Read Online Heart Of The Dragon (Her Dragon's Bane 3) by Harmony Raines - Free Book Online Page B

Marcas.”
    “But he has a good chance...” Serena insisted.
    “Apart from one thing. Marcas will be in dragon form, and Connor will be a man.”
    “I need to warn him.”
    “That’s not how this is going to happen. When you leave here tonight, they will take you. Serena they will tie you to a stake, and Marcas will guard you.”
    Serena shook her head. “I was so stupid to come to your room. Now I’ve ruined everything.”
    Tara came to her, all her own sadness forgotten. “It would have made no difference if you had come here or not. Dòmhnall has it all planned out. But there is a way of defeating Marcas.”
    “What? Tell me Tara please. No more games.”
    “You have to convince Connor to free you. You have to fight together.”
    “But I can’t defeat a dragon.”
    “Between you, you can. But more importantly, you must prove to Dòmhnall that you are loyal and strong. He will give you what you want if you can persuade him of that. I am sure of it.”
    “But I thought you couldn't see him.”
    “I can’t.” She turned from Serena, and sat down wearily on the bed. “I might just as well tell you what I know. I have failed in what I needed to do. I should never have come without the heart stone.”
    “Heart stone?”
    “Yes. A heart stone is what a dragon must give his mate for her to take on his immortality. Unfortunately, Dòmhnall was tricked into giving his away. He thought she was his true mate, his soul mate, but she was a witch who knew how to play to his weakness. He gave her the stone, and she left him. Without it, he became bitter and full of hatred. Never would he allow talk of heart stones. He forbade his men from seeking out their mates.”
    “Is that what happened to Connor’s father? He found his true mate.”
    “I can only surmise. But yes. Dòmhnall exiled him. Their father spent the rest of his life trying to uncover the secret. But he never did, not until after their mother had passed on.”
    “Connor’s father knew the secret? Why didn’t he share it with his sons?”
    “Because he only knew half the secret, as do I. I know what the heart stone does, but I have no idea how you get it from a dragon without killing him.”
    “How do you know all this?”
    “Connor’s father visited me. Even after his mate’s passing, he couldn’t let it rest. He hoped that if the heart stone was returned to Dòmhnall he would share the secret of immortality. I told him where to find her, but I couldn't see the outcome. I had no idea why.”
    “Let me get this straight in my head. You told Connor’s father where to find the witch. What happened?” Serena asked.
    “When the heart stone was taken from her, all the stolen years caught up with her. She turned to dust, but not before cursing the dragon to suffer the same fate.”
    “He died?"
    Tara nodded. "I didn’t know then how important the heart stone was. Afterwards it became apparent that I couldn’t foresee what happened to the heart stone. I became obsessed with it. Slowly I put together the pieces. I learned that only when my fate is entwined with another’s am I unable to see the future.”
    “And that’s how you ended up helping Samuel, because of the heart stone.”
    “Yes. I knew of Connor and Zoah from their father. I glimpsed your future when I went to find them. I could see no other way of everything working out without my working with Samuel. He already had the stone. Somewhere along the way I admit my obsession with the dragon heart clouded my judgement.”
    “But you’ll never be sorry you did it?”
    “No, Serena. I’m sorry I caused you pain, but it was the only way things would work out. I had to come here, and so did you and Connor. I thought the end really did justify the means. Then it all backfired when Zoah couldn’t find the stone. I believe it was lost in the fire.”
    “Why did you still come here?”
    “Stupidly I believed that Dòmhnall would see me and realise I was his true mate.”
    “But he