Free Dragonborn (The Jade Lee Romantic Fantasies, Book 1) by Jade Lee

in the man's scarlet uniform. Even his hair was red, and whenever she looked at him, she remembered the dragon fire that had engulfed her home.
    "Natiya Draeva," he said without even bothering to look at her. "Daughter of Samuel and Amaya Draeva, dragon scholars." His voice was as dry as ash, without inflection or pity. He did not seek confirmation to his words, merely stated them as if he recited a list of supplies to purchase. Or prisoners to execute. "You have been brought here to share knowledge of the dragonborn. Of their life and death and purpose under Dag Racho's most glorious reign. Refuse to cooperate and you will be killed. Acquiesce, and you will be released unharmed."
    He was lying, she knew. No one taken in the dead of night to the Kotoni dungeon ever returned alive. And yet she could not suppress a surge of hope at his words. If she pretended to cooperate ...
    She pressed her lips together. It was too late for that. Any hint of secret dragon knowledge would surely damn her completely. Better to maintain her ignorance. Better still to maintain a terrified silence she did not need to fake.
    "What do you have to say?" he asked.
    Nothing.
    She remained silent, though her hands trembled where she crouched on the floor. She could not trust what this man said, dared not even listen to his lies, for she was not smart enough to spot the traps. Her only hope was in remaining silent, focusing only on the egg and its approval of her decision.
    Say nothing.
    "Natiya Draeva! What do you have to say?" At least this time the soldier was looking at her, his black eyes narrowed in anger.
    She shrunk into a tinier ball, feeling a growl build up inside her. Where such defiance came from, she did not know, even though it was only a useless sound, powerless and animalistic. But she felt it nonetheless and held it back, used it instead to consolidate her strength.
    The soldier frowned at her, clearly confused by her defiance.
    "You would do well to cooperate with me. Do not wait until the Emperor himself comes to interrogate you. There will be no leniency then, I assure you."
    Natiya felt her lips thin into a grimace. Dag Racho would come here? To interrogate her?
    Far from striking fear into her heart, it brought her a fatalistic sort of peace. She would at least be able to look into the eyes of her enemy before she died. She would have her moment to see him, face him, and damn him with her final breath. She would not cower in hiding as she had so many years ago. She would not bury herself in the dirt and sob out her mother's name. She would face him upright and die.
    Or perhaps, if she grew strong enough, delayed long enough, her egg would hatch and she would be able to kill him.
    It was a vain hope. The hatching process took time. Longer still to bond with the newborn dragon. Neither she nor her dragon queen would be allowed within a fire plume's distance of her enemy. But she did not focus on that. Instead, she drew her fantasy around her, using it to steel her spine. She would face Dag Racho on her feet, cursing him with her last breath.
    With that thought, she straightened her body, coming to her feet with a dancer's grace.
    "Excellent," the redheaded soldier responded, though his voice remained flat. "What do you know? I will record it."
    Nothing , the egg said silently.
    Natiya remained frozen, and the soldier slowly began to understand her plan. She would not speak, so he stood as well, hissing and spitting threats at her. She still did not speak, and so he raised his fist, shaking it before her fixed gaze. He let the blow land, and she did not avoid it. And even then she said nothing.
    Until the door flew open, and he walked in.
    She sensed him immediately, even before he entered, but her attention had not been on the things outside of her body and mind; she had been focused inward, on the egg. Now, as he strode in, his body taut, his gaze quick as it darted about the room, she realized that she had felt the hum of his sword