The Dragon Chronicles: Book One

By Barbara Monahan

Diedre's life is far from boring. With a promising career in criminal law, a handsome fiance and looks every girl would die for, what more could she want? Yet, there was something missing from her life, and the longing grew stronger each day. She dreams of a faceless man, fearless, sensual and breathtakingly beautiful. He is every woman's fantasy who would sooth her fears and bring her peace.
After a brief meeting with a handsome foreigner, she becomes involved with his sexy brother who just happens to be from the 12th century...and a dragon. He explains he's a prince from an ancient race of dragon shifters who once called Atlantis home. He and his brother are now being hunted by his enemies, who want him dead. Convinced he's mentally impaired, she tries not to get involved, but finds it's too late. She's fallen madly inlove with him and now must decide whether or not to help. Diedre discovers he's telling her the truth, they are being hunted...literally, by dragons who've traveled through time to find them. Together, they must return to the 12th century,to find and kill the man who wants his crown. Will they survive the perilous trip through time? And will Diedre finally fill the longing she's been fighting so long, or will she too fall prey to a murder plot?
This is the first book of The Dragon Chronicles, a new series about these unique men from long ago.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 9, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496910066

Barbara Monahan

Barbara lives in Pennsylvania with her family. She is a retired nurse who now devotes most of her time to writing paranormal time travel—her passion.

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© 2014 Barbara Monahan. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. It is not intended to be historically correct. All events, names, characters, people, places and situations are solely the product of the author's imagination, and have no connection in any way to actual people or events of the past. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead are entirely coincidental.

Published by AuthorHouse 05/07/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-1005-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-1006-6 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

"Take heed to those whisperings of the heart, for they are like a beacon in the night showing you the way." Anonymous

PROLOGUE

Diedre knew it was wrong, yet she reached for the mesmerizing crystal once more, the same stone that got her into this mess to begin with. She had no will of her own, as her hand reached for the glittering piece of quartz, placed securely on her closet shelf. It was a place of safety and hiding, where she swore it would remain forever more. Still, she couldn’t shake this need to see him once again. She missed his lips, his wit, and his strong sensual body.

Holding her breath, her trembling hands caressed its smooth cool surface. A golden flash blinded her for a split second, then he appeared. Tall, gorgeously handsome, and totally naked. Her dragon was once again loose.

CHAPTER ONE

B raemore Castle was built sometime in the early twelfth century, high in the mysterious mountains on an island which would come to be known as the Isle of Skye. A beautiful place filled with magical waterfalls and soaring cliffs. This tiny island located off the Scottish western coast, had little to no population at this point in time. It’s here, surrounded by mysterious beauty, that a demised count banished from a mighty continent, decides to call home.

Constructed by exiled Atlanteans for sins of egotism and greed, Braemore stood high overlooking a deep loch. Many of its inhabitants brought their desires for ancient luxuries, science and dark magic with them, evident in the magnificent construction and scientific technology housed within.

It was whispered even the stones from which it was built were different. They seemed to act as a homing device for those returning from other time periods. In times of danger, the castle had the unique quality to render itself invisible, a magical property brought back by survivors of the sunken continent. Standing five stories high, it faced the swirling grey mists of an ancient loch, which itself was steeped in mystery and ancient legends.

Rumors abound in the tiny primitive village that Braemore housed a strange sect of men. These mysterious men could shift at ease into terrifying creatures with the coming of night, taking flight over the dark mountains to various points in time. Despite its history of shape shifters, dragon sightings and bizarre happenings, the few inhabitants of this tiny island managed to exist in peace with the castle’s inhabitants. Fear kept them away.

King Cronos, Atlantis’s reigning king before its demise, was well loved. His just rule and love for his people earned their loyalty in return. Gregor and his brother Andrew were his only children, with Gregor now poised to take the throne at his father’s death, as written down since the beginning of time. But while still in Atlantis, they heard disturbing rumors his days were limited. Unfortunately, that fear was realized when the elderly king was found dead one morning, still on his throne. Gregor knew who was responsible for this outrage, and began gathering his followers for revenge. But first, he had to find a wife.

Present Day

New York City

Another boring day at Barner, Park and Finch law firm. Even though she realized just how fortunate she was to have landed this position, Diedre Collins yearned for something else. Something she couldn’t put into words, buried deep in her consciousness. A memory from so long ago it no longer held form or recognition. Still, she was unable to shake its gnawing presence.

Graduating Cum Laude at a prominent law school should have been enough. After all, she was a stunningly beautiful twenty six year old, with the perfect figure, and now the perfect fiance. Perky and blessed with warm brown eyes and long dark hair, Diedre had life by the tail, or so it would seem.

Jeremy Barner was the man every woman craved. Money, lots of money and great looks. His handsome face could easily grace any magazine or romance novel, if he so desired. But Jeremy’s future was secure in criminal law, so why was she yearning for someone else?

