Desolation (Dragonlands Book 4) by Megg Jensen Read Free Book Online Page A

was still safe. It had to be.
    A shadow moved across the ground. It paused next to Connor's feet. He looked up in the air, but saw nothing. Connor looked down again. The shadow was gone.
    Strange. It must have been a bird. Or a trick of his mind. Maybe another piece of memory slipping into the present.
    Connor shrugged and headed back to the village square, following the joyful shrieks of the children playing ball. He jogged up to the edge of the square next to Hazel. She smiled and slipped her arm through his. They stood there together, as if it was something they'd done every day for years.
    Fotia ran with the kids, kicking the ball with her taloned feet as easily as the kids did in their leather shoes. Vatra hung on the sidelines, bouncing up and down and hooting. Connor was happy to see they were all getting along so well.
    "We can do this, Connor," Hazel said. "Give us a chance."
    He thought of the memory he'd had at the edge of the fog. If touching the fog like that brought back his memories, then maybe there was hope. He looked at Hazel. He was still attracted to her. That was an urge that never seemed to go away. But was it love, or just a part of being a man?
    Connor wrapped an arm around Hazel's waist and pulled her close. His other hand found its way to her cheek. Hazel's eyes widened. She pressed up against him, her arms snaking over his shoulders.
    Connor leaned toward her upturned face. His lips rested on hers. It wasn't familiar, but felt good. And it elicited a whole new emotion when Hazel returned the kiss with vigor, her lips moving against his in a way that seemed natural, as if they'd done it a thousand times before.
    Perhaps they had. Connor gave in to her affection, his eyes closing as they kissed.
    "Ew!" It came from behind them, followed by a chorus of giggles.
    Connor and Hazel broke apart. He felt a blush creep up his cheeks, but Hazel looked pleased. "Married people are allowed to kiss," she said to the children. "Go back to your game."
    Hazel grabbed Connor's hand. "Let's go back to our cottage."
    Connor's eyebrows knitted together. "I'm, um, I'm not sure—"
    Hazel laughed. "Not for that. I want to show you where we used to live. I thought it might help your memory."
    "Okay." As they walked, Connor told her what happened when he stepped into the fog.
    Hazel smiled. "Good. Then it's possible visiting our home will help, too." She tugged on his hand, urging him faster.
    The cottage didn't look familiar to Connor, but maybe that would change when he stepped inside. It was conceivable he was on the verge of remembering everything. The thought excited him. He had been afraid of his past, nervous, even. But today it felt like anything was possible. Like past and present could come together, making him whole again.
    He might have died and been brought back to life as a dragon, but maybe he could also be the man he was before that fateful day. Though he hated Stacia and how she had forced a new life and her body on him, he loved Vatra, his own little dragonling. He loved Vatra's half-sister Fotia. Connor couldn't imagine his life without either of them.
    "Are you ready?" Hazel asked him. She bounced on her toes like a child. Her enthusiasm was contagious.
    "Yes, let's go in." Connor took a deep breath and followed his wife into their cottage.
    Hazel pulled back the curtains. Light streamed in, illuminating a home similar to Tressa's cottage. Connor's eyes swept over the simple wooden furniture. He ran a hand along the back of a chair. The books on the shelves didn't look familiar, nor did the copper pots hanging above the fireplace.
    He clenched his fists, searching for anything familiar. But there was nothing. He looked at Hazel as he fought back angry tears. Why couldn't he remember? It was all in there. He was sure of it after what happened at the fog.
    "Connor?" Hazel asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"
    "No, I'm not. I want to remember. I'm tired of feeling like my life began after