Page 6 of Dragon Revealed (Dragon Kings 1)
Chapter Four
Varek waffled between anger, frustration, and alarm as the minutes turned into hours after he’d found himself locked away. The dungeon—because that’s exactly where he had been put—only had minimal lighting from torches. Actual fire torches. Shallow bowls held by the same type of metal as his prison, housed whatever liquid they used to keep the torches lit continuously.
He didn’t see any natural light, so he couldn’t tell if it was day or night. Not that it mattered. He was too wrapped up in the fact that he couldn’t get free. Varek had tried to use the mental link all dragons had, but no one answered. That wouldn’t happen unless the other Dragon Kings were incapacitated.
Or they couldn’t hear him.
Coupled with that was the fact that he couldn’t shift. It had been the last thing Varek had attempted because he’d feared the exact outcome that had happened. Nothing. For the first time, he had to consider that he might very well be trapped in his human form, never able to shift or do magic again.
He’d been surprised to hear two people coming toward him. One left, leaving the other. He recognized the tread of the female who had been there when his captors dumped him into the cell. He wanted to turn and look at her, but decided it might be better if he didn’t show much interest. The longer she stood without talking, the more curious he became.
When he asked if she’d brought food, he wasn’t surprised by her answer. But he was intrigued by the throaty sound of her voice. One word wasn’t enough for him. He wanted—needed—to hear more to try and decipher her origins.
When she finally spoke again, he found himself entranced by her sultry voice. He was so captivated by it that it took him a moment to comprehend the words she had spoken, and that he still couldn’t place her accent.
Her offer of food in exchange for information fascinated him. He wasn’t fool enough to trust anything she said, but he might be able to use her to his advantage. If for nothing more than to get free. Varek could charm anyone when he set his mind to it, and his very life depended on it now. There was no question that he would succeed.
He rose to his knees, careful to keep his head ducked so he didn’t whack it on the low-hanging ceiling. Only after he had shifted positions and sat back down to face the woman did he let his gaze move to her. The moment his eyes landed on her, all the air was sucked out of his lungs. He was transfixed, completely enraptured by the magnificent creature before him.
Varek had seen beauty before, but something about this female was decidedly different. It looked as if dragon fire had touched her hair. It burned bright red, even pulled away from her face in several small braids that merged into one thick plait. What he couldn’t tell was how long it was since the braid was wound into a bun. The need to sink his hand into her fiery mane and feel the weight of it as the strands ran through his fingers was…overwhelming.
Arresting amber eyes studied him with a mixture of aversion and curiosity. She had an oval face, a slim neck, and a mouth made for sinful, decadent things. While she might be of average height, there was nothing ordinary about her. She stood with her back straight, her legs braced slightly apart, her arms hanging at her sides, fingers loose—a warrior’s stance.
Varek took in the golden-brown sleeveless tunic that showed off the toned sinew of her arms. His gaze moved along the plunging neckline to the outline of her full breasts. The top fit her like a second skin and stopped an inch short of meeting the deep brown breeches that encased her slim legs and were tucked into tall, leather boots. His gaze moved back up her calves and thighs and over the flare of her hips to her small waist and the well-defined abdominal muscles he was able to glimpse. She wore no jewelry but thick, silver armbands around each arm.
He swallowed hard, his body reacting viscerally to the woman before him. When he met her gaze once more, her sculpted brows were drawn together in confusion. Varek drew in a deep breath to get a handle on his emotions and the primal need raging through him, uncontrolled and unbridled. He wasn’t at all ready to speak, but he had a feeling if he didn’t say anything or the right things, this female might not return. And that simply wouldn’t do.
“What kind of information?” he managed to say despite the blood pounding in his ears.
Her chin lifted slightly as her face smoothed, devoid of all emotion. She then crossed her arms over her chest. “Everything.”
“That’s a lot,” he said with a chuckle. “Perhaps you could be more specific.”
“I want to know everything there is to know about the Dragon Kings.”
It was a good thing Varek was sitting down. Otherwise, he was pretty sure his legs would’ve buckled. He was so used to hiding his true identity, as all Dragon Kings had for eons, having someone know what he was unsettled him.
She rolled her eyes. “Is this where you tell me you aren’t a Dragon King? Don’t waste your breath. I know what you are. We all do.”
“And how is that?”
The woman issued a snort of laughter as her arms dropped to her sides, and she glanced to the right. “If you think by asking me idiotic questions it’ll somehow help you, you’re wrong.”
Varek’s shock was gone, replaced by simmering fury. “You want information? Well, lass, so do I. Perhaps we should start with something simple. Like your name.”
“My name?” she asked with a frown. “Why does that matter?”
