Page 10 of Dragon Chosen
A home. Fern pulled on her dress and her shoes with a determined air.We could have a home that no male could come near without our permission.
It’s decided, I said.
I’d left the family cave frustrated with my father, with the fate everyone assumed was mine. Fern had sounded like a stag coming through the forest, but she was something far better. She helped me see another way. Our way, and now I could see that shining future, I would not stop until it became reality.
Ready to ride to the keep?I asked my bondmate.
Would you mind if we made a small detour?she asked.I’m happy to go wherever you think best, but I’m going to need some clothes and other things before we reach the keep.
It was then I understood the human need to smile. I would’ve done the same right now, if it didn’t terrify Fern.
You wish to revisit your childhood home? I will take you there gladly.You can gather the supplies you need and I’ll…I dropped my head down so she could climb onto my back.I’ll talk to those parents of yours.
Chapter 6
Fern
I started the day thinking I would find the man I would give my heart to. Instead, I had bound it to a queen dragon.
Are you ready for this?Auren asked as she circled down.
I leaned cautiously over her shoulder and soon saw why. It was late afternoon, so I expected everyone to have gone home. By the look of the carriages and horses clustered out the front of my family home, that was not the case. As we got closer, I saw tiny figures gesticulating at each other. Father was one of them, I realised, but it wasn’t just my father. It appeared that Lord Payneham, Mr Farris and several other fathers had arrived to discuss the day’s events with mine.
Whatever they had to say was cut off the moment we landed in the front garden. Horses reared and one carriage went rattling past, the beasts bolting. But all that was background noise as everyone turned around, mouths wide.
Was that how I looked when I first met you?I asked Auren.
Somewhat.She prowled forward, and I watched the suitors and their fathers edge backwards with a smile.You were nowhere near as gormless.
“Fern…?”
Everyone else was staring at Auren, but it was Rose who saw me. She had little baby Dahlia on her hip, jiggling her rhythmically as she struggled to accept what she was seeing.
“Fern?” Mother snapped, glaring at Rose, then finally turning to take me in.
I didn’t care that my hair was all wind whipped and tangled. Not even about the stained dress, as I slid off Auren’s back.
“You’ve become a dragon rider?” Rose let out a shocked little laugh, then came rushing over.
“A dragon rider?” Mother said that with a rude snort. “You can’t be serious!”
“And what do you call this, lady wife?” Father said, pushing past her to kneel before Auren. “Queen dragon, please, let me welcome you to my estate.”
My bondmate ignored him, turning to face me.
Is this the father that was going to sell you off to one of these unworthy males?
“Unworthy males…?” Lord Payneham spluttered.
“Fernie?” When Father approached, Auren bared her fangs, making that alarming rattling sound in her throat. Watching him stop in his tracks was a sight to see. To have that kind of power, to force men to obey them, I felt like everything I knew about the world was being turned on its head. “Darling, what have you done?”
“Bonded with Auren.” When I turned to face my dragon, she leant in, bunting me with her head. That kind of gesture was cute in a lapdog, but her size and strength had me stumbling backwards, forced to slap my hands around her head to stay upright. “Auren, this is my father, Lord Rochester.”
“A pleasure to meet you, my queen—” Father said, bowing again, but Auren shook her head.
You allowed inferior males to court your daughter, Auren said, taking a ponderous step forward.Males that called my bondmate disgusting names, likening her to a beast.
“You did what?” the merchant spluttered, thumping his son in the chest.
