WREN Book Three Prince of Dragons

Finding a way forward

"Ammie!" The dark bearded men cried out. He stepped up before the young teen.

"Fortane, Bower, Casken, and Troupe! All together as usual." Ammedidon chuckled.

"My, my look at you! Where did my pudgy princeling go!" the largest of the four scooped up the teen.

The child laughed as he beat at the man's strong shoulders. The men pounded his back as they all touched parts of him. We all watched amazed. Not a single one of us had seen this kid laugh before! Ammedidon looked so happy with these men.

Dyami leaned into me. It was a signal. Yep, I saw it. 'Wics, Tanwen, get between the kid and the wagon!' I instructed them.

Wics was still carrying Malvent as he slipped under the men's long arms. I stepped forward. My hand reached through the group as I yanked my brother back.

"Hey!" Ammedidon cried.

"They are trying to separate you from us." I informed him.

"Its because that's what they are used to." Ammedidon chuckled.

"These numbskulls were my body guards. The ones I slipped away from, the night I came to see the hatching." He explained.

"Then they aren't very good at their job." Bran growled.

"No, I was quite clever." Ammedidon's face turned red.

"I used a friend who was about my height to stay in my bed so they wouldn't suspect I had left." He offered.

"Aren't they royals?" I asked.

"Only two are. Fortane." Ammedidon indicated the dark bearded man who first approached him. "And Casken. They are cousins to the king." He explained.

Casken had auburn hair several shades darker than the twins. He had been the one watching us closely. His green eyes glittered as he appeared to take each of us in. He was so the one on the outside of the group trying to steer Ammedidon away. I stepped up to him. I felt the heat of the fire dragon closing in on me.

He was a royal fire dragon from the royal hatcheries, one I had never encountered before. It stood before the tall thick muscled male. His face was free of whiskers. His gaze was strong. I held my open palm out to him. He eyed it.

"You don't need to touch me to enter my mind. I have heard all the rumors about you, Zyn. You fancy yourself as some lordly king of dragons." The man's tone was rough. He was hiding something.

"I fancy myself as no such thing." I told him. I lowered my hand but didn't back away.

"They are the ones that have set me on this path. Quincy, Geb, Kyain ... my family." I sighed out.

"Family? You're the king's spawn!" He nearly spit at me.

"My father was a shifter, a wolf in men's appearance. He taught me to hunt, to live off of the land. He forced me to speak." I chuckled.

"What sits upon the throne is hardly something that could be called a man any longer. You know that." Ammedidon was at my side.

"If you hate him for having the king's blood in his veins, then what do you truly feel for me?" Ammedidon cried.

"Boy!" Casken tried to reach Ammedidon but Dyami was suddenly there.

"Dyami Sky!" the four soldiers shifted back. Their hands landing on their weapons. Their Nuare's shifting to take up positions where they could protect them.

"Huh? You're reputation has reached the King's guard?" I asked him.

He snickered. "Nope. I met this lot in a pub the last time I was here." He winked at me.