Free Dragonmark by Sherrilyn Kenyon Page B

stolen …
    Shit!
    Complete and utter horror went through him as he realized that for all he knew, Virag had taken it. The worst it imaginable.
    Please be here. Please be here. Please be here.… That frenzied litany raced through his head as his heart pounded and his breathing turned ragged with panic.
    If that bastard had taken that, all manner of hell would be unleashed.
    And his father would mount his worthless and stupid ass to the walls of Olympus.
    Illarion teleported into his chambers and ran to the guarded wall where he kept the most sacred possession in his collection. It was so rare and dangerous, not even his brothers had been trusted with the knowledge that he kept it.
    No one knew about this.
    His hands shaking with trepidation, he slowly opened the ancient carved oaken chest and held his breath.
    He didn’t release it again until he saw the enormous white teeth that lay on a bed of red satin. If one didn’t know what they were, they could appear to be insignificant pieces of smooth tusks or innocuous bits of ivory.
    But they were not innocuous and definitely not insignificant.
    With this handful of teeth, any creature could destroy or subjugate the world. Conquer any nation.
    Unravel the fabric of the very universe.
    Thank you, gods, they’re safe.…
    Sitting back on his heels, Illarion was giddy with relief. No one had disturbed the Spartoi. All twenty were here and accounted for. Grateful beyond description, he secured and locked the chest, then hid it again in his chambers. That was the one thing he could never allow anyone to find.
    Originally, there had been three sets of teeth. One set had been used in ancient times by Kadmos to found the city of Thebes. The second, Jason and his Argonauts had sown in the fields of Colchis when he’d sought the Golden Fleece.
    Both times, the invincible army that had risen up from the drakomas’s planted teeth had almost destroyed the world. After Jason’s experience with the second set of warriors, who’d only been defeated when they’d turned on each other, Ares had brought the remainders to Illarion and bid him keep them far from the world of man. Since he was the war god’s son and unable to speak—and took antisocial to a radical level—Ares had thought Illarion would be the safest guardian for them.
    So far, his father had been right.
    Yet this had been too close a call.
    Let no one close to you . How many times had Falcyn told him that? He’d always agreed with his brother. Unlike Max, Illarion didn’t believe in the good of others. Nor was he under the delusion that man or anyone else deserved to be protected or saved.
    Honestly? He didn’t give a shit. Let them all burn.
    He was done with this world. Never again would he concern himself with the matters of other species. Today had taught him a vital lesson. Every time he left his home and dared mingle with them, it ended badly for him.
    And as he settled himself down to rest, he tried not to notice the lingering scent of a woman in his cavern. Nor remember the gentle caress of a hand on his skin or scales.
    He was drakomai. Solitary. Since the dawn of time, his kind had been bred to live alone. To die alone.
    They needed nothing. They wanted nothing.
    Ever fierce.
    And ever protective of what fell under their protection …
    Most of all, they were devoutly loyal and once their word was given, they would die before they broke their oaths.

 
    5
    â€œAre you ever going to speak to me again?”
    Huffing and puffing as she carried her heavy water bucket, Edilyn ignored her brother. Just as she’d done for the last three days. She was still so mad at Virag she could stab him through his heart.
    Or groin. Aye, definitely the groin.
    After all, that was where he lived and breathed. And apparently it was also where he stored his brains. It was all he really valued. Because he apparently had no love of her whatsoever or he’d have