Chained Dragons Evermore

Break

Zoe's POV

"Do they realize this can be a good thing?" I asked her. "Yes they all feel special to have mates as their leaders. They're also heard about the bounty on your head Zoe" said Alcina. "Do they want to sell me out?" I asked worried for a second. I knew this could be bad for the flight. "No one has said that. They are more worried people will come here to kill us all." said Alcina. Sasha knocks on the door and enters. Her eyes narrow with anger when he sees Alcina. "Alcina, you should be in the kitchen preparing for dinner," said Sasha. "She was checking on me, mother. Alcina needs a break" said Ryker.

Sasha rolls her eyes with a sigh as Alcina rushes out of the room. "Ryker, it's time to settle the disputes" said Sasha. Me and Ryker walk into his study where there's a line of people waiting to speak to Ryker. "So you settle all disputes?" I asked him. "Yes. I also dole out punishments when a dragon misbehaves" said Ryker. "My father used to do the same. I would sit with him as a little girl and listen to his railings" I said remembering my father who passed away a few days ago. I missed home so much and my flight. I only had Conner left back home. Ryker sees my discomfort. He takes my hand in his as we walk into the study together.

"Aiden and my mother are here in case I ask for advice," said Ryker. "It takes a wise man to ask for advice" I said thinking of my father. He let me advise the flight when my mother passed away when I was younger. "I think I should take some of your advice," said Ryker. He sits in the dragon lord's chair with me right next to him. "As my dragoness Zoe will settle the first dispute" said Ryker. The old man who helped hide the children earlier approaches.

"Lord Ryker, Dragoness Zoe, I thank you for hearing my grievance today. My issue is with your brother Matysa" said the Elder. A few gasps move over the room as Matysa steps forward. "You're ridiculous. You're making something out of nothing" he said. "We'll let lord Ryker and dragoness Zoe decide that. I've been tending our flight's farm for the past forty five years" said the Elder. This was an odd dispute.

"In return I've been allowed to take a cow home for myself each year" continued the Elder. "Yes I remember that deal you had with my father" said Ryker. "Well Matysa has decided that the deal is no more. He's taken back my other cows that have been gifted" said the Elder. "Matysa, is this true?" I ask. "Yes, if he was eating the cows I wouldn't have an issue. He keeps them as pets. It's a waste of good food" said Matysa, Ryker's little brother.

"A gift is a gift. No matter what I do with it" said the Elder. I turn to Ryker and whisper low. "Are we having a meat shortage? Do you need these cows to feed our flight?" I asked. "No, we have plenty of livestock," said Ryker. "We should honor the original deal that was made therefore there was no permission to take the cows" I said well Ryker agreed. It was a gift after all. Matysa had no right to do that in the first place.

"Matysa, you need to return all of the cows back to the elder" said Ryker ending the dispute. "But Ryker," said Matysa. "That's my final answer," said Ryker sharply. "Thank you Lord Ryker and Dragoness Zoe" said the Elder happily. Matysa stomps off as Ryker takes my hand. "Smart choice Ryker" I said with a smile. A few hours later me and Ryker take a group of guards into the woods to check the east border.

"I hate asking you to come but I don't want to leave you alone" said Ryker. "I like that you're worried about my safety," I said. "I don't it's constant nagging that's damn distracting" said Ryker which made me laugh. I smirk as he leads me deeper into the forest. Suddenly I get a bad feeling in my stomach. I look at Ryker who knows exactly what I'm thinking. "I feel it too," he said.

We both stop and look around. Then we see them. "Dragon hunters" growled Ryker. These hunters wear hoods over their faces so you can't see who they are. Me and Ryker shift into our dragons shooting fire at the hunters. "Nice hit," said Ryker flying above. Diving down through the trees I shoot more fire at the hunters when a net captures me. I fell hard on the ground and soon I was swarmed by hunters.

Shifting back into my human form I fight my way out of the net and run into the woods. "Yeah, keep running," yelled a hunter. "I'm coming Zoe" Ryker called out. Ryker flies toward me but is bombarded by fire from the hunters. I dive behind a tree and get grabbed by a hunter. Reaching up I snatch his mask off. I pull away to see the hunter's face. I come face to face with Matysa, Ryker's little brother disguised as a dragon hunter. I looked at him shocked, not knowing what to do.

"It's time for you to die" said Matysa with murder written in his eyes. "No," I said, shaking my head in fear. This couldn't be true. It was him all along. We were played for fools. I try to pull away and use my strength but he has a good grip on me. His eyes are anything unlike Ryker's blue stormy eyes. "Don't do this," I pleaded. Matysa just chuckles staring down at me.Instantly a hood is put over my face. Then something hard hits me on the head. My vision goes black and I pass out just like I did the very first time.