Free Princess Ahira by K.M. Shea Page B

fled I fixed Az maveth with my own dark glare. “You were being mean!” I accused as Azmaveth still looked mad.
                  “H e had your scent all over him! What did you do? Hang on him?” he snarled.
                  “What is your problem?”  I demanded. “I’ve been alone all day, the p rince attacks me , and Aar on was nice enough to rescue me and you dare waltz in here acting like I’m a traitor,” I growled . 
                  “What is my problem?” Azmaveth bellowed. He was about to continue but I interrupted. 
                  “You ’ r e such a spoiled brat!” I screamed in a pitch so high I’m sure I did perm ane nt damage to Azmaveth’s ears. I ran to my bedroom, slamming the new oak door in Azmaveth’s eye. 
                  “You get back out here right now !” h e roared.
                  “MAKE ME!” I yelled back rolling over as I plugged my ears and folded my pillow around my head. 
    Azmaveth continued to roar and growl outside my door, but I ignored him with great determination. Eventually he stomped away.
    Several times that night I heard some rather lou d explosions come from his lab.
     

Chapter 7
    the Dragon Steward
                  The follow ing morning I rolled out of bed and instantly grabbed my da gger, flute, and charm bracelet. I had learned my lesson.
    I washed and readied myself for the day. Explosions were still sounding from Azmaveth’s lab, so I made breakfast and left it on a tray next to the door before I retreated to the kitchen to eat by myself.
    I busied myself right away. I scrubbed the kitchen floor and cleaned my room. Before I knew it, it was noon, my most hated hour because that meant the mail was delivered.
                  I stomped out of the den, shoving the front doors open, before tramping down the driveway. There was nothing in our mail h ole.
    I growled.
    Azmaveth would undoubtedly make me com e out later to check it again. He was convinced that he was a spectacular dragon who should receive mail every day. I angrily muttered and grumbled as I started stalking back to the den. I halted in my tracks when I was a stone ’ s throw from the front door.
                  There was a strange young man standing outside the den, reaching for the doorkno b. I immediately panicked , he had to be a prince. (An awfully gutsy prince, but still a prince.)
                  “What do you think your doing?” I sharply asked as I felt in the pockets of my apron for my dagger.
                  The prince whirled around and I stopped moving. Heck, I almost stopped breathing.
                  He was quite tall with a feline feel to him. His hair was a deep black with a purpleish hue, the same shade of Azmaveth’s darkest scales. His hair was carefully kept and was as silky as a girl’s . His eyes were by far the most attention grabbing of his whole perso na , though . They were a deep purple with rings of silver in the m.
                  The prince spoke, snapping me out of my reverie.
                  “I’m going inside,” h e said a s if he thought it was obvious. He looked only a little older than me. He was handsome, by far the most handsome man I had ever met… but there was something very distinctive about him that irked me. He inexplicably roused my temper.
                  “And who are you?”   I as ked .
                  “Kohath,” h e supplied , as if that answered everything. 
                  “Ah. Koha th, why are you going inside?” I asked, pinning him in place. “You’re not a prince, are you?”
                  Now it was his turn to stutter. “Oh…well…you see, um, I’m Azmaveth’s steward,” h e said.
                  “Steward?” 
                  “Yes. I’m in charge of his lands . I