For the Love of Tia: Dragon Lords of Valdier Book 4.1 Read online

  FOR THE LOVE OF TIA

  From the Dragon Lords of Valdier: Book 4.1

  By S. E. Smith

  Acknowledgments

  I would like to thank my husband Steve for believing in me and being proud enough of me to give me the courage to follow my dream. I would also like to give a special thank you to my sister and best friend Linda who not only encouraged me to write but who also read the manuscript. Also to my other friends who believe in me: Narelle Julie, Jackie, Lisa, and Sally.

  —S. E. Smith

  IMPRINT: Science Fiction Romance

  Science Fiction Romance

  FOR THE LOVE OF TIA

  Smashwords Edition

  Copyright © 2013 by Susan E. Smith

  First E-Book Publication May 2013

  Cover Design by Melody Simmons

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission from the author.

  All characters, places, and events in this book are fictitious or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations are strictly coincidental.

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  Synopsis

  Tia is the Keeper of the Stories for the inhabitants of Glitter in the Kingdom in the Caverns. She dreams of a life she knows will never come true for her; life outside of the caverns for her people and a mate for herself. Hope for her people blossoms when an unknown creature is captured at the entrance to their kingdom even as her dream of a mate becomes even more impossible.

  Many generations ago, her world was invaded by giant alien beings who took the precious animals that gave life to their world. Now harsh sand covers it, leaving it barren on top. Tia recognizes the captured female as the golden haired goddess the legends spoke of that would renew their world once again.

  Jett is the youngest royal son of the King from the Kingdom of the Sands. His thirst for adventure leads him to an unknown cavern where an unusual Kingdom exists. He is captivated by the slender, delicate female he discovers. Unable to resist, he returns again and again until he knows he must steal her away.

  Unbeknownst to Jett, Tia is dying. When he steals her away from her world he expects to claim her as his bride. Now, he must make the ultimate sacrifice if she is to survive. He knows one thing for certain; he would do anything for the love of Tia.

  Can two hearts beat as one? Or will one life have to be sacrificed to save another…..

  Chapter 1

  Tia sighed as she ran her delicate fingers over the smooth surface of the scroll. Her eyes stared blankly at the intricate illustrations and the symbols carefully describing each legend. Her tiny, light green ears flickered back and forth at the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps drawing her out of her trance. She knew immediately who it was – her brother Tamblin. She quickly rolled the scroll and hid it behind one of the colorful fabric tapestries she had hanging in her room. She didn’t want him to know that she had been writing down the stories of their people, at least not yet. He would be deeply concerned if he knew and become even more protective of her.

  Tia closed her large brown eyes and drew in a deep breath in an effort to calm the fast beat of her heart. Every third beat it would stop and she was terrified it would not start again. It was happening more often and lasting longer each time. She opened her eyes and forced a smile onto her face as her brother swept aside the long curtain door of her chambers.

  “Tia, I have need of you,” Tamblin said in his deep, rich voice. “A creature has been captured at the entrance to our caverns. It is very large and strange looking.”

  Tia tilted her head and frowned. “Why do you need me? Surely you do not expect me to give you my permission to kill it?” She asked scornfully. “You have never bothered to ask me before!” She pointed out, reminding him of the few times when an unknown creature wandered into their domain only to be killed within moments by the Guardians of the Cavern, two large Were Beast with poisonous saliva and barb-like fur.

  Tamblin glared at her before straightening his broad shoulders. Even though he stood no taller than twelve inches tall, he was still taller than most of the other inhabitants of Glitter. As their ruler, he guarded the kingdom and its populaces with a fierce protectiveness that Tia knew she should appreciate more. A soft sigh escaped her. With her, he tended to be three times more protective, rarely letting her travel anywhere alone.

  “Tia,” he said, drawing in a deep breath to calm his frustration. “This creature is different from anything I have ever encountered before. The Guardians alerted us and we were able to render it unconscious before they attacked and killed it. As Keeper of the Stories, I thought it would be wise to seek your counsel first before I ordered it destroyed.” He paused a moment and his eyes softened as he studied her. “I do respect your guidance, sister.”

  Tia lowered her eyes and blinked several times, ashamed of her unreasonable criticism. “I will come. Where is the creature now?”

  “I have had it transported to the center of the moss field, near the river,” Tamblin said, gently wrapping his hand around her arm. He frowned down at her in concern. “You have lost more weight. Have you not been feeling well again?”

  Tia bit her lower lip with her sharp teeth and shook her head. “I’m fine, Tamblin. You have more important things to worry about than me,” she assured him.

  “Never, Tia,” Tamblin responded quietly, guiding her out to the flying creatures they used as transport throughout the caverns. “You will always be the most important thing to me.”

