Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 120974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
My legs are moving before my mind catches up. Powerful magician? Is that what I am? Is that why I can feel his emotions like they’re my own? I don’t know—but I do know I can’t stay away from him a moment longer.
I walk toward the huge dragon slowly, my slippered feet silent on the polished floor. He lowers his massive head, resting his chin gently on the ground so our eyes are level. His head alone is bigger than my entire body…and yet, somehow I’m not afraid.
“Hello,” I whisper.
I should be frightened—I know this. I was raised to fear dragons, to believe they were mindless beasts of destruction that wanted only to burn everything in their path—things to be fought, caged, and killed.
But none of that feels true in this moment. What I feel from Valen’s dragon is gentleness…curiosity.
And longing.
“He’s been waiting to meet me,” I murmur, more to myself than anyone else.
“Touch him,” the Sorceress says softly beside me. “Stroke him—he wants you to.”
“I know,” I breathe.
I reach out, my hand trembling slightly, and touch his enormous head. I stroke over the massive eye ridge, and find that his scales there are warm and soft—not at all like I expected. Not sharp or hard, but like petals warmed by sunlight.
The massive golden eye closes halfway and I feel it—I feel his pleasure—his ecstasy at my touch. Not just in the faint twitch of his tail or the flare of his nostrils, but deep inside my own chest. A glowing warmth rises in me, radiant and full of need.
And beneath it, I feel another presence. Valen. I feel him too. His thoughts are faint but definitely there.
Don’t scare her. Be gentle with her, he’s telling the Drake. His Drake. Himself? Somehow they are two beings in one body…and at the same time they’re the same person. It’s like the Drake is the wilder part of him—the part that’s all emotion with very few words.
“Don’t worry—he won’t hurt me,” I say aloud, my eyes still locked with that beautiful golden gaze. “He just wants to be close, don’t you?”
The rush of eager agreement that floods my body nearly knocks me off balance. Oh yes, the Drake wants to be with me—he wants that desperately.
“What do you feel, my dear?” the Sorceress asks softly. “What does the Drake want?”
I look at the giant creature in front of me.
“He wants to cuddle with me,” I whisper, stroking his snout. “Sorry, big fella—I'm afraid you’re a little too big for cuddling.”
“But he doesn’t have to be,” the Sorceress says brightly.
“What?” I blink at her.
“The ring of power you wear should have come with three commands. Did it not?”
“Yes.” I nod slowly. “Be ye Still, Be ye Silent, and Be ye Smoll,” I recite in the Old Tongue.
“Then why not use the third spell to make him small enough to cuddle?” she asks.
I wince.
“Because… it feels like someone driving a metal spike into my eye. It really hurts when I use it.”
“Ah.” She taps a finger to her chin. “That would have been because he was resisting you at the time. Was he not?”
“Well… yes. We had just met and…” I feel a wave of shame. “My brother had him chained in our dungeon. So he was angry. And he had every right to be.”
I look at the Drake, whose eye watches me patiently.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I should have let you go a long time ago—not just to heal my mother, but because it was wrong to keep you chained. I’m so sorry.”
I feel his emotions wash over me again—warm, radiant forgiveness. The sudden flood brings tears to my eyes.
“Thank you,” I whisper, my throat tight as I blink them away. “Thank you for forgiving me.”
“Go on, my dear,” the Sorceress urges. “Try it now—make him small enough to cuddle with. He won’t fight you this time.”
I hesitate, searching that great golden eye.
“Do you mind?” I ask softly.
I don’t hear words, but I feel his assent. And Valen’s too.
“It’s all right,” I hear him say in my mind. “We won’t fight you this time, Princess.”
“Thank you,” I breathe.
I draw in a breath, center myself, and speak the words aloud.
“Be ye Smoll.”
Power flows from the silver ring on my finger. This time, it doesn’t hurt. There’s no spike of pain in my skull—no draining, weakening sensation. Only a warm rush, like water flowing through me. I channel it into him—into the magnificent creature before me—and watch, breathless.
At first nothing happens but then…the dragon begins to shrink.
First he goes to the size of a cottage…then he shrinks to the size of a large draft horse. Then a pony and finally he’s the size of a very large dog.
And I can’t help noticing he’s beautiful at every size.
I can still feel his eagerness. I wait but he doesn’t move—just trembles slightly, holding still, his golden eyes locked on mine.