Dragon Denied

By Viola Grace

Thrown from the life she thought she knew, Zzara has to restart her existence with no mother, no father, as a dragon denied.

Zzara was excited and happy on the day it all fell apart. Her father had married another dragon, and the new lady of the house had no interest in his mistress living on her new property.
Her mother takes her own life, her father is trying to pretend that she doesn’t exist, but that is not something Zzara is willing to tolerate. Not anymore. The investigators bring her to her father’s house, and Zzara makes sure that her father’s new wife understands what her threats brought about.
She flees to the desert, a plan to start over at Rekker City, but she takes a few days to mourn. A hidden child, she had never had a plan for a life away from her mother. She meets those who are willing to help her make those first steps, and then, she is off and running.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Viola Grace
• Release date: Nov 14, 2019
• ISBN: 9781987969795

Viola Grace

Viola Grace (aka Zenina Masters) is a Canadian sci-fi/paranormal romance writer with ambitions to keep writing for the rest of her life. She specializes in short stories because the thrill of discovery, of all those firsts, is what keeps her writing.An artist who enjoys a story that catches you up, whirls you around and sets you down with a smile on your face is all she endeavours to be. She prefers to leave the drama to those who are better suited to it, she always goes for the cheap laugh.

Book preview

Thrown from the life she thought she knew, Zzara has to restart her existence with no mother, no father, as a dragon denied.

Zzara was excited and happy on the day it all fell apart. Her father had married another dragon, and the new lady of the house had no interest in his mistress living on her new property.

Her mother takes her own life, her father is trying to pretend that she doesn’t exist, but that is not something Zzara is willing to tolerate. Not anymore. The investigators bring her to her father’s house, and Zzara makes sure that her father’s new wife understands what her threats brought about.

She flees to the desert, a plan to start over at Rekker City, but she takes a few days to mourn. A hidden child, she had never had a plan for a life away from her mother. She meets those who are willing to help her make those first steps, and then, she is off and running.

The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Dragon Denied

Copyright © 2019 by Viola Grace

ISBN: 978-1-987969-79-5

©Cover art by Angela Waters

All rights reserved. With the exception of review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the express permission of the publisher.

Published by Viola Grace

Look for me online at violagrace.com.

Smashwords Edition

Dragon Denied

The Covert Dragons Book #7

By

Viola Grace

Other Books in this Series

The Bastard Dragon

Dragon Astray

Dragon Engaged

Dragon Undone

Dragon Defiant

Dragon Designed

Chapter One

Zzara laughed with her mother as they finished making jam. The relief at getting off without a stain or scald was tremendous.

Zzara, am I presentable?

Yes, Mom. He won’t notice a thing. She chuckled and used a cloth to tighten all of the jars, one by one.

The front door chimed, and her mother grinned and bolted to meet her lover of twenty-two years. Zzara laughed, and she finished cleaning up and checking on dinner. It was nearly ready, so she turned off her cookers and made sure that the table setting was precise.

Her mother screamed.

Zzara ran out, and she saw her mother on the floor, clutching her cheek, and her father had his hand open and shaking. The hand was wearing a wedding band.

Zzara looked at her mother and put herself between them. What is going on?

Her mother had dissolved into sobs.

Her father looked at her, and he looked like he was trying to be angry, but he slumped his shoulders. I have been forced to marry, Zzara. I can no longer spend time with you and your mother. You have to leave this house by the end of the week.

Zzara blinked, and she whispered, Why?

My mother told my new lady about your mother. She despises that I have a mistress, so she wants you out.

Zzara turned her head. You said mistress and mother. They don’t know about me.

No, and they won’t. This isn’t a negotiation, Zzara. You have to leave.

Where will we go? Her voice wobbled.

He winced. It doesn’t matter. I can’t give you any money either. Mother has frozen my accounts.

I understand. Get out now.

He stepped toward her, and she held up her hand. Get out. You have done enough. Goodbye.

She was thinking. Thinking. They needed money. She could get to the bank and close out their accounts. He didn’t know about their accounts. They could sell her mother’s jewels. She needed money fast.

The moment that he closed the door, she hugged her mother and said, It will be okay. I will take care of us.

Her mother clung to her and sobbed, but Zzara whispered the plan. Finally, her mother let her go, and Zzara was out the door and running for the bank.

It took her twenty minutes to run to town, but she made it with twenty minutes to spare. Zzara got in line, and she tried to be calm. She walked up to the kiosk when it opened, and she smiled. I am here to close a few accounts.

Sure, Zzara. Which ones?

She rattled off the account numbers and the balances.

Is there a reason for the move? Your father finally moving you up to the big house? She smiled as her hands were busy with entering the data. The money counter began to disgorge the funds, and the process was underway.

No, my father has just married, and he would like us to leave. Zzara looked into the woman’s shocked face and saw her try to scramble back to a point where she hadn’t spoken.

I am so sorry.

As am I. I am going to be magnificent. Zzara looked at the money. Can you provide me with an envelope?

I can. Of course.

No delay, please. My mother is not taking this well.

Of course. The woman moved quickly, got Zzara to sign the receipt after she verified the amount in the envelope, and then, Zzara Byall was on the way home.

She rounded the corner with the envelope clutched to her chest and saw the low and elegant karros leaving her house. Zzara hid behind a tree as the vehicle passed, her heart thumping in her chest. The woman inside the vehicle was blonde, elegant, and had a vicious sneer on her face.

Once things were clear as she walked down the drive to their charming cottage and walked inside.

Her mother had removed a place at the table and held the chair at the head of the table as Zzara came in. Have a seat. You are going to have to be in charge now.

Zzara walked forward slowly. I do not want to be in charge. We can make decisions together.

No, we both know that I am not the one to control anything. Frankly, you have run this household since you were six. Sit. I will serve dinner. Her mother smiled and nodded.

Zzara could feel something wrong with her mother, but it wasn’t something that could be pinned down. It was like her mother had been shattered but pulled herself together with some of the pieces in the wrong place.

The food came out with the normal precision, pushed in on the cart, and then set on the table. Zzara was catered to and spoiled, and when the cake came out, she felt the tears tracking down her cheeks.

They didn’t sing, didn’t light the candle, just sliced the cake, and choked down the pieces. Turning twenty-one had never tasted so bitter.

The next morning, Zzara had a tray for her mother and knocked on her door. Mom. I have breakfast for you.

There was no sound, not even a huff of breath.

Zzara opened the door, and she dropped the tray. She staggered backward and called emergency services. There was a note next to her mother, and she read it, dark and deep hate-filled her as she went read the words over and over.

The emergency responders arrived, and she whispered, In here, before saying in a stronger tone, In here.

They came in, saw her mother, and one turned her around and led her down to the kitchen where they bumbled through making her a cup of tea.

Do you know why? Is there someone we can call? Your father? The man set the cup of tea down next to her.

She shook her head. I will talk to him. He should be told.

The investigators will be here soon. They will want to talk to you.

She nodded. Of course.

She sat