Dragon Flight: Princess Witch, #2

By Katy Haye

A princess in need of freedom. A prince in need of allies. A dragon in need of rescue.

Princess Relle has escaped from her stifling life in the Muirland Palace. But she isn't safe yet. She must flee the country before her magic is discovered and she's put to death as a witch.

Rebel Lyo will help her reach the fae, but they can't go empty-handed. The dragon currently imprisoned by the Muirland mages would be the perfect offering.

But first they need to get into the heavily-guarded tower to set the creature free – and getting back out afterwards will test them all to their limits.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Plumshine Books
• Release date: May 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201450458

Book preview

Dragon Flight (Princess Witch #2) Second Edition © Katy Haye 2022

Cover design © Katzilla Designs

The right of Katy Haye to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this ebook may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the author. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and should not be resold or given away to other people.

This story is a work of fiction. All characters and events depicted in this novel are fictitious and any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

www.katyhaye.com

The Princess Witch series (Firethorn Kingdoms fantasy)

Dragon Thief

Dragon Flight

Dragon Fury

Dragon Stone

Blood Magic series (Firethorn Kingdoms fantasy)

A Heart made of Glass

A Handful of Silver

A Fist forged from Iron

A Soul clad in Shadows

A Royal Bride duology (Firethorn Kingdoms fantasy)

Nine Dragons Gold

The River Queen’s Spell

The Four Kings series (fantasy)

Awakened by Magic

Inspired by Magic

Shattered by Magic

Drenched by Magic

Ignited by Magic

Courted by Magic

A Clockwork War series (steampunk)

A Clockwork War

An Airship from Ashes

The Tinker Queen

The Immortality Device

The Crown of Fane duology (urban fantasy)

The Last Gatekeeper

The Last Dreamseer

Standalone (post-apocalyptic)

Rising Tides

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Contents

1 – Dragons and Magic

2 – I had Staff for That

Lyo – A Simple Plan

3 – Our Real Enemy

4 – Human, Naked and Vulnerable

Lyo – All that Mattered

5 – The Scent of Heat and Fire

6 – A More Complaisant King

Lyo – Foolish Heart

7 – We Have to Go

8 – He Wasn’t Pretending

Lyo – Control

9 – Keep That Safe

10 – A Parlous State of Affairs

Lyo – Promises Fulfilled

11 – A World that Didn’t Exist

12 – A Chance to Escape

Lyo – A Miracle

13 – The End of Our Path

14 – No Escape in Sight

Lyo – A Crashing Explosion

15 – Ordinary Day

16 – From the Abyss

Lyo – A Mess

17 – Prepared to Fight

18 – Pinpricks of Pain

Lyo – Out of Control

19 – Lost Along the Way

20 – We Couldn’t Hide Forever

Lyo – Foolish to Hope

21 – Nothing Worse than Rats

22 – Tell Me Everything

Lyo – The Job Ahead

23 – A Sense of Dread

24 – Those Three Words

Acknowledgements

1 – Dragons and Magic

I woke as a human. I hadn’t been sure I would. I’d always known I had magic, but I’d only recently discovered that it was powerful enough to shift me into the form of a cat. I stretched. Everything ached, but I might not be able to blame shifting for that, given the blows I’d received while trying to help Surrana prisoner-and-rebel Lyo escape the executioner’s axe.

It had been a busy twenty-four hours.

A crooning noise told me I wasn’t alone. I sat up in time to be pushed back by something I couldn’t see. Hey! A warm body collided with my chest, leathery wings brushing against my arms. It was the dragonette I’d stolen from my father, King Haran of Muirland. She wanted to say hello, it seemed. It was the strangest sensation to be bombarded by an unseen creature, although I was very pleased to find her here.

Smiling, I put my arms around her. She continued crooning, butting her head against my chin. The creature hadn’t been invisible when she was the king’s pet, but Lyo had told her to hide so we could get her out of the city and the country. I wondered if she would stay unseen until she reached the fae in the Firethorn Mountains.

And that reminded me that I shouldn’t be lying here, in a tent outside Muirland City, when it was clearly day outside. We needed to get away before we were caught. I needed to escape before my father found me, and Lyo needed to secure the help of the fae to set the exiled Prince Ryss of Surran on his country’s disputed throne.

I pushed the dragonette away, looking around the tiny interior of the canvas tent. I hoped for clothes, but I found nothing. I’d arrived as a cat. All my clothes were back at the palace, not that fine gowns would be practical for a hike to the Firethorn Mountains. I was no longer a princess, which meant I’d have to learn to make do with what I could find.

