Stolen Dragons

By Jaymi Hanako

An ice-dragon who cannot fly can never have a mate.

Permanently injured and unable to take to the air after an ‘accident,’ Aldriss lives on the edges of her former life. Shunned by society and considered unworthy of any task. But she won’t let that stop her from searching for a high-born dragon youth who disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

Her quest becomes even more complicated when she encounters a fire-dragon searching for his younger brother. Tyndarr is handsome, well-connected, and everything she can no longer aspire to have in her life. He’s convinced that she is meant to be his mate. Aldriss cannot resist the temptation to surrender to the desire that burns hot between them, though she knows it cannot last forever...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jaymi Hanako
• Release date: Dec 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005968670

Jaymi Hanako

Jaymi Hanako writes stories of love and lust in alternate worlds. Her favorite subjects include spaceships, magic, and paranormal creatures.Born and raised in Hawaii, she left paradise when she fell in love with a soldier. After being assigned to different bases throughout the southern United States, they settled in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado where they currently live with their dog and two cats.

Book preview

Chapter One

T yndarr, wait!

He slowed his steps as he dodged the groups of human soldiers sparring in the courtyard. If he could have shifted and taken off without risk of trampling them, he would have. He was eager to get away.

And not only because he had a mission to complete.

Still, something in his brother’s voice compelled him to stop. Back home, Jodan did not have any kind of formal rank over him. Here in this human country, it was a very different story. Perhaps he was growing into that new role in more than one way.

It’s getting late, Tyndarr said.

I want to go with you.

You can’t. As useful as it would be to have his brother’s aid in this, it wouldn’t be right to draw him away from his family. He nodded toward the group of soldiers where Jodan’s wife and queen, Kyra, sparred with her men. I wouldn’t want you to end up on the wrong side of her sword.

His brother laughed, the sound a mix of love and pride. You haven’t seen her in action, and you say that?

He shrugged. Kyra had killed a traitor on the battlefield, as fierce as any dragon in many ways. Though that particular instance was about seeking vengeance against the man who murdered her brother, rather than anger. I’ll send word if I need aid.

Are you sure?

Tyndarr looked past him again. I don’t want to take you away from all of this. You’ve only just returned.

Jodan and Kyra had taken their twins to visit the nearby kingdom of Traolor, where Jodan’s twin, Rergyn resided with his wife. Queen Seira recently gave birth to a healthy baby boy, and the families wanted the cousins to meet as soon as possible. Though the children would not remember this first encounter, their parents hoped it would only be the start of their lifelong bond.

Tyndarr swallowed hard. It had been just as difficult to be around Rergyn and Seira.

Both couples reminded him of what he didn’t have. What he would never have.

Jodan’s nostrils flared. You’re hiding something.

It’s nothing to do with that. It was always near-impossible to hide anything from his dragon kin. They picked up on each other’s emotions through scent. I’m worried about Jyned.

Their youngest brother, who disappeared three days before. At first, everyone assumed it to be a prank. But then he missed a meal. Followed by a second. As a growing youth, a dragon on the verge of sprouting his mature flying wings, he would be constantly hungry yet unable to hunt his own prey.

That was when they raised an alarm.

How would he make it out this far? He doesn’t have his wings yet.

Father thought it would be best to cover every possibility.

Jodan sighed. Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?

It would be better for you to stay here. He knows where you live, and if he somehow was brought in the area, he might try to find you.

I suppose you’re right. Jodan hesitated. Shall I make some inquiries with Ozeir? Perhaps he might have heard something.

Ozeir ruled the ice-dragon clans whose territory overlapped with Kyra’s kingdom. Father didn’t want anyone to know, especially anyone outside of our family. Though they and Ozeir often referred to each other as cousins, the connection was a tenuous one that had not been significant in centuries. The form of address had more force of habit than truth. "Do you trust his discretion?

His brother let out a mirthless laugh. The ice-dragons do their best to avoid even their nearest neighbors. I’ve only seen him once since my wedding and haven’t met the others in this territory at all. The ice-dragon had helped arrange Jodan’s match. More out of guilt at his part in Kyra being cursed. An icy shard from a weapon of the dread-trolls, broken off in a battle with the dragon, had embedded itself in her. Its spreading magic had left her unable to be touched by humans and, as the last in her line, she needed an heir. Especially since few had expected the young queen would be cured. He’s not about to fly off to the south to gossip about our family.

