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

for your plan to work. “
    “Aye, guid idea.”
    Maddox sighed, hoping the O’Reillys would get there before
the huge dark cloud made it to the big white ball in the sky. He watched Kyran,
perched on the side of the ledge using the overgrown foliage for cover, and
prayed for this version of his old friend to hang around long enough for them
to defeat the hunters and get back to the lair. The mad dragon had no doubt his
lovely mate and Niall, the Elder Healer of their Clan, would be able to help
the black dragon; Maddox just had to get him there.
    He saw movement from the hunters a split second before a
shout ripped through the silence of the night. “I know you’re up there you
piece of shit. Kyran, is it? Bastard is more like it. Come out peacefully and
I’ll kill you quickly. Make me work for it and I’ll torture you for weeks
before I finally let you bleed out in the bottom of a God forsaken hole in the
middle of nowhere.”
    The woman’s voice was low and commanding. Her tone filled
with an authority that only came from years of command. It was apparent she was
used to getting what she wanted when she wanted it and right now, she wanted
Kyran’s ass in a sling…but why?
    He didn’t have long to wait for his answer before the woman
was shouting again. “What? Cat got your tongue? You prefer turning into some
kind of monster and killing defenseless people as opposed to a fair fight?” She
scoffed, “You really are a coward. Hiding in a cave like a rat. Come out and
face me like a man, you piece of shit.”
    Maddox saw the muscle in Kyran’s jaw jump. Could see the
tension flowing through the black dragon’s body as every word the woman
screamed touched a different nerve, pushed a different button. It was time to
act. Time to do something… anything …to keep his friend from acting on
impulse.
    Saying the only thing he could think of and trying to act
cool, the mad dragon chuckled, “What did you do this time? Forget to kiss
her goodbye?”
    Maddox held his breath, waiting for Kyran to respond to his
attempt at levity. The black dragon, still squatting behind the brush, bounced
on his toes, his eyes fixed on the pack of hunters, searching for the woman
issuing the threats. The mad dragon was doing the same thing with the hopes he
could identify her and think of a way to shut her up before Kyran found her.
Now was not the time to poke the big crazy dragon.
    Of course, as with everything over the last almost
twenty-four hours, luck was not on Maddox’s side. Not only could he not get a
look at Kyran’s tormentor but she was once again screaming at the top of her
lungs.
    “All right, we’ll play it your way. Remember when you’re on
your knees begging for your life that I gave you a chance.”
    Calling to Rian, Maddox growled, “Tell me you’re close.”
    “Fifteen minutes, but we’re gonna have to land on the
front side of the mountain to avoid your visitors.”
    “Son of a bitch…” was the only response the mad
dragon got out as Kyran sprung from his cover, stood in full view, and
bellowed, “Ye wull nae threaten me, lassie. Shaw yersel'.”
    With all three O’Reilly brothers hollering in his ear for a
status update and his seriously deranged old friend issuing threats to the
bloodthirsty leader of a pack of hunters, Maddox had to wonder if trussed up
like the latest kill in the far corner of the cave behind him hadn’t been
better than what he was now facing. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the luxury of
deciding as a succession of four loud ‘Pffts’ sounded, instantly followed the
smell of gun powder and smoke.
    Scanning the sky above them, Maddox located four brass
canisters headed right for the ledge where he and Kyran stood. Jumping to his
feet, the mad dragon ran several yards before diving for his friend. Tackling
the black dragon, Maddox rolled towards the cave entrance just as four
canisters bounced in the dirt in front of them and began spewing noxious grey fog
all around