Found me?
“You haven’t answered my questions,” said Ash, getting impatient.
“You thought you were the only one, didn’t you?” asked Rufus, coming to stand beside his wife.
“Excuse me?”
“The only Dragon Heart.”
“That’s what I’ve been told.”
“Well, they lied to you.” Ash was dumbfounded. Christian, Stacie, and Eva—lying to him? He couldn’t believe it. He didn’t know who to trust anymore.
He grasped his hair and yanked. “Will someone please tell me what’s going on?”
“We sent you to the Dragon Keepers to protect you from the Monster Hunters, and in order to get you to stay, a lie was formed. We framed you for murder and told the Keepers to tell you that. We also had them tell you that you were the sole remaining Dragon Heart,” explained Rufus.
“But why?”
“As I said, a lie was formed. It was all part of the plan. You were framed for murder and placed with the Keepers to help you unlock your full potential.”
“So, I was placed with them to learn how to be a Dragon?”
“That’s correct.”
“Then why was I pulled out?”
“It had become unsafe. The Monster Hunters found you. Plus, you were darted with a powerful sedative designed to turn you back into a human. We had no choice but to bring you back.”
Sofee handed him a cup of tea, and he dropped into a recently vacated seat. After everything he had been through, all his thoughts came back to one image. One face. One girl. What had happened to her? Had she escaped? Did she know where he was? But all those questions evaporated when the door he had come through opened. He looked up and saw the face he had been waiting for.
“Eva,” he whispered.
“Hello, Ash,” she said with the biggest smile he had ever seen. “You made a handsome dragon, but you’re a more attractive human.”
Ash’s cheeks flushed. “Um, thanks.”
Eva giggled and sat down beside him. Her close proximity caused his heart to beat a million times faster than usual.
“What happened back there?” he asked. “I saw your parents… I thought…”
“I’m fine. I hid. Until Xander found me and told me what had happened to you. I had no choice but to join him.”
“Is it true? That you were told to lie to me about the Dragon Hearts?” He had to ask. Eva hung her head in shame.
“Yes. It is true. I didn’t want to lie to you. I was going to tell you, eventually.”
Ash looked down at the chipped white teacup in his hands and back up into Eva’s eyes.
“Why did you really come back with Xander?”
“Because I wanted to be with you,” she admitted. Ash blushed again. “Also because I too am a Dragon Heart.”
Ash stared at her in disbelief. Eva placed her hand on top of his and leaned forward to place a kiss on his cheek.
“I guess you could say I’m the Dragon Heart Keeper,” she said. Ash smiled and their lips met.
The End
Acknowledgments
The Dragon Heart Keeper was my very first story idea. It sprouted from a dream and a desire to write my first novel. It was this spark of an idea that ignited my passion for storytelling and opened Pandora’s Box so to speak. I originally submitted it to an anthology, but it was rejected.
My very first rejection opened the door to self-publishing. I never expected this little story to do as well or go as far as it has, and I have you who picked up this book to thank. So thank you!
I’d also like to thank my parents for believing in me. And my friends, my cover designer Stina, who created magical covers for the series, and my editor, Rogena–you push me and encourage me, and I am a better person and writer because of you! Love you.
Other Works by L.L. Hunter
The Garden of Eden
The Garden of Death
The Garden of Fate
The Aqua Saga
The Aqua Secret
The Aqua Lie
The Adelaide Paige Saga
First Glance
Second Sight
The Troubled Girl Chronicles
Treacherous
The Molten Heart Saga
Molten Heart
The Dragon Heart Series
The Dragon Heart Keeper
Crave
Hunger
Thirst
The Legend of the Archangel Series
The Chronicles of Fire and Ice
The Chronicles of Blood and Stone
The Chronicles of Silver and Gold
The Chronicles of Rain and Dreams
The Chronicles of Light and Dark
Coming Soon
Third Eye
Episode Three of the Adelaide Paige Saga
Releasing May 2016
L.L. Hunter, Author
L.L. Hunter is the author of over 20 published works, including The Legend of the Archangel Series and The Eden Chronicles. She has studied everything from veterinary nursing, forensic science, and dramatic arts but has always known her true calling was to be an author. She has been writing since her teens—everything from fan fiction to song lyrics to plays and musicals. When not working on her next paranormal romance, she can be found at home in Australia, reading somewhere comfortable with one or both of her fur babies.
Follow her on Facebook, Twitter @llhunterbooks and her blog - https://llhunter.blogspot.com.au.