Dragon's Heart Read Online Free

Gods, how does she manage to do that? Leave me so off balance and yet yearning for her company?
    He watched her leave, fighting to keep a stupid grin from appearing on his face. He didn’t notice when Ryan stepped up beside him until the captain of his personal guard cleared his throat. Killian shook himself and turned to face him.
    “Captain?”
    “You are starting to garner more than the usual amount of attention that follows a prince of the realm. Your grandmother is expecting you.”
    Killian sighed and felt his mood turn dark. I’d rather not discuss my impending betrothal to one of these hounding harpies. The discussions were never pleasant, especially since the one woman he had any inclination toward marrying had just walked away, held no land or title and was not from one of the proper families.

    In a foul mood, Killian Rhys strode through the halls of the castle, taking little notice of the men and women from well-dressed courtiers to servants in royal livery who bowed and moved out of his path. He offered polite acknowledgment of their presence and greetings when required, but stopped for nothing. His thigh still smarted from where Serena had landed a good hit during their bout. A shudder ran through him as Killian’s mind turned dark. Had Serena and I had been using edged weapons today, I wouldn’t be walking to see the queen. Serena would be heading to the gallows. What remained of me would be laid out on a slab waiting for the death’s handmaidens to do their work.
    The sun was high in the sky as he passed Lord Jeffery Dennsmore in the antechamber off the entrance to the queen’s personal study. Killian frowned. There is only one reason he would be petitioning my grandmother in private. The lord is pressing the queen to accept Katia as my betrothed. The last offer was so extravagant I wonder what he has done to make it more agreeable to my grandmother.
    At seventeen years of age, Killian had not yet reached the age of majority, but the offers from the nobles, both in and out of Illedria, began a short time after his fifteenth birthday. These brief conversations with his grandmother started more than a year and a half ago, when he’d let it slip that he was falling for Serena.
    Squaring his shoulders and taking a deep breath, he stepped into the study through the already open door and bowed to his grandmother. Anastasia Rhys had an air of quiet dignity about her, and the delicate silver and gold crown she wore added to the feeling of understated power. She glanced up from her reading and motioned for him to sit across from her before turning her attention back to the papers. Killian took a seat in one of the high-backed chairs and tried not to get too comfortable on the soft cushions, knowing one of her tactics was to lull her opponent into a false sense of security. He took quick stock of the area around the study, the bookcases lining the walls, and the small sculptures and keepsakes placed on their shelves.
    After a short silence, the High Queen of Illedria met the young prince’s gaze and frowned before removing her delicate silver crown. “Why that girl?” The queen’s question was straightforward, blunt, much like the woman was known to be at times.
    “Because, in spite of everything she knows about me, including my station, and she doesn’t mind. All those years ago, she was the only one who didn’t care that I was the prince. Serena was the only trainee willing to spar with me for years. The rest were all too frightened of the consequences if I were to get injured.” He paused and waited for the queen to say something. When she remained silent, he continued, “When we spar, she doesn’t take it easy on me because of my title. She’s knocked me to the ground more than once.” He smiled, remembering the shocked expression on her face and those of the gathered crowd the first time it had happened. The smile widened, as he thought about the bruises she’d given him in subsequent bouts.