  He helped her climb up onto the saddle that was strapped on the back of one of the bat-like creatures that lived in the caverns. Tia leaned forward and petted the body of the flying mammal that was covered in a thick, dark gray fur with large, black leathery wings. The winged animal turned and emitted a low humming noise when it saw Tia, its sharp pointed ears flicking back and forth in affection. Tamblin adjusted the tiny bridle and checked Tia’s saddle to make sure she was comfortable.

  “Tamblin,” Tia said leaning forward to touch her brother’s shoulder before he moved away. She waited until he looked at her before she smiled. “Thank you.”

  “I love you, Tia,” Tamblin said quietly. “I only want to keep you safe.”

  “I know,” she responded lightly. “I know. Now, let us see what marvelous creature you have discovered.”

  Tia snapped the reins on her flying beast and drew in a shaky breath as it rose swiftly into the air. She loved flying. She loved the freedom. Sometimes when she had trouble breathing, she would close her eyes and imagine she was as free as the flying beasts were. It helped to calm the panic that rose inside her.

  *.*.*

  “Jett,” a soft whispered voice called out frantically. “You are going to get not only yourself killed but me too!”

  Jett turned and grinned at the dark sand-colored face rushing up behind him. “Santil, if you are afraid of death, go back. I want to see the underground world again,” he said with a silent laugh before turning to scoot through the narrow opening between t
he dark rocks.

  “You want to see the female again, you mean,” Santil growled out. “Did you not see the huge creatures that just flew into the cave? They could step on us and not even know it. We will be nothing but a pile of goo on the bottom of their feet.”

  Jett just shook his head. Santil was always looking at the gloomy side of things. Jett was the youngest son of the King of the Sand Kingdom. His thirst for adventure had gotten him into trouble more than once but he loved the freedom of soaring over the sands, even if it meant being in danger of being eaten every once in a while. Several months back, he and Santil had been flying over the sand dunes scouting for enemy worms that had attacked one of their military posts on the outer rim of their Kingdom. A small pod of the damn things had surprised them. Santil had been thrown off of his sand skimmer. Jett had engaged the worms and led them away. Unfortunately, he had encountered a larger pod of them and was forced to seek shelter. That was how he found the small crack in the rocks that had led down to the most incredible kingdom under the sands.

  And that is where I found my bride, he thought with satisfaction. Now all I have to do is steal her away.

  Jett jumped down off the higher rock face, landing on the smooth surface. He knew the tunnel by heart now. He had returned to it over and over since he discovered it, watching, waiting, wanting. The first time he saw the delicate, green female he had been entranced by her beauty. Her large, dark brown eyes spoke of secrets he wanted to know. She moved like the sands dancing in the wind, barely touching the surface. She always wore a gown that was made of the colors of the sky before a storm. His fingers itched to peel it from her slender figure. He wanted to run his lips around her tiny pointed ears and see if his whispered words of love would be returned.

  He had no doubt in his mind that he loved her. She was with him every single moment whether he was awake or asleep. His mind could picture every small smile she gave to one of the many people of her clan that came to see her. He loved to watch her as she studied the plants and mushroom shaped trees of her underground world. But he also worried that she would not care for the bright world of his kingdom. He feared she would not enjoy the sands or the fierce winds and storms that sometimes swept over his home.

  “Well, are we going or are you going to stand there daydreaming all day?” Santil asked in irritation, jumping down to stand next to him.

  Jett started when he realized that he had been dreaming instead of walking. He turned to look at Santil for a moment before turning his head to look down the dark tunnel. Making up his mind, he turned back to his friend once more.

  “I want you to stay here,” Jett commanded. “I will return in a few hours and when I do, I won't be alone. I plan to bring my bride with me.”

  Santil rolled his eyes in exasperation. “Don't you think you should ask her if she is interested in you first before you steal her away?”

  Jett grinned at his friend. “What fun is there in that? Besides, what if she were to say no?”

  Santil watched as his childhood friend sprinted down the dark tunnel, shaking his head in resignation. “How could she say no? No one ever has to you. Beside even if she did, you wouldn't listen.” He chuckled as he talked to himself before jumping back up onto the ledge and leaning back against the rocky side so he could stare out at the bright sky waiting patiently for his friend to return.

  Chapter 2

  Tia stared in disbelief at the unconscious figure lying on the dark red moss. The stories flowed through her mind in vivid detail. She would never forget them. They were a part of her. The legends spoke of a beautiful goddess with hair the color of white gold that would return life to their world. Several generations ago, giants from a distant world came in great ships and took the small creatures that fed on the minerals in the sand. The creatures, in return, had left their excreta that fertilized the planet causing the growth of the huge mushroom forests.

  When the last of the creatures were taken, their world began to die as there was nothing to fertilize the seeds buried deep within the sands. The vasts forests of mushroom trees withered and died. The great storms that frequently developed grew worse because there were no forests to buffer their winds. Soon, the sand began swallowing everything. What was worse was the giants had brought with them great worms that attacked Tia's people, killing most of her clan. Their only hope of salvation was to seek the protective walls of the rock caverns. Over the last ten generations, they had developed their world until it was the beautiful kingdom that lay before her. Her body trembled as her heart jerked uncomfortably in her chest. Her last wish had been to see her people free to go to the surface but she never believed that it would happen in her lifetime. Now, she knew that the gods had heard her desperate plea and were giving her this last gift before she died.

