I am providing this book for free here on Royal Road because I love my fans! If you wish to buy to support me, or want physical media, buy books from my Gumroad shop (some are free!), or support me on Kofi. It would be so appreciated! I want to make a living off doing what I love. Windchaser specifically is in print!
----------------------------------------
Kieran moved quickly to Tessa's side, helping her to steady herself as she swayed on her feet. "Are you okay?"
Tessa nodded, her gaze locked on the open tavern door where Perseus had disappeared. "I have to go after them."
Kieran's jaw set with determination as he looked at Tessa, his resolve matching hers. "No. You don’t. I will." Given Tessa’s personality, normally she might have argued that she was fully capable of dealing with this problem herself, but the serious weight of what had happened made her yield to him.
She nodded and sat down on the stony floor, her back against the counter perimeter.
“What the hell is going on?” screeched a confused voice.
‘Isabella,’ Kieran thought.
The swift fox looked petrified and scanned the tavern for information. She saw the mess, the chairs that were tossed about, the char from Perseus’ attacks, and the crimson blood that lay drying. “What…” she murmured to herself.
Kieran put his hand over Isabella’s shoulder. “Malachai drugged Tessa here. I caught them in the act upstairs. I beat him, and he ran down here where Tessa’s dragon attacked him. He ran out after that, and her dragon pursued him,” he explained in summary.
Isabella was speechless. She gasped at the news and put a hand over her mouth.
Kieran looked into Isabella’s deep purple eyes. “Please, take care of Tessa for me,” he said firmly. “Get a hold of the authorities.”
“Surely!” Isabella said, crouching down to inspect the starry night-colored fox for injury. Tessa was silent, likely in shock and very anxious.
With that, Kieran headed back upstairs to get properly dressed, and while he was on his way Isabella called out to him. “Where are you going?”
Kieran didn’t look back or stop, he only growled resolutely.
“I’m going to get that son of a bitch, and bring back the girl’s dragon.”
The moon's soft glow filtered through the window, casting a silvery light across the room as Kieran donned his weapons – his trusty daggers and a sleek bow slung over his shoulder. He swiftly made his way down the stairs again, an air of staidness adorning him.
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
Isabella looked at him while tending to Tessa, having put a soft, warm blanket over her for comfort, her eyes reflecting a mix of worry and gratitude. "Be careful, Kieran. Malachai is dangerous."
A grim smile tugged at the corner of Kieran's lips. "Dangerous works both ways," he replied cryptically before heading toward the door.
As he stepped into the night, the cool air rushed over him, energizing his senses. The trail left by Perseus and Malachai was faint but discernible – scorch marks on the ground and the faint smell of burnt wood guided his way, as well as the blood splatters left behind by the mauled fox.
The chase was on, and Kieran's heart pounded with a mix of rush and resolve. He knew the risks that lay ahead, the darkness that Malachai represented, as he had seen men like him before,
and the unpredictable nature of Perseus. But he was driven by a need to make things right, to ensure Tessa's safety, and to bring an end to the chaos that had erupted in the tavern.
With each step, his determination grew stronger. The moon's light illuminated his path, casting long shadows that seemed to dance alongside him as he pursued his quarry. The night was far from over, and Kieran was prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead in his pursuit of justice and the safety of those he cared for.
He moved with a predator's grace through the darkened cityscape. His keen senses were attuned to every sound, every rustle of leaves, every sound upon the road, and every shift in the night breeze as well as every scent it carried with it.
The trail led him deeper into the outskirts of Dawnbreak, where the shadows seemed to thicken and the air grew heavy with tension.
It was then that Kieran's sharp ears caught a distant rumble, a sound that seemed out of place in the quiet of the gloomy blackness. As he moved closer, the source of the noise became clear – a low, guttural growl that reverberated through the air.
Following the ominous sound, Kieran's steps quickened until he reached a small clearing. Kieran's heart pounded in his chest as he approached the clearing, his every instinct on high alert.
Moonlight painted an eerie tableau before him, casting long, ghostly shadows that danced across the ground.
Two imposing figures were locked in a deadly dance, a battle of wills.
His eyes widened as he took in the scene before him. One of the figures was unmistakably Perseus, now transformed into a huge fire drake, twice the size of a horse.
The other was very likely Malachai. The creature's scales blazed with an intensity that illuminated the entire area. The other figure, however, was less familiar, a dark silhouette that struggled against the might of the fire drake.
Kieran's grip on his weapons tightened as he tried to make sense of the situation. He couldn't deny the surge of protective instinct that washed over him, fueled by the knowledge that Perseus was involved.
But, how had Perseus shifted his form like that?
As he watched, Perseus unleashed a ferocious roar that seemed to shake the very ground beneath Kieran's feet. Flames seemed to boil through Perseus’ maw as if charging up for a powerful, executioner attack.
Time seemed to slow as Kieran assessed the situation, his gaze flickering between the fiery chaos and the prone figure of Malachai. He couldn't deny the surge of conflicted emotions that welled up within him.
A part of him wanted to let the fire drake have his vengeance, to allow Perseus to unleash his fury upon the monster who had caused so much turmoil, but Kieran was a bounty hunter, a guardian of justice; it would be better to get information out of the fox.
With a determined exhale, he took a step forward, his voice ringing out in a clear and authoritative command.
"Perseus, enough!" Kieran's voice cut through the chaos, carrying the weight of his intent. The fire drake hesitated, his blazing eyes fixing on Kieran as if assessing him. Kieran met that fiery gaze head-on, his stance unwavering.
Maybe the bounty hunter was brave, and maybe he was very stupid; probably both, honestly. “If we take him alive, we can get more information out of him.”