Page 1 of Escaping my Dragon

Prologue

I soared high over a land of glaring white streaked with hints of gray of varying shades. The mountain I flew over stretched for hundreds of miles, however, I only focused on one section. A sinuous expanse with nothing remarkable about it.

Yet.

Having been here before, I knew what to expect, but it didn’t stop the terror from filling me when a section of the snow-covered ridge began to shiver. I’d seen this several times now, and it still stole my breath. Caused my beating wings to falter. As panic pulsed deep within, making my heart pound. I roused from the nightmare, panting and thrashing. My antics woke my guest.

His low voice emerged from the darkness of my lair. “You had the dream again?”

Obviously, but shame at the recurring fear wouldn’t let me admit it. “Nope. Was sleeping like a hatchling in its shell when an insane itch woke me. Grab the rake, would you, and give the spot between my wings a rub.”

A snort was my reply. “You have servants for that.”

“Pip’s gone into town for dinner and a movie with Maddox.” Apparently, they couldn’t accomplish this thing called “date night” at home. Something about me constantly interrupting. As if their need for intimacy was more important than taking care of me.

“If they’re out, then it’s the perfect time.”

“Time for what?”

“For us to leave.”

Not the first time Shamash, whom I’d only met days before, broached the idea. “To do what?”

“Prepare for the threat your dream portents.”

My snout wrinkled. “I told you I didn’t have the dream.”

“Lying? Really?” He crossed his arms and pursed his lips.

“I should eat you,” I hissed.

“You could try and fail,” Shamash corrected.

“I should have never told you about my dream,” I muttered, shifting in the nest I’d been building of blankets and pillows.

“It’s a vision of something to come, and it needs to be dealt with.”

“I don’t see why I need to leave home to handle it.”

Shamash waved a hand. “You know what? Stay here wallowing in comfort while I gather the other hatchlings to heroically counter the impending danger.”

“Them heroic? I am the mightiest of the clutch.” I puffed my chest at the declaration.

“Strength is nothing if you’re hiding.”

“You dare call me a coward?” I hissed.

Rather than reply with words, Shamash clucked, implying he thought me a chicken!

“We will depart at once!” A decision rashly made but once spoken, could not be retracted. Quicker than I liked—with no time to present a plausible excuse as to why we should postpone—we ended up outside just as twilight ended.

“Give me a moment to pack my clothes, and then we’ll be on our way.” Shamash stripped and shoved the garments into a satchel.

Took effort to not gulp at the reminder we’d be leaving. Why dread instead of excitement? I’d always planned to go. Eventually. On my terms. With Pip, and likely Maddox, too, since she never went anywhere without him. And they’d likely be even more disgustingly devoted to each other instead of me because of the baby growing in her belly. Another loyal servant once they got past the useless age where they did nothing but piss, cry, and sleep.

“You’re sure this is the right thing to do?” Me, the mighty Abaddon, not usually prone to uncertainty, asked my father.

Yes, father. A term I’d thought only applied to humans until I met the man who’d fertilized my egg and turned my entire world upside down.