Her Mad Dragon (Dragon Guard Series Book 15) by Julia Mills Read Free Book Online Page A

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later, Kyran replied, “Na time fur reinforcements. We hae tae defend oor
position, Doxie. Afore th' bastards hae us cornered.”
    Before Maddox could open his mouth to give alternate
suggestions, Kyran lifted his stolen sword, gave an exuberant war cry, and ran
towards the exit. Chasing after his brethren, Maddox had to wonder what mortal
sin he’d committed in this lifetime or the last to have Fate screw with him in
such a twisted and totally fucked up manner. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe
in their ability to defeat any enemy on any terms, it was that
Maddox feared the demented dragon would put in a repeat performance while they
were in the midst of battle, leaving Maddox FUBAR.
    Bursting onto the outcropping, Maddox noted the full moon
high in the cloudless sky and the distinct stench of hunter in the air. Their
acrid hate and rotten treachery stung his nostrils. The black of their souls
tainted the usually clear forest air. They were the scourge of the earth, the
foulest humans alive – zealots who used their ignorance to breed hate and
destruction. If he had to go down fighting, it might as well be against the
worst the world had to offer.
    Putting his thoughts of Calysta and how he longed to hold
her in his arms one last time to the back of his mind, Maddox called to Rian,
Rory, and Royce. The O’Reilly brothers were the closest thing he had to sons of
his own. He knew he could trust them to help without raising alarm throughout
the clan…especially with his little witch. “Hey, boys, I need your help.”
    “Where the hell are you?” Rian immediately responded,
his voice stern and ominous.
    “Dark Mountain. I’ve…”
    “What the hell are you doing there?” The oldest
O’Reilly brother cut him off, sounding every bit the Leader of the Blue Thunder
Clan.
    Before the mad dragon could answer, Rory, the youngest
brother and biggest pain in the ass of them all, snickered, “Calysta’s on
the war path. You may want to bunk there for a week or two, old man.”
    “Shut up, Rory,” Maddox and Rian growled in unison
before the mad dragon continued, “Like I was trying to say. I got a lead on
Kyran and came to check it out.” Maddox knew he was being less than
forthcoming, and was pretty sure they knew it too, but it was not the time or
the place for squabbles.
    “Alone?” Royce grumbled, disbelief loud in his tone.
    “Yes, alone, and don’t you start. I don’t need your shit
right now. Just get your asses out here and help. We’ve got a pack of hunters
and nowhere to go.”
    “We?” They all asked as one. “You found him?”
    “Yes, we! Yes, I found him, you dimwits. Now, hurry it up
before we get our asses handed to us.” 
    He cut their connection, deciding that the best defense was
a good offense and he’d deal with the fallout of his actions if he lived
through the next half hour. The hunters were just over the ledge, holding their
position at a hundred yards. He verified ten heartbeats – all human. Lots of
fire power and way more silver than he was comfortable with.
    Stupid bastards… 
    Kyran had been eerily silent since their emergence from the
cave. Needing to see which personality his old friend was sporting at the moment,
Maddox asked, “You still with me, Ky?”
    The Phantom’s response was immediate , “Nowhere else A’d
waant be.”
    Maddox thought about replying with “I can think of a hundred
places I’d rather be” but decided it probably would go over like a fire
extinguisher at a bonfire so he kept his thoughts to himself and asked, “Whatcha
thinkin?”
    “A’m  thinkin’ we need tae split up. Ye tak' th' left.
I’ll tak' th' richt. We come up behind 'n' tak' thaim by surprise.” It
sounded like a good plan. They’d taken down bigger forces before with only two
Guardsmen. The only unknown was Kyran’s state of mind. Trying to stall, Maddox
pointed to the sky and suggested, “I say we wait until that cloud covers the
moon. We need total darkness