Diedre left her king size bed, which Jeremy insisted they buy, and stumbled to the kitchen. She was still sleepy as a result of getting home sometime after 2 am. Last night they attended another of his father’s large political fundraisers. Being extremely wealthy and CEO of the company, his presence at these events was always welcomed. They raised a considerable sum of money for his candidate of choice, and of course an ample kick back for his own company. But none of this impressed Diedre. Money came and left, but her emotions stayed the same. She put on a happy face, and did her best to show the world a woman deeply in love. In reality, it was all a lie. Afterward, she struggled with the usual feelings of depression which she tried to cope with after each of these boring political circuses. The people were self centered and egotistical, focusing on themselves. Their only concerns were prestige and the pursuit of the almighty dollar. Ugh, she thought dismally, I’m wasting my life trying to keep up with the proverbial Joneses, and that’s all. There must be more for me somewhere, but where?

Blurry eyed, she reached in the pantry for Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice coffee, her current favorite. Methodically, she filled the coffee maker, leaning against the counter while it brewed. Loneliness, she thought, I’m consumed by it lately. She’d tried to explain these feelings to her mother, only to be chastised and told she should be thankful for what she has.

Moments passed before the delicious aroma jarred her back to reality. It happened again she sighed, reaching for her cup. The same dream and the same faceless man who haunted her dreams every night. Who was he? Her heart ached with a secret longing for this unknown hero, this man who had no name or face. The crazy part was, she actually felt she knew him.

She sipped her coffee slowly, trying in vain to concentrate on the hectic work schedule for today. New clients, court cases and the usual routine calls to make. The law firm was growing in leaps and bounds, now that Jeremy had partnered with his father. This was a good thing she reasoned, yet she had to admit she was becoming overwhelmed with her schedule.

Then there were those terrible panic attacks. They seemed more frequent lately, and longer in duration. Periods of sheer terror would seize her and she felt the urge to run, as far as her legs would carry her. It didn’t seem to matter where she was, or what she was doing. It just hit her, like a warning from above to run and hide from something stalking her. What was wrong with her? I’m just tired, she rationalized, finishing her coffee then heading toward the bathroom. Diedre shrugged it off as being over worked, yet something else was slowly filling her mind… and heart.

As was her habit each morning, she turned on the hot water and stepped inside the shower. Wake up she told herself, trying to erase unsettling memories of rehearsed smiles and boring conversations from the night before. These political parties were becoming more and more frequent, and she hated every one. The evening dragged on, and she was relieved when Jeremy finally drove her home, well past midnight. She frequently found herself wishing she was with someone else, but who? Who could possibly offer her more. Yet once again, she’d refused him when he asked to come in for one of their lovemaking sessions. It seems this was becoming increasingly more frequent, and Diedre wondered why. She closed her eyes and sighed as the soothing warm water ran down her body, chasing away her fears. She tried to clear her mind from what she’d face in just a few hours.

Trying to relax, her mind drifted to lovely mountaintops and a chivalrous knight who would fight to the death for his lady. It was a strange image, since Diedre seemed to be looking down from high in the air. In the background stood a beautiful medieval castle, with banners waving proudly in the breeze. Then she saw it. The banners held the image of a dragon. Okay, it’s just a daydream she reminded herself, snapping back to reality. Nothing to get upset about. Yet there was something too realistic about the image. It seemed as though she’d actually seen it sometime before, but from the air? The strange thought frightened her, as she dragged herself back to finishing her shower. Time was passing, and she frowned on being late for work. That kind of thing sent Jeremy into a frenzy.

Forcing the strange images from her mind, she finished washing her hair, then stepped out of the shower. She dried herself, then slipped on her soft terry robe, and wrapped a towel around her long hair. Deciding to take advantage of a few precious moments to grab another cup of coffee, she headed to the kitchen. As she stood gazing out the window, she found herself filled with a deep sense of despair. This feeling was becoming more and more frequent. Someone was missing. Pushing the ridiculous thought from her mind, she finished her coffee and left the cup sitting in the sink.

It was already 7 am and she was definitely running late. Too much time lost in silly daydreams. She searched in her closet, pulling out her dark gray skirt, then hunted through the dresser drawer for that soft new cashmere sweater. It had been a gift from Jeremy, and was one of her favorites. The skirt was a little too tight and clearly too short, but then she never missed a chance to flaunt her perfect figure. Female coworkers hated her for it, but Diedre just grinned, enjoying every second. Yet this intense feeling of loneliness consumed her every waking moment. At times it was just too much, causing her to leave her desk at work and lock herself in the bathroom for a short crying session. She did her best to hide it from her coworkers, and Jeremy. She told herself she should seek medical help, but Diedre wasn’t one to pour her concerns out to others.

