Stormbond (The Dragonborn Queen #3)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

TYNAN

Darkness came quickly with hundreds of dragons blocking the setting sun and hiding the clouds in the sky.

Warriors from hostile clans landed in the clearing around us, coloring the field in dark blue flying suits and white leather.

Two warring clans had put aside their differences to strike us when we were at our lowest point, just hours after an attack on Darragh.

Among the numerous faces, there was one that was painfully familiar.

Erin. Our childhood friend, who chose to serve his masters instead of helping the people from his own clan.

By leading the enemy here, he ensured that more blood would be spilled.

I tracked every move he made, barely able to suppress the burning rage that filled my chest.

I knew why they came. They wanted Alina back in the capital, or possibly force her into marriage right here while there were only two clans present.

I stepped in front of her and placed my hand on the hilt of my sword.

There was no way I would let anyone touch her, or even come near.

If they wanted her, they would have to go through me, and I would make sure to take as many of them to the very bottom of the darkest void.

The sound of steel being released pierced the silence, thick as molasses. The black clan warriors had unsheathed their blades, ready for another fight.

“Ty!” Alina whispered.

Her hand braced against my upper arm, her soft voice weak and unsteady. My gaze roamed over the men dressed in white and blue, and a raw, violent determination entered my soul. I was ready.

Alina

Hundreds of dragons landed in the clearing, so many of them that I stopped counting.

There was no way the black clan could fight two clans at the same time.

I looked around. Only several dozen warriors survived the first attack, and most of them had spread out, looking for survivors and aiding others.

There was no way we could face all of them.

I clenched Tynan’s arm and then forced myself to let go. He could not worry about me right now.

The enemy dragons swiftly changed into their human form, and soon the entire area was packed with men in blue and white leathers.

I scrutinized their faces, poorly lit by the light of the torches.

Many of them I knew from the capital. Young and eager to distinguish themselves with an easy win.

They did not know, they could not know, the horror this land had just witnessed.

All the pain and suffering that rolled through Darragh like a merciless, ravaging storm.

At this moment, I hated all of them with their fresh faces and neat suits.

They watched Tynan with overconfident and smug smirks on their faces, too indifferent about the lives of other dragonborns.

The mass of white, black, and blue leathers, merged together like raging flood waters.

Among them was Erin. Same light hair, same open, friendly face.

Except, he made a point not to look at Tynan, deliberately facing the other way.

“Traitor!” someone shouted and many Darragh warriors spit on the ground.

Tynan remained still, his eyes scanned the rows then focused on someone. His upper lip lifted in disgust. I followed his gaze, and my blood chilled in my veins.

The man who leisurely walked toward us was someone I had spent much time with in the capital. His long, blond hair was tied in the back, and his exquisitely made, snow white armor displayed inclusions of silver and gold.

Lord Rutherford.

The clan leader I was supposed to marry was here. He found us. He came to take me back.

“Greetings, milady,” he said in a soft, pleasant voice.

The tone of his voice, his manners could have belonged to a courtier, to a noble starting a pleasant conversation in the palace, not someone who came surrounded by his armored warriors.

His eyes took in my face, my ripped leather suit and then moved to the field where multiple ribbons of smoke winded upward, painting the sky.

“What do you want?” Tynan asked.

“I’m here to take my bride back to the capital,” Rutherford calmly stated.

The way he spoke showed that he had no doubt of his success. He did not come to bargain, he came to force his will on others, and he was sure it would all be an easy victory.

I took Tynan’s hand and his fingers immediately intertwined with mine. There was no way I would ever leave him. Not now, not ever.

“The fuck you are.” Tynan snarled and the look on his face turned menacing, feral.

I did not need a bond between us to know that Tynan was going to sacrifice everything in order to protect me. He just drew a line, showing the others that he was not going to yield before the other lord, or the council.

“You may think that I came to ask your opinion or your permission.” Lord Rutherford looked somewhere behind us, and another person stepped through the crowd.

Lord Halsey. His massive, out of shape body, tightly packed into his blue uniform, looked grotesquely misshapen. It was almost laughable compared to the other clan warriors.

