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Land of Dragon 55
FrancescaThe lingerie set taunts me on my bed. I pace around the room, my fingers twitching and my eyes burning a hole into the fabric. Leo wants me to wear it and touchmyself. I don’t know how he’s able to be so confident and bold with his words. I practically stumble over everything I say. I could never suggest to someone I barely knew to touch themselves and think about me while doing it.Only Leo, I guess.He’s still a stranger to me in so many ways, and yet, he’s bringing out a side of me I’ve never explored before. Do I want to explore it? Deep down, I think yes.With a huff, I grab the lingerie and slip into it. The bra cups make my breast look bigger, and the lacey fabric helps me feel even more feminine. I’ve always been an awkward person, but wearing this … I feel like a grown woman for the first time.I lay down on the bed, my heart beating so fast it hurts.Can I do this? Only one way to know.I place my hands on my stomach and rest them, unsure how to proceed. I know th
Land of Dragon 56
LeoI find Henry on his usual barstool at the dive bar we frequent, looking like a smug asshole. “What are you doing?” I ask.He takes his time with a huge swig of his beer, making metap my foot and resist the urge to punch him, before he finally turns to me and smiles. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”“You having dinner with Francesca. Why?”“Because Emilia invited me.” He shrugs. “I don’t know what to tell you, man. It just happened. I got the phone call and went over. Free dinner, so sue me.”I slam my hand on the table, making the bartender glance over. “Bullshit. Francesca is my bet, Henry. You’re trying to ruin my chances of winning.”“I would never do such a thing.”I stare at him until he starts to squirm. He sighs. “Fine. Maybe I thought it would be fun to sweeten the stakes by giving Francesca another man to look at. I have to make it hard for you.”“You’re getting in my way. The bet was for me to seduce Francesca within two months. You’re changing the rules.”He s
Land of Dragon 57: Secret of the Dragon
Chapter 1The Panthers entered the Throne Hall of the Royal Castle with uncertainty in their hearts and guilt weighing heavily on their shoulders. They walked slowly, almost dragging their feet, trying in vain to delay their meeting with the King. Thoran had summoned them, but not only the Panthers; he had also summoned Gondabar and Raner. And if, as a rule, when the monarch requested their presence it was not usually for anything good, the fact that their leaders had also been called indicated that the meeting was not going to be a pleasant one, especially after what had happened at the Royal Wedding.Gondabar was leading the group down the long corridor toward the throne. His steps were unsteady and he moved slowly, almost as slowly as the Panthers. Raner was walking behind the leader of the Rangers, watching in case Gondabar stumbled and required his assistance. The Healer Edwina had been performing her arts of healing magic on the afflicted body of the octogenarian leader and he h
Land of Dragon 58
“A dragon! Do you think I’m an idiot? Is that what you think?” Thoran asked, pointing at Gondabar and Raner.“Very much the contrary,” Gondabar replied. “Your Majesty has a very lucid and intelligent mind.”“And yet you come to explain the death of the leader of my Magi with a fallacy? With a children’s tale?”“With a mythological fable, rather,” a voice said suddenly. All those present turned to see the Queen enter,accompanied by her bodyguard Valeria and the Druid Aidan.“What fable are you talking about!” Thoran protested, still beside himself.Queen Heulyn walked up to the throne. Ignoring everyone present, she sat in her throne beside her husband, the King.“Dragons appear in fables based on mythology. There are dragons in many regions of Tremia. In Irinel, for instance, and among the Druids too, isn’t that so, Aidan?”“It is, my lady,” Aidan replied. He had stayed beside Valeria
Land of Dragon 59
Chapter 2Thoran pointed his finger at Orten.“Stop, brother! Don’t shed blood!” he shouted like someone giving an order to a bulldog not to attack.His sword already half-unsheathed, Orten’s face was red with rage. He looked unable to hold back; he was not going to listen to his brother. He was going to attack them.“Incompetent cretins!” he yelled, glaring at Gondabar and Raner.Lasgol began to slide forward stealthily and gently.“Stop! I’m ordering you!” Thoran shouted at this brother.Orten stopped. He was struggling to control his rage. For an instant everyone watched tensely, hoping he could control himself. Finally, he took a step back and sheathed his sword.“They deserve a severe punishment for their stupidity and foolishness,” Orten said to his brother.Lasgol returned to his previous position with another swift move. He hoped no one in front had seen him; it seemed as though no one had. They were all too concentrated on what was happening with Orten to notice him. Everyone
Land of Dragon 60
Chapter 3“That went great,” Viggo said bitterly as the Panthers walked into the room they all shared in the Tower.“We already knew something like this might happen if we went to the King,” Astrid replied, coming in after him and shaking her head, saddened. “A sorry spectacle.”“That’s why Gondabar and Raner didn’t want to go to the King without solid evidence. Now it’s clear they were absolutely right,” Lasgol said, coming in with his head down.“I wasn’t so sure about not informing the King of what we had found out,” Ingrid said, following the others with a crestfallen look on her face. “Whenever Gondabar and Raner opposed telling the King, I thought it was risky. I thought it would be worse once they found out about the existence of the dragon and that we’d be accused of having hidden what we knew. I have to admit though, after what we’ve witnessed, that I was wrong. Now I understand our leaders’ fear. Their worst expectations have come to pass. I had guessed it might go badly… bu
Land of Dragon 61
Chapter 4The atmosphere in the Royal Dungeons was as lugubrious as could be expected of such a place. Many were the stories that ran throughout Norghana of what this place had witnessed. All of them were horrendous tales about nobles, traitors, and beggars who had entered the place to never come out again. The poor wretches who had suffered the ill fate of ending up there died screaming in the cells with rock walls, windowless, cold, and damp. Their screams did not even reach the upper levels. It was as if the dungeons had been built for that purpose, to drown out the prisoners’ cries of despair.It was a place with an atrocious reputation in the kingdom. Just the mention of it made people cringe. It was said that illustrious people had vanished in there, from nobles to princes and even kings, both Norghanian and foreign. A lot of the talk was exaggerated, but part of it was true. The soldiers and executioners who had served in the dungeons had let their tongues run on more than one
Land of Dragon 62
Chapter 5The door opened and Ellingsen walked into the cell, followed by two large Royal Guards. Half a dozen more waited outside. The Panthers had to step back to let them in, the cell could not fit any more. Ellingsen realized this and made a sign to the two guards to wait outside. Then he turned to Gondabar.“Leaders of the Rangers, Royal Eagles,” he said with a brief nod.“Commander,” Gondabar greeted him. The others nodded in turn.“Is there a problem?” Raner asked suspiciously.“Not as such. I was informed of this meeting and sent down,” Ellingsen explained.“The King doesn’t mean to stop the leaders of the Rangers from meeting to plan their work and missions, does he?” Gondabar asked, but it sounded like a statement instead of a question.“He doesn’t oppose the leaders meeting, no,” Ellingsen confirmed. “I’m here for another reason.”“What reason has made you come to such an inhospitable place?” Raner asked him.“I come to inform you that the King doesn’t want his Royal Eagles