“What’s the harm in giving a name? I’m Varek.”
For several long, tense seconds, she simply glared at him. Finally, she said, “I’m Jeyra.”
“Jeyra. An unusual name. I’ve no’ heard it before.”
“I doubt you would.”
It was his turn to narrow his gaze at her. “Is that because I’m no’ from this realm?” The lack of response was telling. “I see. Care to tell me how I got here?”
“Not really,” she replied.
Which told him that he hadn’t come of his own volition. He’d known something wasn’t right, and now he knew why none of the other Kings had answered his calls. Varek looked down at the shackles on his wrists. If he couldn’t break them, then he couldn’t get free of the prison and get back to Earth and his brethren.
“Are you ready to give me information?” Jeyra asked.
Varek looked up at her, not bothering to hide his seething anger. “Why am I being held here? Who took me prisoner? What crime have I committed against anyone on a realm I’ve never been to before?”
“I take that to mean you aren’t ready to talk.”
In a flash, Varek was at the bars, his fingers around the damp metal. It infuriated him that he couldn’t stand straight, that he was made to remain on his knees as he glared up at Jeyra. “Free me. Now. Or you and your people will rue the day you ever brought me here.”
“Strong words for someone behind bars and bound. The best thing you can do is accept your Fate.” She then pivoted and walked away.
Varek wanted to throw back his head and bellow. He wanted to smash the rock around him, yank out the bars and crumple them into balls as he knew he could. But he wouldn’t give anyone listening or watching the satisfaction of seeing how close to the edge he was.
If only he had his magic and the strength he had been born with as a dragon. Was it this realm that kept his powers away? The prison? The manacles around his wrists? Or a combination of everything? If he was going to get free, he needed those answers. Unfortunately, in order to get those, he would have to play along with whatever Jeyra and her people wanted of him.
Varek crawled back to the farthest corner of his prison. His stomach rumbled with hunger. The last time he had felt such cravings was before he had become a Dragon King. He’d had to fight for everything from the moment of his birth, and that had included food. The endless millennia he’d spent as a Dragon King should have removed the memories of the clawing hunger and weakness from starvation. Varek had sworn he would never feel either again.
“Fuck me,” he murmured.
He closed his eyes as the truth settled around him. He was alone. No magic, no powers, no ability to shift into his true form or contact the other Kings. Even back on Earth before he’d become a Dragon King, he’d had the magic of the realm. He’d had his strength. Now, he was stuck in human form with nothing but his wits.
His early years had prepared him for just such an event. He’d used his strength and magic at times, but many other times he’d relied on his intelligence. In order to get free—and he would get away—he needed to be smarter than those who held him captive. He’d need to be calculating, shrewd. Clever.
He released a long breath and went over what he’d discerned from his brief encounter with Jeyra. Without a doubt, she was a warrior. It wasn’t just the way she stood or what she wore. It was an attitude that only another warrior could detect.
His mind went over her clothes. They had been without adornment, but the quality was good. That in itself showed that she was a decent fighter since most communities rewarded their warriors. Another sign was her armbands. While they didn’t have jewels, they were silver and as wide as his thumb was long, which meant they cost a considerable amount.
What he hadn’t seen were any weapons. If he were at their mercy as Jeyra had hinted, then she wouldn’t have feared coming into the dungeon without a weapon. For the first time since waking, Varek smiled. He needed to get a weapon. Any weapon.
He was fairly certain Jeyra wouldn’t return to talk to him, but perhaps someone else would be foolish enough to bring a sword or even a dagger with them. If Varek could get them close to the bars of his prison, he might be able to take it from them.
Then what?
His lips twisted ruefully. He didn’t know. More importantly, he knew very little about this realm or the people who had taken him prisoner. He needed to understand their weapons and how advanced they were. Based on the dungeon and Jeyra’s clothing, he didn’t think they were as evolved as those on Earth. Then again, he was making an assumption based on speaking with one individual for a very short time. That was stupid.
In order to make a true, full assessment of his situation, he would need a lot more information. Since Jeyra seemed to want data from him, it was the perfect opportunity for an exchange. He’d made a mistake with her. He would be more careful and in control of his emotions with whoever they sent next.
Varek yanked his arms to the sides and heard the clank of the chains and felt the pull of the manacles. He would keep trying. Because, eventually, he would find a way to get free. Everyone and everything had a weakness. He just had to figure out what those were.
Stay calm. Stay in control. Use your head and be ruthless to get what you want.
It was the same mantra he’d used to battle his way from the very bottom of his clan to becoming King of Lichens. He knew what it was to lose, to be stepped on, beaten, and forgotten.
“I survived once. I will again.” Varek whispered the promise softly in the dark.
