Chapter 1
The darkness around her closed in like a cloak of black silk. She could hardly breathe as thick smoke rolled up to her. Her eyes burned, and her nose and throat clogged with the searing air. Tears streamed from her eyes and rolled down her scaled cheeks.
Fire spread across the forest floor, slowly climbing the dry trees. It was a pity that this once lush, green forest would be reduced to black ash and lifeless trunks. The crackling of burning wood filled her ears, and the screams of dying animals echoed in her mind. She could feel death growing around her with each heartbeat.
She took one long, deep breath, fighting the urge to choke on the thick smoke.
The branch she perched upon swayed in the wind, feeding new life to the flames below. She dug her claws into the soft wood. A strong gust sent the flames leaping upward, catching the leaves of her branch. The fire devoured them with a sharp, hungry crackle.
Her claws dug deeper as she glared at the rising flames. The red glow of the burning ground below broke her heart with every passing moment. The last egg, held gently in her jaws, throbbed with a faint pulse.
This egg was her only family.
She blinked, and tears gathered beneath her leathery eyelids.
I must fly. I have to, or I will die here. The egg must be protected. I must escape—for its sake.
Her wings ached as she lifted them from her body. The leather membranes were torn from volleys of arrows shot by hunters. She took a deep breath, and her lungs protested as smoke filled them.
Closing her eyes, she lunged into the sky.
Below, she heard the cries of the dragon hunters. Bowstrings snapped as more arrows were loosed. If she took another volley, she was finished.
With all her strength, she drove her wings downward and forced herself higher. She climbed straight up, flapping as hard as she could. Pain radiated through her torn wings as she soared above the clouds, finally out of reach of the arrows.
The dark night concealed her as she climbed higher, and the sounds of fire and death faded beneath her.
The death of the world came on the backs of humans and elves—those who claimed to love the land. They blamed the ruthless burning of forests on dragons, spreading lies to every race, calling dragons evil beasts.
Dwarves and fairies were nearly extinct, along with ogres and orcs, hunted down by the two races who fought for power.
Elves and humans competed for the throne, using old magic and ruthless methods to secure their rule. She shook her head. By the time one race claimed victory, there would be nothing left to rule.
An unnamed dragon like herself could do little to stop the coming disaster.
Her body began to feel heavy as she leveled out in the colder air. Here, the air was clean—free of smoke. She stretched her wings, gliding along the cool currents.
Her eyes darted around as she made her slow way north toward the mountains. She longed to fly faster, but her wings would not allow it. Pain surged each time she beat them to stay aloft.
Her tail twitched behind her as another wave of agony shot through her shoulders. Warm blood dripped from her torn scales, falling to the earth below. Deep purple drops drained her strength as they slid across her body.
She faltered, dipping dangerously before regaining control.
I can’t keep this up much longer. It hurts so badly. Please… let me make it. I must protect the egg.
The druid mountains in the north were the only peaks untouched by dragon hunters. Few humans lived there. It was a refuge for all who hid from humans and elves—the last place protected by ancient stone.
She would be safe there… if she could reach it.
The full moon would rise in three days. The egg would hatch then, bringing forth a new age of dragons. She had to arrive before it rose.
A lone horse and rider moved slowly along a gravel path. The rider looked up as a large shadow passed overhead. The young man’s eyes widened at the dragon-shaped silhouette above the clouds.
The horse sidestepped, snorting uneasily.
Heath patted the horse’s muscular shoulder. “Easy, Bon. Whatever that is, it’s too far away to worry about.”
The horse snorted again but continued forward, trusting its rider completely.
Silence fell around them as they climbed the trail. It was as if the earth itself had stopped breathing—no, not stopped. It was mourning.
Heath felt the sadness rising from the ground beneath them. He glanced at the dark sky. Whatever had passed overhead carried sorrow with it—and it was heading toward his home.
Frowning, he nudged Bon into a slow gallop.
“Come on, boy. There might be trouble in the village.”
The wind shifted, and pain flared in the dragon’s wings. Her muscles trembled, and her back felt as though it might break. Her vision blurred as the coming sunrise pressed against the horizon.
Her heart slowed.
Her jaw weakened, threatening to release the egg. Her body drifted lower, nearly brushing the treetops below.
Her wings gave out.
They collapsed at her sides as she struggled to stay conscious. Darkness crept into her vision.
Then it took her.
She fell.
The egg grew warm, holding her jaw closed—using its own strength to keep its fragile sanctuary safe.
