Dragonfyre by Donna Grant

needn’t worry about the egg,” Isran said and smelled a lock of Kyndra’s hair. He released the strand and took in a deep breath. “The egg is safe, somewhere you can never get it.”
    “Are you sure of that?”
    “I’d stake my life on it.”
    Aimery grinned. “Just what I wanted to hear.”
    “Take her.”
    The men holding Kyndra started out the door. Aimery lunged for them but was stopped by four men. No matter how he fought, he couldn’t get free. Without his power, he was useless.
    Despair threatened to swallow him. He longed for his magic, yearned for it as he yearned for breath.
    “Kyndra!”

    * * * * *
    Kyndra blinked back her tears as Aimery bellowed her name. They had been such fools giving in to their passion instead of seeking Eldar, but then that was exactly what Isran had wanted. She had been so drunk with desire, she hadn’t realized someone had come into their chamber until she had been yanked out of Aimery’s arms.
    No matter how much she had fought, she hadn’t been able to get free. The gag had gone into her mouth before she’d had a chance to scream Aimery’s name, and then they had bound her hands. She had watched, horrified, as Aimery had woken and found her gone. The wild, fierce look in his eyes had sent chills down her spine.
    But worse than that was him being adamant at fighting Isran. There was no way Aimery could survive, even with his magic. Black magic was much more powerful, and now that Isran had the dragon’s egg…
    “Maybe we should have a go at her, aye, Milar,” the guard said over her head.
    Her ire rose. Bound or not, she wasn’t going to allow them to touch her.
    Milar laughed. “Oh, aye, Joby. I can’t wait to feast on those tits.” The urge to ram her elbow in Joby’s nose was strong, but she held herself still. It was no use escaping now, not when she had no idea where she was or what was happening to Aimery.
    At least Isran hadn’t used the egg. She wasn’t sure what was stopping him, but it gave her and Aimery time to get free and think of something.
    But what? With no magic what do you think you can do?
    The anguish at the loss of her magic threatened to pull her under, to take her to a place where she would no longer worry about it.
    She jerked her head to clear her mind. She refused to go insane. She had to stay focused for the Fae realm, for Aimery. She would not abandon him to do their mission alone.
    Aimery.
    She hadn’t gotten to tell him how much she loved their night together, how it would stay in her memories for the rest of her life. She hadn’t been able to talk to him about their future, if they even had one. There had been so much she wanted to say. She had gone to sleep imagining how she would wake in the morning and make love to him again.
    How had Isran conquered Eldar? How had they not known?

    And then she realized—the music. The magical music had ensured they were occupied, leaving Eldar to Isran to do as he pleased.
    Kyndra couldn’t believe they hadn’t realized it at the time, but there was no use crying about it now. Too much was at stake to lie down and wallow in her own self ‐ pity. Now she just had to find out what Isran planned to do with Aimery.
    Her feet were numb from the cold stones by the time they reached the chamber. It was three stories down and on the opposite side of Aimery. The guards shoved her inside. Kyndra landed on her hands and knees, scraping them on the stones. She looked over her shoulder at the men advancing on her.
    “We’ll show ye what a real man can do,” Joby sneered, showing blackened teeth and foul breath.
    Milar jerked Kyndra onto her back. She kicked out with her foot and connected with Joby’s stomach. He bellowed and backhanded her with a meaty fist. The room spun as Kyndra fought to stay conscious.
    Joby slapped her again before he jerked open her legs and palmed her breasts. “Aye, yer mine now.”
    A wave of dizziness washed over Kyndra. She tried to kick out, but Joby only hit