Were they prepared to use force if I refused to comply?

I glanced around, seeing determination on the faces of the remaining defenders.

There was no way I would allow more blood to be spilled, but accepting either man was impossible.

I could never do it, even for the greater good.

If those were my only two choices, I would rather slash my throat with my own dagger than let any one of them touch me.

My breathing became raw, my legs were shaking, but I was no longer able to stay silent. I would not allow others to decide my future, and deny me my true destiny.

“How about my decision? I’m not going anywhere.” I let go of Tynan’s hand and took a step forward, standing beside him.

“With all due respect, milady, your opinion is not one that matters. You need to let the men speak,” Lord Halsey said in a soft voice, as if he was speaking to a petulant child.

“Don’t you fucking dare talking to her like that!” Tynan hissed.

“I don’t think you understand the level of force we are willing to employ to right this situation,” Rutherford calmly added.

How could I ever think that he was kind, noble, and honorable? He was the worst type of man; one who appeared to be decent, but was willing to throw everyone else's life away in order to get what he wanted.

“I’m a human being, not a thing! I have feelings, wishes, and opinions.” I raised my voice.

“You must understand what’s at stake, girl. Do you want a new war between clans?” Lord Halsey spoke as if he was talking to someone incapable of understanding.

“There’s no way you can convince me that I’m the only reason for your war.” I stared at Rutherford.

“You have run out of time, and have no valid options. You’re outnumbered. Don’t make me do this, Alina.” Rutherford unsheathed his sword, sending the waves of panic down my spine.

This was the end. There was nothing that could be done.

No way of talking to them, trying to rationalize with them.

They came confident in their easy victory, and even Tynan was in a state that went past all reason.

Ready to fight and die because of me. I could see it in his eyes, his straightened shoulders.

His hand clenched the grip of his sword.

A sudden rustle rolled through the crowd, and the one person I never expected to see appeared among the warriors. The old man in shabby, torn clothes stumbled and fell face first, right in the mud. He lifted himself up and chuckled.

“Honorable lords, it’s been ages. We welcome you in Darragh with open arms. In our hearts there’s nothing but love and deep respect and appreciation . . .” Sage mumbled and hiccuped.

“What’s this?” Rutherford moved his elbow and took a step back when Sage touched his arm, breathing right in his face.

“All this time, we’ve been waiting for someone worthy to take the place of the greatest king of the dragon lands.

The one sent by the gods, blessed beyond anyone’s comprehension.

To unite all four clans and rule alongside the Red Queen.

Trust me, I know . . . I speak to the gods.

I always talk to them, they show me pictures and signs.

In this land, abandoned by the spirits, nobody believes me, but I knew how it would be. I prepared.” Sage continued.

“Why are we listening to this?” Halsey raised his voice, looking round.

“I know you. Oh, I know you.” Sage moved toward the leader of the blue clan. “They told me all about you. All your . . . nasty little secrets. I know it all. Do you want me to spill it for everyone to hear?” Sage continued.

Halsey took a step back suddenly ashen faced.

“What’s going on?” I whispered to Tynan, who stared at the old man with eyes full of suspicion.

“The spirits are restless. To tell you the truth, they are angry too . . . so angry that they’ve talked about finishing all of us.

Some of them say that without dragonborns, the disease would’ve stopped on its own.

They think that they don’t need us any longer.

It was a failed experiment, and it’s all over.

But . . . there are still some who say the new king will heal the land.

” Sage kept talking in an unsteady voice.

“What do the gods want?” Rutherford asked, losing his patience.

Sage’s face assumed a significant expression and he furrowed his eyebrows. “They obviously want me to be the head seer once more. Because without me, this mess will never get sorted, and they know it.” Sage peered into Rutherford’s face.

He was bluffing. I doubted he ever spoke to any spirits. But, for better or worse, Rutherford and Halsey seemed to be listening to him. I only hoped he did not push it too far.

Rutherford raised his eyebrow. Sage immediately changed his tone and started gesticulating with his arms, as if determined to use every available power to persuade him.