Dragons of Asgard 3 by Logan Jacobs (first ebook reader txt) 📗

hear the strain in her voice as she tried to hold back her excitement.

I focused on the next cage, then the next, and before long, I had six small dragons free. They stayed in the back of the cart, but they were gathered close to the edge so they could receive pets and compliments from the girls.

“Rath,” Kas said, and she grabbed my bicep and gently led me away from the cart. “What should we do about this place?”

“Hm.” I pursed my lips. “You’re right, we need to make this look like some sort of deal gone wrong.”

“That’s what I was thinking.” She nodded.

“First, we need to make sure there are no other dragons inside,” I said.

“Right,” she agreed.

“You all stay with the babies,” I instructed. “I’ll be right back.”

“Are you headed into the castle?” Preyna asked as she walked over to us with the little peach-colored baby in her arms.

“I am,” I answered. “I’m just going to make sure there are no other dragons inside.”

“Let me assist,” she said. “I can cast a spell--”

“We were up against a sorcerer just now,” I said. “He may have enchanted wherever they were kept.”

“Ah, yes, you’re correct.” Preyna nodded. “But do allow me to come with you, at least.”

“Alright,” I said, and I gestured to the baby in her arms. “I doubt she wants to go back inside, though, so it’s probably best to leave her here.”

“Of course,” Preyna agreed, and she lifted the little girl up to kiss the top of her head and then handed her to Kas. “Stay here, we’ll return in a few moments.”

The little girl looked somewhat sad, but she nodded anyway, and I couldn’t help the smile that came over my face at how good Preyna was with the baby dragon. The peach-colored girl clearly liked the sorceress, and I reminded myself how fortunate we were to have her with us for the day.

I’d been hesitant at first, but Preyna’s abilities had come in handy, and she was doing exceptionally well comforting the babies. She made a wonderful member of the team.

After she passed off the baby, she turned to me and nodded, so we headed up the stairs until we came to a large set of double doors that led inside.

“Let’s make this quick,” I said. “We don’t want to keep the babies waiting to get home.”

“Right.” Preyna nodded. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

“Let’s go,” I said, and I pushed open the doors and ran inside.

I led Preyna down the first hallway I saw, and I opened the doors on the left while she opened the ones on the right.

Luckily, the building wasn’t as large on the inside as it seemed to be on the outside. There was a lot of open area that was just sitting rooms, or dining rooms, which didn’t require much searching.

The last place we searched was the lower level, and it was clear that was where the dragons were kept. An entire wall was lined with small cages perfectly sized for baby dragons, and I scowled at the sight.

“I can’t imagine how many children have been locked in here,” Preyna whispered, and she gently placed her fingers between her collar bones. “It just absolutely infuriates me.”

I hadn’t expected that last part, but I also wasn’t totally surprised by it, either. As much as the dragon trade saddened me, it infuriated me all the same, and I wanted to kill every last one of the bastards who participated in the barbaric custom.

“I understand,” I told her. “But it will soon be over. I’m not going to stop until every last dragon is free, and every last dealer is dead.”

“I know.” Preyna smiled, and the expression was equal parts soft and surprisingly bloodthirsty. “And I very much look forward to that day.”

I was about to respond, but then a feeling came over me, and I paused to open myself up to it further. There was a sense of fear, but also curiosity.

“There’s a baby here,” I said.

“Oh, goodness,” Preyna whispered, and she started to look around frantically. “I didn’t see anything.”

“I don’t see them, either,” I assured her, but then I closed my eyes and focused on the feeling of the little dragon.

I allowed the sensation to lead me to them, and after a moment, I opened my eyes and found myself crouching down near a large chest.

“What the…” I undid the clasp and opened the chest to see a large green egg.

“Another egg?” Preyna gasped. “You could feel this one, as well?”

“It’s the same as the other.” I shook my head. “This baby is about to hatch.”

“They must have taken them at that point on purpose,” Preyna said. “They probably watched the mothers and waited until the eggs were ready.”

“I think you’re right,” I agreed. “They knew if the babies were about to hatch, they’d likely have to come out since they were no longer dormant. They stole them at this crucial moment so they could have them freshly hatched without having to do the work of stealing a baby instead of an egg.”

“The bastards,” Preyna sneered, and something about her face contorted with anger made my stomach flip with excitement. She was gorgeous, but she was even sexier when she was passionate about something.

“Come on,” I said as I patted the egg carefully and then closed the lid of the trunk again. “Let’s get this little guy back home.”

Preyna nodded, and I picked up the trunk and led us out of the small castle and back to the cart.

“What did you find?” Kas asked with a frown as her violet eyes landed on the trunk I was carrying.

“There’s an egg in here,” I said. “He’s about to hatch, and we need to get him home.”

“Okay,” the sorceress