Do what you think is best. I trust your judgement. Their father probably wouldn’t, but that didn’t matter now. I better head out. I want to cover as much ground as possible before I lose the light.

Good luck.

Tyndarr rushed from the courtyard, eager to get away. Now that this obligatory visit was over, he was free to return to his task.

And to get away from his brother.

He was happy for him. And for Rergyn. Neither of them had an easy path when it came to winning over their mates.

It defied the odds that two members of their family—three, if one counted their eldest brother Trokanth’s tragic attachment to his late mate, Ayry—found love despite their marriages being arranged for practical purposes.

He sailed away from the palace, toward the mountains that made up the eastern border of Icragon. One of the territories where the dread-trolls lived. Ancient enemies of all dragons, and the most likely creatures to have the ability to make one disappear, though how they would have reached all the way to his father’s territory…

And those who lived closest to here would not attack them. There was a tentative truce in place, though he supposed that it might only apply to his brother Rergyn and his wife, Seira. She freed a troop of those creatures from a wicked enchantment, and they had not only sworn themselves to her protection but helped her negotiate with their chief for a more lasting peace.

He doubted he would find any trace of his brother out here or anywhere in these northern territories.

Still, he intended to be as thorough as possible before returning to his father’s lands.

He circled over the mountain once more. Sniffed the air, wincing as the icy breeze hit the inside of his nose. He and his brothers drew lots in order to determine who would search in which direction, and he’d drawn the losing mark.

Despite the sting, he picked up an intriguing scent.

A dragon. Not one of his own kind, but a female.

Something inside him stirred. He had been waiting a long time to take a mate, since his parents had not received an adequate offer from anyone of sufficient status and influence. Human, dragon, or otherwise. And like every male, he had certain needs...

Then he spotted her.

On the ground.

Not where he expected to find a dragon of any kind. One of her wings was noticeably smaller than the other. It did not lie completely flat when folded. There was an odd hitch to her gait as well. What would an injured dragon be doing in a place like this? And alone?

Yet no scent of pain came from her, only the natural and enticing fragrances of a mature female.

She turned her head upward and did not appear startled by his appearance. Greetings, fire-breather. What brings you into this realm?

I am searching for my youngest brother.

She seemed to be taken aback, her shock evident in her scent. I am in search of a missing dragon as well. She disappeared two days ago.

A day after my brother vanished. Tyndarr landed a respectful distance from the female and folded his wings against his sides. Inclined his head. Tyndarr Grieghern, at your service, my lady.

I am called Aldriss. There was something odd about her manner of speaking. Something a little less polished than what he was used to hearing at his family’s court. Yet despite her obvious physical limitations, she was one of the most strikingly beautiful dragons that he had ever seen, with her gold scales and pale blue eyes. You say your brother has gone missing, my lord? Interesting coincidence. Is it not?

I do not believe in those sorts of coincidences. For what were the odds that two youths from separate dragon clans would go missing at the same time, and in much the same way?

I suspect it is not a coincidence, either. Aldriss inhaled sharply and fear flashed in her scent, as well as her eyes. But why would anyone steal dragon youths?

I do not know. Perhaps if we can locate them, we will find out.

Are you suggesting that we work together, my lord?

If he didn’t know how serious this situation was, he’d think that her tone had almost been... flirtatious. Or maybe she responded to him instinctively, just as he responded to her. I think it likely that we are looking for the same thing, so it would make sense if we can divide the burden. I will take the sky and you can see if there is any trace of their scent on the ground.

She stiffened. Just because you can fly and I cannot, that does not make you better than me.

I did not mean it that way.

She hesitated, then made the slightest shake of her head. Forgive me, my lord? I find being polite much more difficult these days.

He wondered if her injuries were related to the youngster’s disappearance. They must be fresh and relatively new, for a dragon normally healed from even grievous injuries in a matter of days.

That did not explain the lack of pain in her scent. Or rather, it’s diminished presence. Something so serious should have been accompanied by a much stronger odor of injury.

Still, it would be a difficult thing for her to adjust to now. Being forced to stay on the ground.

Even temporarily.

Tyndarr studied her more closely, trying to get a better assessment of this strange dragon. She appeared to be quite young. Now that he looked at her wings, it appeared that the smaller one might still be caught in the middle of its transformation to full growth. Yet her voice was not that of an adolescent, but of a mature female.

As was her fragrance.

You are staring at me, my