Destined for the Dragon Read online

  Destined for the Dragon

  Lost Dragons #3

  By Zoe Chant

  Copyright Zoe Chant 2018

  All Rights Reserved

  Table of Contents

  The Lost Dragons series

  Foreword

  Chapter One: Alanna

  Chapter Two: Magnus

  Chapter Three: Alanna

  Chapter Four: Magnus

  Chapter Five: Alanna

  Chapter Six: Magnus

  Chapter Seven: Alanna

  Chapter Eight: Magnus

  Chapter Nine: Alanna

  Chapter Ten: Magnus

  Chapter Eleven: Alanna

  Chapter Twelve: Alanna

  Chapter Thirteen: Magnus

  Chapter Fourteen: Alanna

  Chapter Fifteen: Magnus

  Chapter Sixteen: Magnus

  Chapter Seventeen: Alanna

  A note from Zoe Chant

  More paranormal romance by Zoe Chant

  Zoe Chant writing as Lia Silver

  Zoe Chant writing as Lauren Esker

  Special sneak preview: Lost Dragons #1: A Mate for the Dragon

  The Lost Dragons Series

  A Mate for the Dragon

  Fated for the Dragon

  Destined for the Dragon

  A Bride for the Dragon (forthcoming)

  Bound to the Dragon (forthcoming)

  Chosen by the Dragon (forthcoming)

  All the books in this series are standalone romances. Each focuses on a new couple, with no cliffhangers. They can be read in any order. But characters from previous books reappear in later ones, so reading in order is recommended for maximum enjoyment.

  Foreword

  This is a standalone romance, and you don’t need to have read the previous book to enjoy it. However, the characters of Magnus, Isaak and Josie first appeared in Fated for the Dragon. Holly, Stefan and Darklis first appeared in A Mate for the Dragon. To avoid some small spoilers about the events of these books, please consider reading them first!

  Chapter One

  Alanna

  Sitting on her bed in the cramped dormitory, Alanna looked down at the black, leather-bound folio balanced on her lap.

  She already knew what was inside it: a sheaf of papers including the photograph, details, and last known location of the man she was supposed to be hunting down.

  Not man, she reminded herself as she opened the folio. The dragon.

  Each of the thick, creamy pieces of paper inside was marked with the seal of the Loric Coven of Dragon Hunters, its twisting, intricate design portraying a writhing dragon and a hand holding a sword. It was symbol not only of their order, but also their purpose.

  They hunted dragons. It was what they did. What she did.

  It was what the Loric Coven had been doing for... oh, only about seven hundred years or so. And they were considered one of the newer covens.

  Shuffling through the papers, Alanna quickly found what she was looking for. It was a photo of the man it was now her sacred duty to hunt down.

  Taking a deep breath, she ran her eyes over his face, memorizing it: the cut of his jaw, the blue of his eyes. The way his dark blond hair fell lightly over his forehead.

  The photo had been taken by one of their trackers, who usually went out to give hunters a head start by locating the dragon and pointing hunters in the right direction before they ever left coven headquarters.

  Looking down at it now, it was clear to Alanna that the man – dragon – must have sensed someone following him when the picture was taken.

  He was glancing warily over his shoulder, his full lips set in a frown, eyebrows drawn together.

  But what really captured Alanna’s attention were his eyes. Not just for their brilliant blue color, but for the way they looked, well... hunted.

  “I don’t know,” she murmured to herself as she looked down at the photo. “Somehow, this just doesn’t seem right.”

  Lounging on her own bed across the other side of cramped dormitory, her roommate, Louisa, looked up, frowning.

  “What was that?”

  Alanna licked her lips, wishing she could snatch the words back from the air.

  “Nothing,” she said quickly. She lowered her head, trying to appear totally absorbed in reading about her new assignment.

  Not just my new assignment. My first assignment.

  Her first assignment as a fully-fledged dragon hunter, anyway.

