Free Mate of the Dragon by Harmony Raines Page B

them biting and clawing at him.
    A burst of fire took two of them out instantly, but the others were too spread out and he had to resort to snapping at them with is teeth and swinging his tail to try to damage them. Tara knew she had to hurry. Things were getting worse, and their only hope was to get out of there quickly.
    Holding her hands out to sense the touchstone, she walked slowly forward. One step at a time. Pausing to check she was going the right way, trying not to get pushed off her feet by the wind, she narrowed down the location of the small dragon.
    Finally, she found it. At least she thought that was what it was. Her fingers sensed the magic, but it looked like a lump of wood. She reached out for it, but then stopped. As soon as she touched it, she would be transported back to her own world. Leaving Dòmhnall there all alone, with the wolves attacking him and the sky about to be torn apart.
    Casting a glance over to Dòmhnall, she knew there was no way he could move over to her. She would have to go to him. And hope the wolves didn’t go back to their own world with him. At least if they did, he could call on the other dragons to hunt them down.
    Ripping yet more of her shirt, she made a small sling, and then tipped the wood onto it with another stick, praying the touchstone had to come into contact with her skin, and wouldn’t simply send her home just by her picking it up. Holding her breath, trying to keep her hand steady as the wind blew harder, she turned to face the creatures fighting in front of her and took one resolute step after another towards them.
    When she was only ten paces away, one of the wolves turned, its teeth bared. Now she was in trouble. It sprang at her, and she knew she would have to try to fight it off. But that would risk losing the touchstone in the process. If the wind took it away, they were doomed. Yet in one swift movement, the dragon swung his head, bending down to bite its head off.
    Tara stood, horrified at the blood spurting everywhere. However, survival mode kicked in and she ran towards Dòmhnall. Only when she had her hand firmly on his scaly dragon hide did she put her hand on the lump of wood, praying she had it right.
    Because if she didn’t, not only would she look stupid, but also they would certainly end up dead. The sky above them shredded, and she moved closer to press her body against Dòmhnall’s. This was the end. The snarls of the wolves, the tearing of the azure sky, and the screaming of the wind as it swept across the world. All of it suddenly stopped.
     

Chapter Eighteen – Dòmhnall
    “We have a gift for you, Tara. Artemis, who watches over us, asked us to gift you a piece of our forest.” The dryad walked towards Tara, a small carving in her hand. It was a dragon, its scales a shimmering green, just like Dòmhnall.
    “It’s beautiful,” Tara said, transfixed. Dòmhnall knew he was supposed to do something. But what? He eyes rested on Tara and he remembered. Starting forward, he reached out for her.
    “And such a likeness to your mate, the dragon lord.” The dryad’s voice was so mesmerising, ensnaring Tara, he had to stop this happening again.
    “If he will ever have me,” Tara murmured.
    The dryad smiled gently, pity in her face. “And this is why Artemis granted you such a gift.”
    Just as his hand touched Tara’s, she came to life, stepping back. “It’s a most perfect gift. But I don’t need it. Thank you.”
    The dryad smiled. “You have found each other.” In her hand, the small dragon turned to dust and blew away on the breeze. “I am glad we have had this chance to meet you, Tara. Dòmhnall, thank you for coming.”
    With that, the dryad stepped back into the tree, blending with the bark. Tara rushed forward and grabbed hold of her, trying to stop her. “Don’t you just disappear! You owe us an explanation.”
    “Tara,” he said, pulling her back.
    “Let go of me. They can’t just do that to us and then walk away.