Finally she finished dressing. Unconsciously, she slipped the breathtaking diamond on her left hand. Putting it on each morning was becoming more of a duty, than a pleasure. Be careful with that when you’re out, Jeremy warned constantly, it’s worth a small fortune. The flawless three carat diamond sat proudly atop a gleaming band of platinum, indeed a king’s ransom, yet somehow it meant nothing to her. Money, she thought dismally, is that all there is to life? Apparently so, for that’s what motivated Jeremy and the other sharks at the very successful downtown law firm. It had been in business for several years now, handing down its prestigious name from one generation to the next. She headed for the door, checking herself in the mirror, then left her apartment and securely locked the door.

Down on the street she hailed her morning taxi. The streets of Manhattan were already buzzing with early morning traffic, busy people trying to get to their place of employment. Her eyes were drawn to a young couple a few yards away. They were obviously very much in love, and not afraid to show it. The man pulled his woman close, as if shielding her from any harm. No giant diamond on her hand, she noticed. She doubted the young man could afford such a luxury, yet he kissed her tenderly, as if she were the most important thing in his world. Obviously, he wasn’t ashamed to show the depth of his love, despite the dozens of total strangers who looked on with approving smiles.

How sweet, she thought sadly. Jeremy would definitely have frowned at the situation, calling it inappropriate. Always so politically correct, it was starting to become boring. Oh well, she thought, guess you can’t have everything. Still, the nagging feeling persisted.

The day dragged on as she listened to the usual dialogue. Clients coming and going, arguments and desperate hopes to solve their various dilemmas. Many different people, all with their own unique problems. It was relentless.

Morning, Jeremy muttered, kissing her discretely on the cheek as he hurried past. Dressed in a dark blue suit, he looked handsome as ever, and Diedre caught the female workers ogling him. It was hard to miss, and something she knew had been going on for quite some time now. She often wondered if he’d slept with any before her time. Then the bizarre thought filled her mind… why do I care?

He had an early court appearance this morning. In his right hand he gripped a freshly brewed cup of his favorite coffee from the corner coffee shop. Would it have been too much to bring her one too?

She watched as he flew out the door. A feeling of disappointment again filled her heart, something she was becoming used to. Was this true love? She pondered the question in her brain, as she headed toward her office. He was every woman’s dream, that is, every woman she knew and probably a lot more. Coming from an affluent New York family, he was the perfect catch. Dark brown hair cut in the latest fashion, and not one strand out of place. Deep hazel eyes caught the attention of women of all ages. He was always dressed in the latest fashion, and impeccably groomed. His build was slim, definitely a telltale sign he had no desire to visit the gym. He couldn’t understand why the women who worked in his office would huddle together during morning coffee breaks, gossiping about the deliciously muscled construction workers who flirted with them as they came to work. What could they possibly give a girl that he couldn’t, he asked in ignorant bliss. If he only knew where those steamy conversations led, and with whom, he would be shocked. He was absolutely certain that his future wife could not be tempted by such men… he was a fool.

Jeremy had been groomed for this position quite early in life by his father, Arnold Barner, the company President and CEO. A very successful attorney, his reputation for winning even the most difficult cases was renown throughout most of the eastern US. Proud and arrogant, Arnold boasted his son would succeed him on his impending retirement. Diedre was proud of her catch, yet her heart belonged to someone else. The problem was, she didn’t know who.

Good Morning, she said to his back, as he left the office.

Are we still doing lunch? he yelled, not even turning to face her.

She shrugged. Yeah, I guess, as clients started pouring in for their various morning appointments. Business as usual. Her thoughts drifted back to the young lovers on the street. Bet he wouldn’t leave her like that, she thought despondently. Pushing a strand of silky dark hair behind her ear, she walked into her posh office and began her day.

CHAPTER TWO

Diedre, the friendly receptionist called out, pulling her back to reality, your ten o’clock is here. Ashley was the perfect receptionist and friend, and had provided an excellent shoulder to cry on during several difficult occasions. She was probably the only one who Diedre was comfortable telling her inner most secrets. They would often do lunch together, swapping current rumors and catching up on all the latest office gossip. Jeremy was always at the center, and there were times Diedre didn’t want to hear her shocking revelations.

Of course, she replied with a smile, thank you.

Bad night? Ashley asked, holding the door open. She noticed the look of fatigue on her face.

No, just another boring political party. I’ll be fine, please send her in.

As she listened to the middle age woman ramble on, her mind drifted off to another place and another man. She instinctively knew he would sooth her heartache, and make her happy. Crazy she thought, looking over at the blonde sitting in front of her. The woman was desperately trying to convince her she hadn’t killed her husband. How is it possible to come to that point in a marriage, she thought sadly.

The day slowly moved on, each client pleading his or her case. Diedre had missed her lunch date with Jeremy, and knew there would be hell to pay. She was happy she hadn’t seen him for the rest of the day. For some reason she was unusually aware of each passing hour, as if anticipating something. The long day soon came to an end, as the weary staff prepared to close up shop.

As she cleared the paperwork from her desk and locked the drawer, Ashley popped around the corner. "I’m very sorry Diedre, but there’s a gentleman who just walked in looking for you