  She had trained as an apprentice for years to prove herself loyal to the coven, and then completed duties as a tracker. It was only now she had graduated into the ranks of the hunters that she would be sent out on assignment, to prove her mettle against a dragon.

  And I’m already beginning to have doubts...

  “You’re not nervous, are you?” Louisa sat up, closing her book with a sharp slap. “You can’t possibly be. Not with your lineage.”

  Alanna frowned, not looking up. The topic of her lineage had been a sore spot with Louisa from day one.

  “You come from a long, long, long line of dragon hunters,” Louisa said, raising an eyebrow. “You can’t possibly think you’d let down the whole history of your family by messing up your very first assignment.”

  Alanna looked up, smiling tightly.

  Thanks for reminding me, she thought as Louisa nonchalantly pretended to examine her nails. It’s not just my reputation on the line, but the honor of my entire family.

  The Carlyle family had been dragon hunters since before there were records of either dragons or those who hunted them. Long before St George had ever lifted a lance and ridden off to save the princess, Alanna’s family had been hunting and slaying dragons.

  Hunting dragons was in her blood.

  So why do I feel so doubtful?

  Once again, she looked down at the photo in her hands.

  The man stared back at her, his eyes seeming somehow to come alive, as if he was looking up at her...

  “Well?” Once again, Louisa’s voice broke into her thoughts. “You’re the star apprentice around here, after all. You don’t enjoy people saying it’s only because of who your parents are. So here’s your chance to prove them wrong.”

  “I will,” said Alanna, snapping out her answer before she had time to think, anger rising within her. When Louisa said people liked to spread rumors she was given preferential treatment because of her parents, she really meant Louisa herself liked to do that.

  It’d been clear from the moment they’d been assigned a room together that Louisa didn’t like her – and it hadn’t taken Alanna long to find out why.

  Louisa clearly thought Alanna was a snob, and nothing was going to change her mind, no matter how friendly Alanna tried to be to her. Alanna didn’t really understand it – sure, Louisa’s family might not be as old as her own, but her lineage was nothing to sneeze at. Her own family, the Hadleys, were almost as distinguished as the Carlyles.

  Ironically, where Louisa let herself down was that she was lazy. While Alanna had spent her all her teenaged years training and studying, doing everything she needed to do to become the best hunter she could, Louisa had been more likely to be found gossiping in a corner or sneaking out with other apprentices.

  At first, Alanna had done her best to be... well, if not friends, then at least friendly. There wasn’t a lot of room for friendship between dragon hunters, but Alanna had hoped they’d at least have each other’s backs. But when it had become clear that that wasn’t going to happen, she’d simply ignored them – not just Louisa, but everyone else as well.

  Rivalries weren’t exactly uncommon here. In fact, the senior trainers sometimes even encouraged them, in the belief it would help all the students work harder to outdo each other.

&nb
sp; Maybe it did, some of the time. But for Alanna, nothing could motivate her more than the knowledge that anything less than perfection was a stain on her family’s honor.

  And boy, would she ever hear about that.

  Sighing slightly, Alanna rifled through the papers in her folder. They told her where the dragon could be found, as well as any other relevant information she’d need. As she sorted through them, a small piece of folded paper came loose from the rest and fluttered into her lap.

  Frowning, Alanna picked it up, opening it.

  Good luck, my star apprentice – I know you’ll bring us honor. I’ll be thinking of you, even though I’m away on assignment myself at the moment. Do me proud. And if you need me – you know where to find me. 045867.

  - Benedict

  Despite her nerves, Alanna found herself smiling. Benedict.

  He’d been her mentor first while she’d been an apprentice, and then a tracker. He was an old friend of the family – in a place where friendship was very rare and very valuable. He had always encouraged her, always told her she could be the best if she put her mind to it.