...I’ll wake her up if you’re too scared to. Noise filtered through from outside. I recognised the cross tones of Kiri, Lyo’s sister. And I didn’t need to be told that I was the her she meant.

Let Relle sleep. She needs it. That was Lyo. The dragonette crooned as I knelt up in the cramped space. I didn’t have clothes, but I did have a blanket.

And we need to finish our mission and get out of Muirland. You’re a wanted criminal, or had you forgotten?

I shivered, pulling the blanket around myself and trying to tuck in the ends to keep it all in place. It would take a long time for me to forget the sight of Lyo kneeling before the executioner’s block, the gleam of sunlight on the polished metal as the executioner lifted his weapon high overhead. I was sure he wasn’t in danger of misremembering the events of the past few days, either.

I pushed the canvas flap aside and clambered out of the tent, the dragonette pattering behind me. I’m here. I’m awake. We can leave whenever you like, I promised. As I stood, dizziness assailed me. I grabbed a nearby tent pole with one hand while the other kept my blanket-sarong around me. I forced myself to focus on Kiri and Lyo. Using magic made me famished, but this didn’t seem like the time to raise that small point.

We can’t leave. Kiri’s tone was compounded of dislike and surprise. She sounded horrified that I’d even suggest such a thing.

Why not? My gaze darted from her to Lyo. Aren’t we going to the Firethorn Mountains for your prince?

Prince Ryss isn’t in the mountains. Kiri sneered, as though I was a fool to suggest that as a destination. He’s on Pearl Island.

One of the smaller of the Crescent Isles, a cluster of islands that belonged to Muirland, but were close to the border with Surran. It was a good base for the prince. But a long way from the mountains.

I’ll take you to the mountains, Lyo promised. But we have a mission to complete first. I remembered the reason for delay. Lyo had planned to steal something from the palace. He’d been trying to gain entry when he’d been caught and sentenced to death. I wanted to protest that he couldn’t go back to the city again, but the words stuck in my throat. He’d gone back to the city to rescue me, and I was far less important than his mission for his precious prince.

I opened my mouth to ask what he needed from the palace, but then my stomach rumbled loud enough that it could have been one of the cliffs that edged the city collapsing.

You need to eat, Lyo said, while Kiri grunted in disgust, as though I’d displayed a personal weakness. Lyo turned away. I took in our surroundings, able to see more clearly now than when I’d arrived last night. We were in the thick of the woods, surrounded by trees. There was just space in our clearing for two tents and a stone-ringed campfire that sent a spire of smoke into the air.

Lyo bent and scooped something from the fire stones. He turned and offered it to me. This is from last night. It’s all we’ve got until Pell gets back. He held out a limp, slightly scorched flatbread. My stomach gurgled in welcome. It might not bear much comparison to the fine palace dinners I was accustomed to, but right now it was infinitely more welcome. I wolfed it down. Where is Pell? The bearded, older Surrana was the third of their team, as well as being a calming influence on Kiri.

He’s hunting, Kiri snapped.

I gulped down the last of the bread. Thank you. I looked past Lyo to the fire. He’d said that was all they had, but my heart still sank when I saw there was nothing else waiting on the flat stones. My stomach gurgled harder, demanding more.

A scuffling sound drew my attention aside. Leaves scattered and then movement stopped. A moment later, Lyo shifted as the dragonette landed on his shoulder. It looked like he was the beast’s favourite. He reached a hand up to scratch her head and her satisfied, crooning noise rang out again.

We need to get the dragonette out of Muirland, I said. I understood Lyo’s dedication to his prince, but the creature was in danger. My father would send hunters after her, if he hadn’t already. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t afraid for myself, too. If my father captured me, he’d beat me senseless and send me to marry the Surran king, sealing an alliance between our two countries that would signal the start of a war with the peaceful fae.

I had no desire to wed a murderous king and trigger bloodshed, so I was against the match for personal reasons; Lyo and his friends wanted to stop it for political ones. It was, perhaps, a tenuous reason to draw us together, but I hoped it would be enough to get me safely to the fae. Once I reached the Firethorn Mountains I’d be able to discover more about the magic that I must have inherited from my fae grandmother.

We can’t leave yet, Kiri repeated. She smiled. It wasn’t a happy gesture. We have a job for you first.

My throat dried. Lyo rounded on her furiously. We spoke about this. It’s too dangerous for Relle.

