that he wanted to be the one to take her head. Present it to her brother so he could keep it as a trophy and warning to others who would dare question his reign.

      She watched him move with assured slowness. Clearly, he also knew she was dying. Knew she couldn’t fight much longer.

      Her legs shook as her strength fled, and her body ached to lie down for just a few minutes and sleep. Just a little nap….

      Annwyl’s eyes snapped open and she realized the soldier was that much closer. She swung her sword and he easily parried the blow. He smiled and Annwyl would give her soul for just one last surge of strength to wipe that smug smile off his face.

      The soldier looked back at his comrades, making sure they were all watching before he killed her. But he left himself open. And one thing her father always taught her…never let an obvious opportunity pass by. She ran him through with her blade, slamming the steel into his stomach as his head snapped back around to look at her in horror. For good measure, she twisted her sword in his gut, watching in satisfaction as he opened his mouth to scream but left the world with nothing more than a whimper.

      She yanked her blade out of him and he dropped to the ground. She knew that would be her last kill, but she would still die with her blade raised. She turned to the remaining men but they, to her surprise, no longer found her of any interest. They looked past her. Into the cave she now stood in front of.

      Annwyl tried to figure out what new trick this could be, but she never took her fading eyes off the men in front of her. Even as the ground shook under her. Even as they backed away from her in obvious horror. Even as the enormous shadow fell across her body, completely blocking out the sun.