Read Online Claimed by the Dragon King by Caroline Hale - Free Book Online Page B

one of the magical daggers we found in Ash’s treasure horde. I pull the dress back into place and look up at him. He looks worried.
    “Please be careful, Lindy. I… I can’t lose you,” he says.
    “I can’t lose you either,” I say.
    We still have a few hours before Arralt is supposed to give his speech and cast the Renewal spell so we continue our slow walk through the crowd. I’m still on high alert, looking for the telltale black robes of a SIGMA Seeker but I haven’t seen one yet...
    The masses of magic folk certainly are enjoying themselves and I can’t help but envy them. A Fae woman with real peacock feathers growing out of her back hands us each a bottle of the gold fizzy drink. Maybe if I just take a sip of something it will help me relax.
    “Partaking in the festivities?” Ash asks warningly but with a slight smile. He’s joking but at the same time serious. I can’t blame him, we can’t have our side getting too carried away.
    “I just want a sip to calm my nerves,” I answer, swatting him with my hand. “Maybe you should have some too. We’re supposed to be fitting in, not scowling at everyone.”
    I pop the cap and raise the bottle to my nose. It smells like spiked ginger brew. Just as I’m about to take a swig an alarm bell goes off inside me. There’s something else there that I didn’t register at first… something that shouldn’t be. I drop the bottle and it smashes on the ground.
    “Don’t drink it!” I shout. Ruby spits out the sip she had just taken.
    “What’s wrong?” Ash growls pulling us closer and watching the crowd to make sure no one has noticed us.
    “It’s spelled. I can’t tell exactly what it’s for without using my magic but I know it’s not good. I think it’s the reason all these people don’t have any inhibitions. You could probably kill someone right in front of them and they wouldn’t bat an eye.”
    “This isn’t good,” Ash grumbles. “Ruby, did you drink any?”
    “I might have swallowed a little but I spit most of it out!” She sounds scared. Ash holds his hand up to his mouth and rubs the thin band of gold, activating the spell.
    “Under no circumstances should anyone drink or eat anything that is being offered. It is spelled. I repeat. Do not consume anything.”
    My own ring grows warm and I can hear Ash’s message echoing in my head. I’m glad our communication system works but I’m also really nervous now. What if our people have already been drinking this stuff?
    “Colin,” Ash say’s into his ring. It’s exhilarating watching Ash in charge. It suits him, and it’s incredibly hot.
    Colin appears from behind us. “Yes, sir?” he asks.
    “It’s possible that Ruby has consumed some of the Fae drink. We’re not sure what it’s effects are yet but I want you to post one of your guards with her at all times,” Ash commands.
    Colin nods in affirmation and gazes intently over at Ruby. “I’ll guard her myself sir.”
    Ruby smiles at Colin and turns to grab my arm as we continue to walk through the crowd.
    “What was in the drink?” she asks. There’s an edge to her voice and I can tell that she’s trying really hard not to panic.
    “It’s some kind of Control spell. I didn’t get a really good look at it, it’s hard with liquids for some reason. I think it’s the reason all of these people are acting so crazy.”
    “Oh god,” Ruby mutters. “I hope that I don’t start acting that way!” She turns to look at Colin and Ash and her face flushes bright red. “Don’t let me say anything stupid in front of them, okay?”
    “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine,” I reassure her but I’m not entirely telling the truth. I hope she didn’t swallow very much of that stuff because I could see that it was a very strong spell. There’s no telling what she might do. She loosens her grip on my arm and starts to relax a little.
    “He is pretty cute though, right? I mean… I’m not imagining it?”
    “Colin?” I stifle my