It’s too dangerous for you, his sister replied, chin jutting.

What—

My question was interrupted by a dark shape moving through the trees. We fell silent. Lyo’s hand went to his hip and I realised he carried a dagger there. Pell strode into sight and we relaxed. He reached the fire and dropped his bounty of two pairs of dead animals onto the flat stones. I wasn’t used to seeing meat before it had been prepared in the palace kitchens, but my nose twitched as the scent reached me, remnants of my cat senses perking up in interest. Rabbit for lunch. Those cat senses urged me to tear into the flesh immediately. It took all my human sensibilities to remind me that I needed to wait, and I needed to share. My stomach protested both ideas.

I wrenched my attention back to Lyo and Kiri as Pell joined us, crouching by the fire to skin and gut his catch. What do you want me to do? I asked. But I was pretty sure I knew. Sneak back into the palace?

Yes, Kiri declared.

No! Lyo glared at his sister.

What’s this? Pell’s brows raised, his gaze darting between his two friends.

Kiri waved a hand as though it were a matter of little importance. We agreed it while you were hunting.

Lyo’s gaze met mine, an apology in his expression. He swung to his sister. We discussed it, and agreed it wasn’t practical.

My insides quaked at the idea of returning to the palace, but I was the one most able to disguise myself. I’ll do it, I said, before I could think better of it.

I won’t ask it of you, Lyo ground out.

I shook my head. You don’t have to ask, Lyo. I’m offering. I took a deep breath. I’d sworn to be strong, as strong as I needed to escape my father’s plans for my future. If I longed to take charge of my fate, here was my chance to prove what I was capable of. What is it you need me to steal?

"Not you. What I’m going to steal— Lyo held up a hand to silence Kiri. Surprisingly, she obeyed. —I’m going to steal something the fae want." He broke into a slow smile. He had to be thinking of the alliance he was determined to secure with the fae so they would help the prince.

I tried to think what my father might have in his treasury that would interest the fae. The fae didn’t much care for what we prized. Jewels and precious metals – well, they could mine them out of the Firethorn Mountains if they chose. What they cared about, so far as I knew, was dragons and magic. Which meant...

We’re going to steal the dragon’s egg from the king’s treasury, Lyo declared.

A lump of chill disappointment unfurled in my stomach. My voice was dull. King Haran doesn’t have a dragon’s egg.

Kiri scowled, returning to her best-loved expression. Don’t play dumb. If we know about it, you must know that the Muirland king has a dragon’s egg kept safe under lock and key.

Actually, he doesn’t.

Lyo and Pell watched me silently, awaiting an explanation. Kiri wasn’t that patient. She took a step towards me, as though intimidation could change the truth. He does. Maybe he just never told you about it.

Oh, I know about it all right. I looked up. My face felt cold, as though all my blood had drained away. Lyo’s amber gaze rested on my face, waiting. I swallowed. I stole it. A year ago.

2 – I had Staff for That

You have the egg? Pell looked at me with sudden admiration.

I don’t have it now. I stole it. It’s ... it could be anywhere.

What did you do with it? Kiri’s hands clenched at her sides. Maybe she was preparing to beat answers out of me. There was no need for that.

My cheeks heated. It had been my first experience of stealing from my father, my first walk through Muirland City with a face shaped by magic. I’d been euphoric and terrified in equal parts, expecting discovery every moment. I’d been a different girl then. I sold it. To a man in a tavern.

"You sold it?"

I moved so I was standing slightly behind Lyo. I hoped he’d hold her back if Kiri launched herself at my throat. What else was I supposed to do with it? I got ten silver marks and gave the money to the Daughters of Compassion’s orphanage.

Kiri uttered a noise that made me tense. She threw her head back, as though the trees overhead might hold her back from the violence she appeared to be contemplating. You had a dragon’s egg and you sold it for some bedamned orphans? I can’t listen to this. She strode away, crashing through the trees.

Lyo and Pell shared a glance. I’ll go after her, Pell said, leaving his butchery and following her with the air of a man who’d been given an unpleasant duty.

I’m sorry. I stared into the fire. Lyo hadn’t said a word. I didn’t care about Kiri, but I did feel bad about letting him down. It seemed like I could get back at both my father and Mage Redmor by taking the egg. I lifted a shoulder. It was a bad egg, anyway. He’d had it three years and it showed no sign of hatching – the mages would have taken it if it had contained a dragon.

No sign?