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

fine.  You play with the boys.”  She hugged him and went into her cottage.  Tanya opened a wooden chest and strapped on a sword and scabbard.  The familiar weight of the blade rested between her shoulders. She still wore Samurai garments, claiming they felt comfortable, but it was a lie.  The warrior inside her knew something was wrong. 
    She ran down the road.  The steady pounding of her boots matched her thundering heartbeat.   Beth lived in a cabin deep in the woods.  How long since Jarrack left Anthony’s mind?  She noticed Anthony playing with the boys all morning.
    After a few minutes, her lungs burned from exertion, and Tanya cursed herself for growing soft.  Pushing strings of hair from her eyes she thought about the facts.  Jarrack hid inside her son’s mind to escape when King Donovan stormed the castle.
    She cringed.  That vile man looked at her with Anthony’s eyes and touched her with Anthony’s chubby hands.  Now Jarrack used Jack, a gentle giant with the mind of a child, to hurt Beth.
    “I should’ve recognized him sooner,” she said and ran faster.  Pain lanced through her lungs and her legs shook.
    She stopped at the top of a hill and studied the cabin nestled under tall pine trees.  Aunt Hestor kept yummy cookies and friendly smiles for children.  Regaining her breath, Tanya approached the cabin quietly, but only heard her pounding heartbeat.  She took two deep breaths and kicked in the door. 
    The cabin looked empty except for a lifeless shape on the floor.
    A wave of pain hit Tanya as she bent to touch Aunt Hestor.  “Please don’t be dead,” she said and rocked Hestor like a baby.  She sobbed with grief until a small thread of awareness nagged her to pay attention.  Tanya gently placed Hestor back onto the floor and left the cabin.  She ached for the loss of her friend but hatred pulsed through her veins. 
    “Jarrack, you’ve killed too many people!  Somehow I’ll make it end.”  Tanya heard a faint cry and ran into the forest. Jack stood and adjusted his garments with an expression of sadistic pleasure on a usually benevolent face. 
    “Jarrack!” Tanya shouted and her sword blade hissed as it slid from the scabbard. 
    Jack’s body turned, but Tanya knew it was Jarrack inside. The gentle eyes now flashed with malignant energy, and his mouth curled into a familiar sneer.  “Kill this body, Tanya, and my mind will return to Anthony.  You lose either way.”
    Tanya froze. “You’re too far away from him.”
    “No?”  He laughed, and Tanya recognized the sound.  “You don’t dare take the chance!”  His evil eyes mocked her. 
    Beth moaned and Jarrack turned toward the girl.  Beth whimpered, “Tanya, please help me!”  
    “Tanya, please help!” Jarrack imitated the pitiful voice as he stared at the frightened girl. 
    Tanya gripped her sword with both hands as she charged.  The sword slashed at his head, and Jack’s body tried to duck. The face contorted with pain and surprise as her blade hit.  Mutton-shaped arms swung as blood spurted from a gaping wound in the neck. 
    He lumbered toward Tanya, his fingers grabbing at her.  Blood oozed from heavy lips with a gurgling sound. Tanya saw the face alter—the evil eyes turned dull and blank as the massive body slumped.  The fingers twitched then dropped.  
    Tanya stared at the huge body bleeding on the forest floor.  She didn’t notice ghostly, gray shadows running through the trees.  Beth whimpered and Tanya turned her attention to the frightened girl.  As she comforted Beth, Tanya thought about Jarrack’s threat.
    “Kill this body and my mind will go back to Anthony.”  Was it true?
    That night Tanya found Anthony waiting in the cottage.  He tilted his small head and stared at her with hatred.  “Don’t ever do that again!” he growled.  Tanya recognized Jarrack’s voice.  “You can’t beat me!  If you interfere I’ll kill the boy.” 
    Tanya’s chest ached.  Her