AnyasDragons by Gabriella Bradley Read Free Book Online Page A

the boys. She was close to her sisters but, one by one, they had married their respective betrotheds. Her sister just above her was to be joined with her betrothed the day of the invasion. Anya was the only one left without a husband. The king was quite old when she was born. After she’d been born, he took no more new wives.
    A tear escaped as she thought about the woman that she’d never see again, her mother whom the king had discarded not long after she was born. Why her mother had angered the king, she didn’t know and never would.
    “I’m sorry. I upset you,” Yerith said and reached out to touch her.
    She jumped back. “I need to go and get meat,” she snapped, swallowing hard and wiping her eyes.

Chapter Six
    Anya had been with them for two full moons when Yurkis summoned her and her two protectors early one morning. Anya wondered what it was all about as the three of them hastened to Yurkis’ cave.
    He was a formidable man, even bigger than Cyton and Yerith. He was also much older. His once very long black hair was streaked with gray. Anya had only seen him a few times from a distance. He awoke awe within her and she feared the man’s anger against her father. But he had allowed Cyton and Yerith to keep her. He hadn’t ordered them to take her back to the forest for the Gonks to devour.
    “Approach.”
    “Timeless One, what is it you desire from us?” Cyton asked.
    “I’ve spoken with Uleirlel. She informs me the girl is the next ruler of our world. It is time to return her to the castle.”
    “There is no one left alive in the castle, Timeless One,” Yerith said.
    “My scouts tell me there are still many mortals in the towns.”
    “And aliens,” Cyton said. “We don’t want to send her toward danger.”
    “Do not lie to me, Cyton, son of Otora. You should know better. You both wish to keep the woman with you because she is comely. You desire her. That’s why you lie. The aliens are long gone.”
    Anya stepped ahead and turning faced the two men. “They’re gone? You deliberately lied to me. You know I want to go back to the castle. How dare you!”
    Tears threatened but she managed to control them—tears of anger and disappointment in the two men.
    “Girl, you control your anger well. You are not like your father. I see a resemblance to your grandmother.”
    “Yes, it was said I look like her.”
    “We were once friends,” Yurkis said, his eyes taking on a distant look but only for a moment.
    “We can be friends again. I won’t pay for the sins of my father.”
    “The grievous murder of my daughter has been avenged. My scouts tell me all the king’s children are gone, except one. Though I must admit, it saddens me. The murder of so many did not bring me any satisfaction, merely sorrow. The only satisfaction I feel is that the man who caused my loss and pain met his just punishment.”
    “I’m sorry,” Anya said softly.
    “Child, it’s not your fault, and your father’s crimes are not your burden to bear. Your protectors will return you to the castle. Their punishment for lying to me and to you is they will remain your protectors and must live in the castle. They will be your guards.”
    “Timeless One, we can’t shift there if there is a need, and—”
    “Silence. I have spoken. I will cast the spell of protection over this world once again. I removed the spell after my daughter died. That’s how the aliens were able to invade. I regret that now. Too many have died at their hands. Henceforth, we will live in peace and harmony. Our people shall mingle with your people and your people can visit us, but only under the watchful eye of a dragon. The Gonks like your flesh, although you are not completely mortal. Once your magick is restored, you will be able to shift into dragon form, but you’ll be much smaller than our dragons and therefore easily slain by the Gonks.”
    “They deceived me. They don’t deserve to be my guards,” Anya said, fury still overwhelming all