Free Dragon Defense (Heirs to the Throne Book 3) by Diane Rapp

be nice to our visitors.”  He climbed onto her lap and snuggled against her shoulder.
    “I like Beth.”  He smiled, looking like a sweet four-year-old.
    “I know but it’s not polite to paw a lady’s breast.”
    “It’s fun to touch her.”
    “She didn’t think it was fun.”  Tanya laughed.
    “Why not?”  Anthony’s voice sounded full of mischief, and he suddenly stiffened. 
    “You’re too young to understand.”
    “Does Beth like grown-up men to touch her?” 
    Tanya felt queasy.  Did the boy remember his days in Jarrack’s castle?  “I’ll explain when you grow up.”
    “It takes too long to grow up!”  Anthony glared at Tanya with an evil slant to his eyes and slipped off her lap.  “If that old witch tries to kiss me again, I’ll kill her,” he said in a gravely voice that made Tanya cringe.
    “Don’t say things like that!” She tried to keep her voice steady but her heart pounded.
    “I’d enjoy killing her!”
    “Stop!  I’ll spank you if you keep saying mean things.”  Tanya felt unnerved, worried about her son’s recent streak of cruelty.  Yesterday she stopped him throwing stones at a quivering dog, and a few days ago he bloodied a neighbor’s nose.  Tanya studied Anthony, who sat quietly playing with toys.
    She turned recent events over in her mind and her stomach burned.  Was Anthony Jarrack’s son?  His blond hair and blue eyes didn’t resemble Jarrack’s dark features, but it was possible.  Jarrack raped her, and he enjoyed hearing her scream.  Only after she tried to stab him, Jarrack gave her to his soldiers, and acted afraid to be alone with her.  Surely Anthony’s father was one of those soldiers.  
    That night Anthony woke crying.  When she entered his room, she found him trembling and sucking his thumb.  “It’s all right.  I’m here,” she crooned. 
    “Mama?”  His bleary eyes searched her face.
    “Yes, I’m here.”  She cuddled the trembling boy. 
    “Please don’t let him come back.”  The boy sobbed.
    “You had a bad dream.  I won’t let anyone hurt you.”  Tanya assured him.
    “He makes me stay in the dark and won’t let me out.”  Anthony cried.
    “Who?  Did a big boy hurt you?”
    “The blue man comes in,” Anthony pointed at his head, “and keeps me in a dark place. I can’t get out.”
    Fear gripped Tanya. She remembered seeing the blue ghost that wandered through Jarrack’s castle.  “Where is he now?” Tanya asked, eyeing the room.
    “He went to find someone who is asleep.”  The boy trembled.
    “You’re safe now.”  She hugged him tight and stroked his silky blond hair.  Anthony seldom cried and it felt good to cuddle the toddler as he sucked his thumb.  Funny, Anthony hadn’t sucked his thumb for months.  She rocked him, crooning, and the boy fell asleep in her arms.
    The next day Anthony played with neighbor boys.  Usually he avoided the boys, but today he seemed eager to play.  He ran to her with outstretched arms, and she returned his hug. “Anthony, what are you doing?”
    “I play with the boys.”  He smiled, flashing a row of tiny white teeth.  His blue eyes glistened, and he looked like a happy little boy.  
    “I thought you didn’t like the boys.”
    “The blue man hates them,” Anthony said, “but I like playing.”
    “The blue man?” A cold shiver ran up Tanya’s spine.
    Anthony nodded. “Inside my head.” 
    “Is he inside your head today?”  Tanya’s heart thudded, afraid to hear the answer.
    “No but he’ll come back.” Anthony looked sad.
    Tanya hugged her son tight as tears spilled from her eyes.  “Where’d he go?”
    “He forces Jack to see Beth.”  Anthony stared at his feet.  “He wants to do bad things to her.”  His voice sounded so small.
    Tanya panicked.  “Anthony, stay here while I go help Beth.”
    “Mama, please don’t go.  He’ll hurt you if you try to stop him.”  Anthony’s eyes were round with fear.
    “I’ll be