Page 87 of Once Upon an Enchanted Kiss

The dragon laughed her smokey laugh. Then she turned her gaze on Rosamund.

“It’s the two of us now, princess. Don’t think I’ll be letting you get away.”

Rosamund climbed to her feet. Her gown was covered in dirt and grass stains. The hem was ripped. She lifted her gaze to the great dragon, her hands clutched at her side.

I am not afraid.

She spied her father’s sword gleaming in the morning sun. Just beyond that was Phillip’s. Two swords.

Rowena sucked in another breath. Rosamund took that moment to bolt into a run. She grabbed her father’s sword off the ground in one fluid motion, then made for Phillip’s. She snatched it up in her other hand. She spun to face the dragon as the beast puffed out another breath.

Rosamund ran as fast as she could but she tripped on her skirt and fell forward. She released the weapons as she landed on the ground so hard it jarred her to the back of her teeth. The puff of smoke went over her, missing her.

Without waiting for the dragon to regroup, she rolled to a sitting position and ripped away the remaining skirt to give her feet freedom of movement. Then she scrambled to her feet and snatched up both of the swords once more. Behind her, she thought she heard her mother cry out and her father shout her name. She ignored them both and ran directly toward the dragon.

Rowena saw her coming and stumbled backward to get her in her line of sight. Rosamund glanced up a moment to see a faint glow in her chest, as though her magic returned and she was able to breath fire once again.

The princess eyed the dragon’s wings, looking for the weak spot Titania mentioned. She spotted the leathery looking skin just under the joint where there were no scales to protect her. That was where she needed to stab her.

Taking a deep breath, she ran again right for the dragon. Rowena stumbled backward, trying to get her in her sights, but Rosamund was fast. Unhindered by her skirt, she was able to run at a quicker speed. Holding both swords, though, slowed her down. She dropped her father’s and held onto to Phillip’s with both hands.

The dragon realized what she was doing and took a swipe with her large claw. The tips grazed Rosamund’s back as she tumbled to the ground, a shout of pain escaping her. She rolled to her back as the dragon planted both feet on either side of her. Her massive snout was inches from her face. Hot steam came out in puffs from her large nostrils.

“You think you can defeat me, don’t you, girl?”

When the dragon spoke, Rosamund was very aware of her spiky teeth. One chomp and she was dead. She felt the ground for the sword but came up empty handed.

“Why do you want me dead?” Rosamund asked.

The dragon blinked, as though the question surprised her.

“Killing me solves nothing,” she hurried on. “Just because you were slighted doesn’t mean I should die.”

The dragon huffed out a hot breath. Rosamund closed her eyes and turned her head as the steamy air cascaded over her.

“You’re right,” the dragon said then. “The king must die instead.”

With that, she shoved her huge body upward, moving away from Rosamund and peering through the destroyed gardens for her father.

Rosamund realized, too late, her mistake.

Rowena the dragon lumbered toward the castle, her chest glowing as she built up enough fire to release a fiery stream.

She climbed to her feet, scanning the area for the swords. But suddenly one of the Fae kings was at her side holding one arm that appeared to be limp against his chest. In his other hand, he held a dagger out to her.

“Here. Try this. And hurry.”

She snatched the dagger out of his hand without a thanks and darted up the aisle toward the dragon. The dagger was much lighter in her hand than either sword and she felt as though she had a shot.

The only thing that helped her catch up to the dragon was that she was big, slow, and blood streamed down the backs of her legs where Jeffrey and Charles had cut her. Her tail swished back and forth. Rosamund zig-zagged to avoid it. When she finally caught up to her, she ran ahead, her legs throbbing and burning with the exertion. She skittered to a halt in front of Rowena when she was only a few feet from the castle.

“Rowena!”

The beast halted, her head swiveling down to look at her.

“You are a determined thing, aren’t you?”

Her chest still glowed faintly, as though she were still building up the fire down within her core. Then she leaned closer to Rosamund, her snout only inches away from her face. It was the opportunity she needed.

---