On the Accidental Wings of Dragons (Dragons of Eternity Book 1) by Julie Wetzel Read Free Book Online Page B

with pain,” she explained as she reached down to touch the limp form. His heartbeat was steady. Good. “Michael was chained to the wall, dying. He’s a trooper, but I could tell he wouldn’t last much longer without water. So, I gave it to him the only way I could—by mouth.”
    Darien gave her a surprised look.
    “Please don’t lecture me. I’d just woken up, was in pain, on morphine, and, well, not thinking clearly.”
    “Obviously.”
    “Anyway, after that, he was in no state to help.” Carissa gently rolled Michael over, tucking his wings back along his body. “I kept cursing myself. If I’d just had a voice, I could get us both out of there. Then it hit me. The old stories. Humans to dragons. If he were a dragon, I could use his voice to save us. I knew how it was done; many of my books spoke of it.”
    “They also spoke of the dangers,” Darien chided her. “Carissa, his mind may not have survived the change. Humans are fragile creatures.”
    Carissa rolled the small dragon into her arms and held him close. “I know, but he’s a member of Eternity.” She stroked Michael’s back.
    Darien raised an eyebrow at her. “Are you sure?”
    Carissa nodded at the clothing scattered around. “Their emblem was on his med pack. And his shirt.”
    “That doesn’t mean a thing.” Darien shook his head. “You know the differences between forms. It may be too much for his limited mind to handle. He could get stuck in one form, unable to change. Do you really want a mad dragon on a rampage?” His eyes held compassion as he spoke. “The best thing you can do is put him down, right now, before things get worse.”
    Carissa caressed the warm bundle as she thought about it. It would be easy. Just a quick twist of that tiny head and snap , no more problems. But what kind of way was that to repay him for his service? Without his help, she would still be in that cell. He had carried her to freedom when she passed out. He had done everything he could to protect her. Now she was supposed to kill him for his kindness? She ran her fingers over the white scales. No, not white. Clear. Carissa bent closer to him. His scales had the same iridescence of any dragon, but they lacked the pigment that gave them color. Interesting.
    “No,” she decided. “I’ll deal with it if he’s lost,” she turned her eyes up to Darien, “but he at least deserves a chance.”
    “As you wish, My Lady.” Darien crossed his hand to his heart and bowed to her, accepting her decision. “I am at your service.”
    Great, now Michael had his own personal executioner. Woo-hoo. Things were not going as well as she planned. Well, she hadn’t really planned anything , but still.
    “Thank you, Darien.” She cuddled the little dragon to her again. “I hope to never have to call on your services for that.”
    “Why don’t we get you both inside?” Darien held his hand down to help her up. “It sounds like you’ve had a trying time. Maybe some food would help.”
    That was the best idea she had heard since waking up. “Sounds great.”

 
    6
     
    Mmm…. Something smells wonderful. Sucking in a deep breath, Michael savored the smell of cooking meat. An undertone of something musky hit his nose, making him sneeze several times. The meat he liked; the second smell raised his hackles. Opening his eyes, Michael looked around for the source of that second smell. God, the world still looked weird. Maybe he had hit his head.
    It took a little bit of time, but his brain finally figured out how to process the imagines his eyes were sending. The inside of a cabin. Built for giants. Or maybe a grand dragon. Yes, he could see some eccentric, old dragon building himself a cabin where he could play human in dragon form. A wizened, old thing, with long, flowing robes, reading dusty tomes through thick spectacles. Yup, that was it. He had a puzzle with that image on it somewhere. And this room fit the bill.
    From his vantage point—someone had put him