  Benedict had been sent out undercover almost a month ago. He’d told her he regretted he wouldn’t be around to see her off on her first assignment, but these things just couldn’t be helped. It seemed he’d found a way for her to get in touch with him anyway, though – even if contacting an undercover hunter was definitely something that was frowned upon.

  Smiling, Alanna tucked the piece of paper deep inside her pocket. Clearly, Benedict had snuck it into her papers, knowing she’d see it.

  Thanks, Benedict.

  The knowledge that there was someone out there thinking of her warmed her heart, just a little.

  “Well? Are you going?” Louisa’s sneering voice broke into her thoughts.

  Alanna blinked, her mind still on her gratefulness to Benedict. “Going?”

  “To see the Lord High Hunter,” Louisa said with exaggerated courtesy, rolling her eyes. “You’ve got your assignment – you need to go get his permission to head out. Or had you forgotten? Just because the Lord High Hunter is your –”

  “I hadn’t forgotten,” Alanna said, shoving the photograph of her quarry back inside the leather folder and slamming it shut. “I was just thinking.”

  Louisa snorted daintily, opening her book again and theatrically leaning back against her headboard. “Well, good luck. Not that you think you need it.”

  A thousand angry rebuttals swirled in Alanna’s head, and for a moment she opened her mouth, ready to spit one out. But then she saw the smug smirk on Louisa’s face, and, taking a deep breath, forced herself to stay calm.

  Provoking a fight was exactly what Louisa wanted. Well, Alanna wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.

  “Thanks,” she gritted out, managing to make her tone sound at least halfway friendly.

  Well, maybe that’s overstating it a bit, Alanna thought as she went to the door with as much coolness as she could muster, pulling it open and going out into the corridor – though she couldn’t stop herself from slamming it hard behind her.

  Hope she dropped her book and lost her page, Alanna thought spitefully as she walked away. She realized she was being childish, but since Louisa had decided to act like a spoiled brat from day one, she couldn’t bring herself to feel too sorry.

  Shaking her head, Alanna composed herself. This wasn’t the right way to conduct herself at all – especially not when she was on her way to meet the head of the Coven.

  As she walked along the corridor, her leather binder clutched in her hand, Alanna worked hard to calm her jangling nerves. It was just a formality, after all – just a brief meeting so the Lord High Hunter could send her on her way with his blessing.

  So why did she feel so nervous?

  Briefly, Alanna’s mind flashed back to the man in the photograph.

  Was he the source of her unease?

  It was true, he was powerfully built, as most dragons tended to be in their human forms. But she’d been training for this all her life.

  Dragon shifters might be stronger and more powerful than the average human – even the non-average human – but dragon hunters had a range of tricks up their sleeve to even the playing field, and Alanna knew them all.

  Well, except one, she thought with a shudder as she came to the huge wooden doors that lead to the Lord High Hunter’s chambers.

  The doors opened as if by magic, admitting her to the rooms beyond.

  The Lord High Hunter sat in his vast leather chair behind a massive mahogany desk – neither of which did anything to disguise his own stature, which was impressive. He might have been graying at the temples and with a few more lines and scars on his face than when he was young, but it didn’t change the fact that he was still obviously a man of impressive strength.

  Alanna swallowed as she stood before him, bowing her head as a mark of respect.

  It seemed a long moment until the Lord High Hunter spoke.

  “So. You’ve come to receive my blessing before heading out on your first assignment.”

  Alanna dared to glance up at his face. “That’s right.”

  There was another long pause.

  “I know you’ve been preparing for this for a long time,” the Lord High Hunter said at last. “And I know you’ll bring pride to the coven. And to the name Carlyle.”

  “I will, sir. I won’t let you down.”

  Alanna gritted her teeth as she said the words. She felt her heart thudding in her chest. Failure was not an option. Not for her. If she had any misgivings, they were irrelevant to her mission. She’d trained her entire life for this.