  “What do you think, Tia,” Tamblin asked quietly as he studied the still figure lying on the moss. “Should I order it destroyed?”

  “NO!” Tia cried out, looking at him in horror before remembering he did not have the knowledge that she did, at least not yet. “No,” she said in a quieter voice. “She has been sent by the gods and goddesses. She is the one. She has the knowledge to heal our world above so that we may live once more in the brightness.”

  Tamblin looked at Tia in disbelief before turning his head to look down at the figure that was now beginning to stir. He raised his hand in a silent command for his soldiers to be ready for anything. He would order the sharp spears, laced with the poison of the Guardians of the Cavern, to strike if the creature tried to attack. How could the Gods or Goddesses send such a large creature as their salvation? He had listened to the stories his mother had told Tia when she didn't think he was listening. He could not see the stories in his head like his sister could but he knew they were important.

  Tamblin pushed Tia behind him when the creature slowly sat up. It was obvious the creature was female. She had many of the same features as their females did. He watched suspiciously as she blinked several times before she glanced around her. His soldiers had taken to the air and were making careful sweeps around her, keeping just far enough away to stay out of her reach but close enough that they could launch the spears if need be. He straightened to his full height, refusing to cower in fear.

  “Hello,” the golden goddess said with a soft smile as her gaze settled on him and his sister.

  Tia stepped nimbly around Tamblin to get a closer look at the giant female but stopped at the husky sound of her voice. Tamblin moved swiftly next to Tia, scolding her to stay behind him. Tia ignored her brother. She knew deep down that the golden creature wouldn’t hurt her.

  “She will not harm me,” she hissed out to her brother. “She is the one! I know it.” She could see the images in her head of the golden goddess her mother told her would come to save their world.

  Tamblin fought the urge to bundle his sister back up onto the flying beast and lock her away in the palace where he knew she was safe. He knew she was sick even as she tried to hide it from him. He could see the tremor in her hands, the weight she had lost, and how she had trouble breathing at times. He feared if she got too excited it might bring on an attack. He glanced worriedly from Tia’s face to the creature who was sitting quietly waiting for them to respond to her.

  Tamblin reluctantly nodded his head. He knew deep down that this was something he could not deny his sister. The golden goddess kept her hands on her thighs and waited as Tia slowly approached her. Tia tilted her head again, her ears twitching to and fro when the creature spoke again. She might not understand her words but she did recognize the gentle tone.

  *.*.*

  Tia stepped cautiously closer, reaching out and touching the larger female with the tips of her long green fingers. She smiled when the creature remained still. Feeling more confident, she moved a little closer.

  Her heart pounded erratically when the female slowly raised one of her arms. She froze in fear, wondering if she could have been mistaken. As much as she was confident that this was the cre
ature the stories told of, she was still unprepared for the size of it. Tia watched as the female slowly lowered one of her hands down onto the soft moss, palm upward. Tia looked back and forth between the palm and the creature’s eyes before making the decision to trust her instincts.

  She took a tentative step forward, stopping when Tamblin hissed out again in alarm. Shaking her head at him, she climbed up into the open palm. She couldn’t resist running her slender fingers over the warm flesh of the creature. It was soft and smooth – almost comforting. Tia glanced up and watched as the beautiful golden haired goddess nodded to her before carefully raising her hand, lifting Tia up into the air. Tia stood up, holding onto one of the long slender fingers for balance and looked around her. Slowly, her people began to kneel down in reverence of the creature and Tia’s courage to communicate with it. Only when her brother knelt as well did Tia turn to face the goddess who came from above with a smile on her tiny face.

  *.*.*

  Jett slipped out of the dark passage and climbed down until he could see what was going on more clearly. The passage opened out near the smallest waterfall and onto the ledge that ran along the edge of it. It would be a quick climb down to the balcony of the palace where he often saw the slender green female standing and looking out over her kingdom.

  His eyes suddenly widened in concern when he saw the huge golden giant sitting in the middle of the red moss field. A low growl escaped him and his hand tightened on the short sword he carried at his waist when he saw the creature lifting his bride. His lips drew back to show his small sharp teeth as he fought the urge to attack it. He would if it harmed the female he knew belonged to him. He didn’t care how big it was, he would destroy it.

  Moving along the side of the cliff, he nimbly began the climb down until he was a few feet above the balcony of the palace. He pushed off, landing silently on the spacious ledge. He turned as he landed, his knees bent and one hand stretched out to balance him before he stood. Moving into the shadows, he watched as the events below unfolded. He had to hide behind the thick curtains when three of the armed soldiers returned briefly to the palace only to return to his bride and the creature holding her in the palm of its huge hand.