Free Child of the Loch (Child of the Loch Series) by Elizabeth Delana Rosa

low taking the form of a handsome young man and on top of his black curls was a golden crown. The three dragons embraced one another with arms and wings.
    My father and I bended on one knee, while my men and Ella followed. The woman smiled and nodded for us to rise. Her voice was sweet like honey.
    “Rise Queen. I am Selenia , Queen of this Dragon Hoards; this is my King, Gerwin , and our progeny, Solern .”
    I replied in kind, “Grand Selenia , I am Josephina McDonnell, granddaughter of King Misha McDonnell, the Second, next in line for the Lochoan throne. This is my father, Jacoh , my guardians and friends, Sheen, Kane, Tine, and Ella and this is my ally, Sean, 10th son of Chian , Sovereign of the Ogres of the Western Wood.”
    Solern stepped forward and held out his hands. I touched his face and his shoulder that bore the scar of our battle. We never spoke but I knew he loved me as dear as any sister. If he was not needed in the dragon lands, he would stay with me long past the ending of our quest.
    “My progeny says that you have named him Dranco and adopted him as a member of your fellowship. We sent him on the journey just before his “Awakening,” when he would choose a dragon and human form, while seeking his fortune. It is quite serendipitous that he would meet an ally along the way.”
    “Yes, Queen, though I am not certain why it was important that he kept his true nature to himself. We have fought and lived with Dranco --- Solern --- for months.”
    “I’m sorry young Queen it is the dragon way. His is a more precarious position than most, only those of the royal line can take human form and the numbers of the Dragon Hoards have decreased. When the dragon riders left us, our decline began. It is imperative that he choose a mate in the next months. With their coupling she will be bound to him for life and able to take two forms, no matter what her race. This will not only add another dragon to us but also their progeny. Our lives are almost up, though our human forms appear young we are so very old and the parents of many progeny, who have lived and died. He is our last hope for the royal line. Without a leader with our abilities we could be hunted to extinction.”
    Shocked by the death of the Dragon Hoards, I asked, “Queen Selenia , may I propose a revival of the dragon riders? I love Solern as a brother and friend. Perhaps we could help one another? I would consider us allies and it would honor us greatly if my guardians and I would be the first of the revival.”
    The happy Queen glowed, “ Joinings after all this time. Blessings on us all.”
    Without a word, Gerwin flew into the sky blowing fire, smoke and trumpeting growls. The sky grew black with dragons of every color that came to his calls.
    They landed filling up the beaches. The queen raised her wings and there was complete silence in the hordes. She spoke in dragon and told them of our new found alliance. Six dragons stayed as the rest of the hordes took to the skies.
    The dragons approached us. A male and female mated pair chose Ella and Tine. A set of twin dragons, the same in every way chose Sheen and Kane. Two large males, one older and one younger shimmied forward for Sean and Jacoh . I was thoroughly disappointed, but the Queen only smiled and let out a call.
    A beautiful bronze dragon with glowing orange eyes floated to a stop before me. Her soft features and long eyelashes told me she was female. I admired the orange and golden markings on her scales.
    The Queen turned to us, “Dragon riders, your dragons have chosen you. They sense themselves in you. Come Ella and Manea .”
    Ella and the Jade dragon looked as though they belonged together as they stood tall before the ruler of the Dragon Hoard. The Queen's hand became a talon.
    “Give me your hand and claw.” When Ella and Manea did as told the Queen quickly held them both.
    “Scale and Skin, Skin and Scale you are joined in life and joined in death. You share everything the