  There was a long moment of silence. “I know that you’re one of the hunters who has declined to take part in the drinking ritual,” the Lord High Hunter eventually said. “Are you sure you won’t change your mind?”

  Quickly, Alanna shook her head. “Thank you for your consideration, but... no, I won’t. I’m confident in my abilities. I don’t need that, sir.”

  “If you’re certain, then I won’t insist. But I have some here for you, just in case.”

  Shocked, Alanna looked up. She hadn’t noticed it when she first came in, but sitting on the desk by the Lord High Hunter’s right hand was a massive, jeweled goblet – a rare artifact, passed down by the coven’s leaders over hundreds of years. It was a magnificent treasure: pure silver, studded with rubies and sapphires. Legend had it that it had once been part of a powerful dragon’s hoard and had been claimed by the very first dragon hunter after she had defeated it in battle.

  Alanna’s eyes widened as she stared at it. She could see it was half-full of a shiny, dark-red liquid.

  Dragon’s blood.

  Hunters often drank dragon’s blood before going to seek out their quarry. Drinking the blood of a dragon would temporarily imbue a human with some of a dragon’s powers. It wouldn’t give them the power to shift, but they would gain a dragon’s superhuman strength, their lightning-fast reflexes, their psychic abilities – even their desire to hoard treasure.

  Naturally, all of these things were helpful when it came to hunting dragons.

  But for whatever reason, Alanna had always had an aversion to it.

  She didn’t want to drink another creature’s blood, no matter how strong it might make her.

  “I’m completely sure,” she said.

  For a moment, something that looked almost like concern glinted in the Lord High Hunter’s eyes. But that couldn’t be right – could it?

  “Very well.” He exhaled, and for a moment, Alanna could have sworn it had been a sigh. “As you know, since this is your first assignment, it is our custom to pair you up with another newly graduated hunter, until you have proved yourself.”

  Alanna nodded. She’d been expecting this. Dragon hunting was dangerous – it wasn’t until you’d shown you could handle yourself that you were allowed to go out alone. It would be many years before Alanna reached those heights. For now, she would be stuck with a
partner.

  “Very well. I trust you’ll work well together to make the mission a success.”

  Alanna turned as she heard footsteps behind her. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the gloom that covered the corner of the room, but when they did, Alanna couldn’t stop a scowl from spreading across her face.

  A man had emerged from the shadows – a man with one of the most irritating smirks she had ever seen in her life.

  Casper.

  “What’re you doing here?” she snapped before she could stop herself. Casper was Louisa’s cousin – and every bit as nasty and mean as she was. They were part of the same clique, and seemed to live for making other trainees’ lives as hellish as possible.

  Casper’s smirk didn’t falter, but he held up his hands in a gesture of peace. “Hey, don’t blame me – I’m just doing what I’m told. Do you think I want to be going on assignment with you?”

  Alanna’s mouth dropped open, even as she realized how foolish her question had been.

  But Casper was a Hadley – and it was well known the Hadley and the Carlyle families had a long history of rivalry.

  The Lord High Hunter’s eyes glinted in the dim light. “Yes, Apprentice Hadley will be going with you on your assignment. Do you object?”

  Alanna gulped. The right words were on the tip of her tongue: No, I wouldn’t dream of it, sir.

  But what came out instead was: “Of course I object! Do you really expect me to go out on assignment with someone I can’t trust?”

  Stupid question.

  Behind her, she heard Casper scoffing.

  The Lord High Hunter’s expression was mild as he leaned forward. “Casper has taken the oath of loyalty to the coven, just like every other hunter. He’s highly skilled. He graduated first in his class, and I believe he will make a very fine senior hunter. It’s time for us to put family – and personal – rivalries aside.” He sat back, sighing. “The dragon you have been sent to hunt is a very dangerous one. He has already defeated a seasoned dragon hunter.” Just for a moment, Alanna thought she saw something close to concern flicker in his eyes. “I do not want to see you get hurt.”