The Air Witch's Dragon

THE AIR WITCH’S DRAGON

Dragons of Wushin Book 1

By Severine Wolfe

Paranormal Romance

The Air Witch’s Dragon

Copyright © 2017 by Severine Wolfe

First E-Book Published October 2017

Cover by Melody Simmons

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission from the author.

All characters, places, and events in this book are fictitious or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations are strictly coincidental.

License Statement

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

A Cursed New World…

When Ryluth personally invited Sofia to visit his world with an eye towards staying, he had no idea what to expect, but he had felt so much relief when he saw her step through the portal.

Sofia had known that she didn’t fit on either world she’d been on, but she was reluctant to leave the familiar and her friends, but she takes the chance to visit Wushin. She wants to explore and discover new things and forget her wretched past on the Demonworld and the only way she can do that is by leaving everything she knows behind.

The two of them take a huge leap of faith and try to break the curse the Dragons have labored under for so long. Meanwhile, someone would rather they didn’t.

Ryluth not only has to deal with his reaction to Sofia, but the fact that his Dragons want the women she’s brought with her. They have never surrendered their honor under the curse, but the moment six females step out of a portal, it’s a very near thing. Everyone wants a mate, but doesn’t want her to die. So, they must work together to solve the curse.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to anyone who ever worked with me in the workplace. I apologize, unreservedly, for being that person.

Acknowledgements

I’m sure you’ve all read that nothing is created in a vacuum and that is especially true of books. I don’t know how many dinners have been ruined by my ruminating on some plot point, or by the fact that I get lost in the work and let it burn. So, my family deserve major kudos for putting up with me.

If you’ve noticed a certain improvement in the texts, that is due to the ever-vigilant Stephanie Flores, without whom I would be lost. I love her because she can ask me What were you thinking? and I step back and ask myself the same question and never get mad at her for doing it. Plus, she keeps me so on point on language use. My books look better because of her.

I would love to also acknowledge Melody Simmons who does the covers for my books. Early next year I plan on asking her to recover the Demonworld series and brand it. Her work is so damned awesome. I am never let down by a cover.

How to Read This Book

If you are reading this sentence then you’ve pretty much got it. Good job. Just keep going the way you are.

Prologue

A god walked among the dead and dying on the field of battle. Every being that saw him, beheld his countenance, fell to their knees in fear and deep respect.

"WHERE IS SHE?" He bellowed and all present quaked.

Finally, another Drakkos approached the dread lord.

My Lord, Threlzin... he was trying to not sound so frightened but it was difficult when he could not stop shaking. Please, My Lord, whom do you seek?

The huge Dragon God stopped and turned his head to consider the male who had dared speak to him, interrupting his search.

"Find her, priest, he said as quietly as a Dragon God could. Find Coalna or all your lives are forfeit."

The Dragon God priest nodded and knew all present had heard and the search would begin. But a question came in his mind, and not a question he necessarily wanted to be around when it was answered.

My, Lord, can you not locate her through your bond?

Fire seared from the eyes of the Threlzin. His metallic scales shimmering in the sunlight breaking through the fog that had covered the battlefield for hours.

"If I could do that, little priest, do you not think I would already have my mate?"

Yes, my Lord, please excuse me, and he ran like the coward he knew himself to be.

Hours later, the entire world of Wushin knew Threlzin had found his mate as his rage and grief burst forth from him in a roar that had scared more than one being into death.

The High Priest of Threlzin had found the cave where Coalna had been taken and knew her corporeal time was nearly done. He took a flask from his robes and grasped the last tear, still present on the face of the beloved Coalna, mate of the Drakkos god, Threlzin. He put it in his pocket, fearing he would drop it, when Threlzin appeared in the cave. His cry of grief deafened the High Priest, who would never hear right again in his short lifespan thereafter. His fear of the Threlzin so great that he had lived the rest of his life in abject fear of ever facing the Dragon God ever again.

"CO-AL-NA!" Threlzin roared to the heavens and the entire world heard his anger and sorrow as he watched the body of his mate burst into flames upon entering the cave. His High Priest, cowering in the back, put his hands over his ears, crying out in pain as his ear drums burst. He pissed himself in fear.

The few Dragons who had dared to search with Threlzin took back a tale so wicked and heartbreaking that none questioned the curse that came with it.

Threlzin had found his beloved Coalna, dead, inside a cave near the coast of their great ocean. Her body had been drained of blood and she’d been skinned. Both of those things, blood and scales, beyond value in the magical world. The bodies of several Faerie at the scene told the tale of which race had dared such a desecration.

The carcass of the lone Drakkos who had damned his entire line and their race as a whole lay nearby, drained and skinned as well.

