Hidden Flame: Bound to the Triplet Dragon Kings

Hidden Flame 23

Hidden Flame: Bound to the Triplet Dragon Kings

Chapter 1: Reality Bites

Avery

I don’t remember much of my childhood which, in and of itself, could be a blessing in disguise. From what I do recall, a patrol found me, barely clinging to life, lying unconscious in the remains of what was once my parents. I was three then, and now that I’m turning eighteen, 1 can barely remember their faces. I can, however, remember songs that my mother would sing, about a fierce princess who would save us all, Growing up, I wished that I was that princess; but that was a destiny not meant for me.

As for me now, I grew up an orphan, like many other. I was always picked last for everything and never got adopted. I was outcast among outcasts. However, one day, five years ago, I was hiding from a group of kids who teased and bullied me, because I was so thin and pale. They called me a leech, a vampire, and a corps. No matter how hard I tried to hide the hurt, every word pierced my squl. Riddled with invisible scars that will never heal, I sought refuge in a fallen tree. Much to my dismay, the group of tormentors found me. Just as they were ripping my clothes off, two agons blasted the treetops with their flames.

Everyone ran, including me. After all, based on what I was taught at the orphanage, dragons are known to be one of the most powerful beings in existence, and the most menacing too. I ran as hard as I could, but I was exhausted and tripped. I rolled down a hill, landing at the feet of a woman who was patting down a few enters that were smoldering on her dark green dress. Her eyes were kind and her touch was warm and soft as she helped me to my feet. Her husband came over and healed my scrapes the best he could. He carried me to their modest home in the heart of the Naga Tribe..

Anton, the dragon shifters who saved me, officially adopted me a few weeks later, after they obtained approval from the nobles. My new parents were farmers for the tribe and the nobles were whom the tribe served. The lands weren’t always plentiful but I was fortunate enough to get a job in the tribe. I didn’t want to be a burden to the two people who kindly raised me as their own. However, I let fear get the better of me and tried to run away, tockily, the tribe took pity on me and gave me a job working for the nobles. At first, I started out as a maid assigned to clean the common areas, soon I was

isn’t my shirt

get in here

banging on the wall, “Avery, get your pathetic ass out of your room and make my fucking breakfast. You had

old home with my adoptive parents. Unfortunately, means that I am in contact with the Royal Trio of Clint, Conner, and Cassius Draco all the more. They have always made my fe difficult, but now even more so, as graduation approaches and their Grand Ceremony along

no dragon, so I have no delusions that some ceremony will determine my destiny. I am just a poor, pathetic human counting down the days until I graduate and then I can run away forever, I don’t belong in this land of dragons. Maybe I don’t belong anywhere. There have been many times that I thought about giving up and taking my own life, but something always happened to prevent me from

though. Perhaps, that’s a good thing. I quickly pull on a plain white dress and my tattered flats before I try to brush my knotted brown hair. I don’t bother with makeup because nothing could change my porcelain paper–thin skin just as nothing could enhance my flat chest. I do look like a living skeleton because I can

to tackle his request first. As I suspected, his phone

1/2

Reality

down as I extend my hand out to him. He snatches it up before he shoves me out of the door. At least he didn’t, ridicule me as he has done since the day I was brought

to hold out until the end of my senior year and my eighteenth birthday. Then In leave Momma June and Papa Anton with a nice nest egg and I can retreat far

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