Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
He forced himself to stay away. Ranging farther and farther, Keres scoured the area below for the only being who could help him regain himself. Rimi.
One month into his search, Keres circled over a medium-sized city. Montana had proven tough to scout. It was a big state with large empty spaces. Every time Keres thought he might have found a mountain with a view of a partially constructed arena, his investigations had resulted in eliminating it. Hell, by this time, he was searching for any type of construction.
The current city had a university with the footings of a new football stadium abandoned in a field. The community had repurposed the materials and supplies had gone to serve the residents. Going to college and defeating rival football teams were a thing of the past now.
After landing on a mountain crest, he watched the people moving below. On closer inspection, it was obvious this wasn’t a functioning community. Bands of armed men roamed through the street. At times, an individual would dart out into the open at full speed and retrace their steps with their arms full. In random places, including in the middle of the street, bodies lay still. From the stench that reached him, they’d lain there for a long time.
This was the opposite of Wyvern. Some had grabbed power and forced their authority on the city dwellers. The supplies in the store had to be nearly depleted by now. He couldn’t spot a garden or livestock area. The next winter would eliminate the townsfolk. These people were already dead. They simply hadn’t realized it yet. Keres didn’t feel sorry for them. They’d done it to themselves.
Too bad the forefathers of this settlement had not created an agreement with dragon protectors. Keres turned his attention to the mountains with a view of the stadium. Two stood near the construction site. Neither had an opening he could see.
Keres chose one randomly and spiraled around it from base to tip. Nothing. Not even a small crevasse that someone might catch glimpses of the construction site through. His investigation of the second yielded the same results.
Time to move on. Wait. What is that?
Battling the hope that kindled inside him, he headed for a mountain some distance from the two overlooking the arena. Was that an opening? It was on the side but would still provide a view of the area.
A much better location.
A dragon concerned about his or her safety would wisely choose that mountain over the others. Keres stifled his excitement. This could be another dead end.
Were those claw marks on the ledge? Yes.
Keres considered his options. Enter and see who was inside or observe from a distance. His claws gripped the rocky edge of the opening before he realized he’d decided. He strode confidently inside.
I am Keres, horde member of Oldrik.
Silence answered his announcement. Could the resident dragon have abandoned the cave before he arrived? Fury sparked in his gut. If he was too late…. Fighting back his desperation, Keres sent out a louder message. If Oldrik’s sister was inside, she had to hear him.
Rimi. I mean you no harm. I promised Oldrik I would simply talk to you.
A scent wavered in the air. Keres lifted his snout to inhale deeply. What was that deliciousness wafting toward him? Something he’d never experienced before. He walked further into the cave. Keres threw himself backward when a movement whispered from his left.
Pissed, yet impressed at the same time, Keres considered the massive, sharpened blade that now swung harmlessly back and forth across the entrance. Had he not moved to the side instinctively, his head would now be rolling around on the stony floor.
Not nice, Rimi. You need to work on how you greet your guests.
Guest! Try invader! Turn around now, dragon. That was the easy one to avoid.
He controlled his reaction to her response. He’d found her! What is that smell, Rimi? It’s delectable.
She didn’t answer him.
Cautiously, he continued into the cave. The entrance split. On the right, spiderwebs decorated the ceiling, and the ground looked undisturbed. Tracks led down the path to the left. Keres could see the scrape of scales along the walls. That was logically the frequently traveled way, but that scent came from the unused one.
Trusting his nose, Keres chose the unused trail. Whatever that appealing aroma was, he needed to find it. Three steps in, a rumble to his left told him the other tunnel had just collapsed. A chuckle escaped his lips. He couldn’t wait to meet the kick-ass dragon who’d tried to eliminate him.
Too obvious, Rimi.
A fifty-fifty choice. The odds won’t be so good for you soon. Better go back and save your pretty scales.
You think I’m pretty? Aw. Thank you, Rimi.
Why are you here, Keres?
I’m losing my mind. I’ve been without a mate for too long.