Queen of Dragons: Steamy Fantasy Erotic Romance (Dragon nights Book 1) by Tasha Bell Read Free Book Online Page A

knowing there was no way anyone could possibly believe her, but suspecting
that Bates would not call out a highborn lady in front of a room full of simple
folk. “Unfortunately the men you’re looking for don’t seem to be here, what a
pity. Perhaps they decided not to come back to the village at all, will you
join me for a drink?”
    Captain Bates cast his cold eyes over Viviana’s ruined dress
and up to her dishevelled hair - so neat and coiffured when he had spoken to
her in the grounds of Loxley Hall earlier - “I understand completely.” He said.
    Matt’s eldest son reappeared in the doorway with his forearm
around the neck of the red-headed girl. “There weren’t no soldiers up there,”
he said. “Just this one.”
    “Right,” said Captain Bates, addressing the assembled
drinkers in the front bar. “I’m looking for Kit Fairfield the son of this
tavern’s old innkeeper and a man by the name of James Harper. Has anyone seen
them tonight?” Everyone stayed silent, Bates continued “has anyone seen them at
all? Do any of you know who I’m talking about? There will be a substantial
reward payable in cold right here,” he hefted a heavy purse. “For anyone who
give information.”
    Eventually an old man mumbled into his tankard: “We aint seen
nobody, Sir.” Other voices joined in.
    “Nobody here.” Said one.
    “No, mustn’t have come back from the wars, poor souls.” Added
another.
    “They’re lying!” Shouted Matt, staring wildly around the room.
“They were here. I know they came back here I saw them myself.”
    Captain Bates spoke to him calmly. “Send men to the roads out
of the village and block the bridges.” He nodded towards the red-headed girl
struggling in the arms of her captors. “We’ll take her with us.” He turned
towards Viviana and said; “my lady, again, a pleasure to see you, I won’t join
you for that drink now, but if you would allow me I will call on you at Loxley
Hall tomorrow.” With that he spun crisply on his heel and walked from the bar.
***
    Alexandra, Kit and Harper ran across the bridge over the
swift and cold running river Am. On the other side the land ran roughly uphill
towards the foothills of the Borset Mountains, with their dark crags and
ancient abandoned dragon nests. Beyond the lanes and well-tended fields of
Amvale Village it was a rough country of large boulders, scrubby woodlands and
deep ravines. Easy to get lost in, easy to lose a trail in. Alexandra was
certain that their pursuers would be able to work out which direction they had
left the village in, their path was strewn with a trail of gawping villagers
staring at Kit’s receding buttocks, but she hoped that in the rough wilderness
they would not be able to follow their trail.
    Once they reached the open countryside Alexandra pulled them
off the road and down into the shade of the hedge that ran between the fields.
They could speak for the first time since they had left the tavern, all three
of them were wild eyed from adrenaline and exertion.
    Alexandra struggled to catch her breath, it felt like there
was not enough air in the world to fill her aching lungs, and then panted:
“Viviana says you’re being hunted by King John, both of you,” she paused to
draw breath and the two men looked at each other. “She told me that you are
part of a subversive organisation plotting an uprising.” The two men said
nothing. Kit stood with his hands over his genitals, slightly embarrassed to be
so naked in front of his sister, while Harper stared back in the direction of
the village, his eyebrows lowered like he was spoiling for a fight, Alexandra
could see that he wasn’t the type of man to run away from trouble, and that it
would get him killed if he wasn’t careful.
    “She told me they had sent a man called Bates to look for you.”
She continued.
    “Shit.” Kit said. “Captain Bates?”
    “You know him?” Asked Alexandra.
    Harper stepped in. “Oh we certainly know him, we served