Dragon's Heart Read Online Free Page A

His upward-turned lips retreated when he remembered bruises he’d given her. “We have known each other for years. I can talk to her about anything.”
    “But she is a commoner and,” the queen took a deep breath as if steeling herself before continuing, “if what Arms Master Hayes tells me is true, has aspirations to join the Royal Guard.”
    We’ve done this dance more than one time, grandmother, and yet here we are again, Killian thought before he responded with the expected question. “Why should either of those things matter?”
    “You will be the king.”
    Ahh and there’s the expected answer, he thought.
    “You will follow your father on my throne and will need a strong queen at your side.” Anastasia sought to make her grandson see reason. Of course, other issues were at work, factions in play, but attacking the girl’s low birth station was the simple answer.
    “Who do you believe will be a stronger queen?” he asked, a change in tactic. “A woman who, while a commoner, is a weapons master and doesn’t back down, who challenges me, who helps me consider all options before making a decision and does not have her own agenda beyond committing herself to king and country?” He leaned back and made a gesture to indicate openness. “Or would you prefer the woman who is from a noble family, with their own agenda, who won’t challenge her king’s decisions and could put loyalty to her family and province over what is best for Illedria?”
    “Killian, you will have nobles to contend with and will need their support in order to be a strong monarch. They will not think kindly about their king being married to a woman with no land, no title, and worse, is a soldier.”
    “But she will not be a common soldier,” Killian insisted though he knew better, the nobles would never see Serena as more than a peasant. One who had reached far above her station and captured the heart of a royal, but still beneath them, and him. “She will be a sword master and perhaps one of the Royal Guard, the elite.”
    “It is simply not done”—the queen’s tone was firm—”you are second in line to rule. I will not have this insolence, and that is the end of the discussion, young man.”
    “As you wish, Majesty,” Killian stood and offered a deep, respectful bow. I pushed too far. I pray she doesn’t use this talk as an excuse to accept one of the marriage contracts. There must be a way to follow my heart and still serve my people.
    “I wish my grandson would be more compliant to my wishes and tradition.”
    “I am your grandson. Would you expect less of me?” The prince turned and walked out of the study with two black-clad guards falling in behind him as he made his way back to his chambers. When he crossed the threshold into the sitting room, Killian sighed and scrubbed his face with his hands. It was times like this when he felt the burden of his birth weighing against his heart’s desire and wished the gulf between their stations didn’t exist.

    The beautiful noblewoman drew the guard forward, pulling his body against hers and into a shadowed alcove, away from prying eyes. He ran his hands over her soft, alabaster skin. Her fingers tangled in the dark hair that curled over his collar. Pressing his lips to hers, he plundered the riches there.
    While grabbing a fist full of his hair, she used it to draw him away from her. “Andreas,” she breathed his name, part plea, part demand.
    “What?” he choked out, voice harsh with desire.
    “I need her name.” She traced his jawline with the sharp point of her fingernail.
    “Whose name?”
    Panic flared in his eyes, and she wanted to laugh. Men were so easy to manipulate, and it had almost been a waste of her singular magic. “The child. The one you and the dead princess found so many years ago.”
    “Serena,” he answered, a glassy haze settling over his eyes.
    “Where is the child?” She knew it was a gamble and quite likely Andreas knew nothing, but all