Everyone in the family of the Drakkos that had betrayed Threlzin and Coalna dropped dead immediately. Elderly, newborn, healthy, infirm, it mattered not. They dropped where they stood as the entire world of Wushin looked on in horror. Family lines were nearly a religion in itself and to see one whole family line cut out was a frightening thought.

Then Threlzin stripped away the longevity of all of the mates on the world. Many Drakkos knew the grief and rage of their god as their mates suddenly became their chronological age and died. There were torturous screams throughout the world. Crazed Drakkos killing themselves when denied their mate bond. So much death, so much grief overwhelmed their world.

Threlzin was not through, though. Through his grief he hurled one more damnation at the Drakkos.

"Your world will not heal this wound quickly, or even in your lifetimes. You will not know love, and you will not know legacy until you find one such as I have just lost, and she loves you more than you can ever deserve. And, then you will lose her as I have lost my Coalna. You cannot bring my mate back to me, so you shall not have that solace. As long as I don’t have my mate, you shall not have yours."

And then he withdrew from them until the day they could find a way to return to him what was his or die trying.

Chapter One

Are you certain you want to do this, Sofia? Cassie Clancy asked for the one-hundredth time, and Sofia found she was losing her patience with the Demi and most powerful witch any of them had ever seen.

What is there for me here, Cassie? Sofia turned from the bag she was packing. There is nothing on Earth, my entire family is gone. There is nothing for me here. I cannot stand the touch of a Demon. I cannot get past my repulsion. She looked down and tried to hide the blush of shame she always felt on remembering her earlier time on this world, held as a sex slave, used abominably, and now afraid to try to find happiness within this world or with its inhabitants.

There is no mate for me here… no family.

She felt Cassie’s arms come around her from behind, and the woman laid her cheek on Sofia’s shoulder.

I can’t stand to lose you, Sofia, the young woman finally admitted.

Sofia turned and embraced Cassie, running her hand down the smooth, dark curls of Cassie’s head, comforting her as she’d comforted so many other women on this world.

My adventures await elsewhere, Cassie, she smiled. I must seek my adventure, for it surely isn’t seeking me.

What if Bax and I took you to the Technomage World? We could spend a couple of weeks visiting Penelope and Gustav and you could see if any of the men there catch your eye. Cassie grinned, warming to the idea, but Sofia just shook her head.

The Drakkos invitation appeals to me, Cassie. I cannot tell you why, but it does. She wondered if the Drakkos could possibly weave a compulsion into their invitation, but she had received it second hand from Cassie, so she was fairly sure that this was the direction she should be moving.

Cassie looked at Sofia for several moments, then nodded her head as if she had come to some sort of agreement with herself.

Ryluth asked me to extend the invitation to you, personally, Sofia. She then looked at the Italian Air witch.

I have no idea why, Sofia replied honestly. I only spoke to him to ascertain whether he needed more food or drink. He never spoke to me at all outside of that.

Cassie just shrugged.

So, I cannot possibly talk you out of leaving us? For effect, she pushed out her bottom lip in a pout that Cassie’s daughter Ariadne would try to emulate.

I must find my own way, and it does not appear to be on this world. Sofia was firm in this knowledge. She just knew it inside of her.

Sofia had to chuckle.

You will come back to us if you don’t find it? Cassie looked at her, so worried, that for a moment Sofia seriously reconsidered what she was doing.

You have Brigid, Ava, and Lauren to keep you busy, not to mention your husband and children, Sofia smiled. You have family and happiness here, Cassie. You have everything. I have nothing holding me here but the promise of holding your children.

Cassie’s eyes became clouded and Sofia prepared herself for the big Demi tears the woman leaked when she was sad.

I will miss you, desperately, Sofia, Cassie rasped and grabbed her into another tight hug. She then pushed Sofia back and took a breath. I will allow messages through the Wushin Portal. If ever you need me, I will be right there. Wild horses couldn’t keep me from going to you. You are not alone.

Sofia smiled and hugged Cassie to her.

Andiamo, Cassandra, Sofia told her in her native Italian.

Si, bella, Cassie chuckled.

*****

How many women do you think that Cassie will bring here?" Lennalth asked Ryluth for what he was sure was the thousandth time. In the past hour.

What did I say the last time that you asked me three minutes ago? Ryluth had to work hard to keep the smile from his face. They were both wearing their human form so it was a hard trick to pull off.

You said you didn’t know, his old friend said, his brow wrinkling with confusion.

Has any new intelligence come in between the time you last asked me and my answer?

No. You know it hasn’t. Lennalth turned his full glare on Ryluth, who only smiled.

So why would my answer be any different?