Love of the Dragon (Her Dragon's Bane 4) by Harmony Raines Page A

shouted, collapsing back down with the effort.
    “We think she found it.”
    “I need to find her.”
    “You need to find her. I need to find her. Serena is going mad. She never knew about the tracker. Now she blames us for mismanaging the situation.”
    “She’ll get over it when we find Charlotte.”
    “I’m just worried. She doesn’t need the stress.”
    “None of us do,” Zoah said weakly.
    “You don’t understand, Zoah. She’s pregnant.”
    “Pregnant. You are having another baby? Damn, Connor, you’ll be doubling the dragon population single-handedly at this rate.”
    “Well, if you had got your act together, Zoah, I wouldn’t have the sole responsibility. Would I? You and the others at the Stronghold. If I didn’t know better, I would say you are all too frightened to claim your mates.”
    “That’s not fair.”
    “Isn’t it, Zoah? You could have handled this better. Look where running away has got you.”
    Zoah couldn’t argue. All he knew was he wanted to make amends for abandoning Charlotte. The only problem was he didn’t think he would ever have the strength to move again.
     

Chapter Twenty Eight - Charlotte
    The snuffling of a little nose against her cheek woke her. She couldn’t work out where she was. It was dark, but off to the left was an opening. Warm sunlight spilled through, casting its rays across her face. She fought not to turn over and go back to sleep. It was so much easier when you didn’t think about your problems. However, that didn’t make them go away.
    “It’s time we ate.”
    “Have you been here the whole time?” she asked.
    “I said I would watch over you.”
    “Thank you, Fin.”
    He smiled. “That is not my name.”
    “It’s what I would like to call you. Fintan. It means white bull. To me you are a cross between a white knight in shining armour and a proud, strong bull. But if you hate it, I’ll understand.”
    “No. I don’t hate it. But I am the Minotaur.”
    “Are you? You don’t seem to be the beast who terrorises the Labyrinth. You are helping me. When you don’t have to.”
    “You are Serena’s sister. She was the first person to touch my heart. The only person I ever wanted to save, not kill.”
    “Then accept the name.”
    “Thank you, Charlotte.”
    “No, Fin. Thank you. Now you said something about eating.”
    “Yes. Then we can talk. I need to know everything.”
    “So do I. I will tell you what I know, and then I would be grateful if you would help me figure out what is going on.”
    He laughed. “You forget, Charlotte, I have no idea how human brains work.”
    “Well, just let me sound off against you then. I need to get it all out of my head.”
    “Then I suggest we go out to sit in the sunshine. The small cove here is hidden. No one comes this way. So it will be safe for us.”
    She got out of bed; immediately Azure started to buzz around her head. “Chill, little one. No one is going to hurt you. Fin is a friend. But then, I guess you would be unsure. Everyone else you’ve ever met shut you away. Well, Fin knows all about being shut in and different, so he won’t hurt you. Isn’t that right, Fin?”
    She saw the look cross his face. Fin longed to roar at the little dragon and send him flying for refuge. But when she caught his eye, he let it go. “I will protect you," he said and then added, "Why you brought that thing with you is beyond my imagining.”
    “Why do you say that?”
    “He’s not alive. He has no soul.”
    “But he is alive. You can see him, his wings beat.”
    “But his heart does not.”
    “How...?”
    “I have hunted in this Labyrinth for centuries. I can hear a beating heart at a hundred yards. I’ve torn enough of them out.” He frowned. “I apologise.”
    “No. I understand.” Although her stomach churned and she couldn’t help feeling vulnerable. “Are you saying you can’t hear his heart?”
    “Yes.”
    “Maybe it’s too small.”
    “Maybe it’s not there.”
    “So what is