DRAGON KIN by Tracy Cooper-Posey

Once and Future Hearts. Book 2.0

Ancient Historical Fantasy Romance

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Will she become the cursed king’s fifth dead wife?

In Lesser Britain, drought grips the land, forcing Arawn, King of Brocéliande, to take a fifth wife, hoping she will be the mother of his firstborn, whom the prophecy says will break the curse and save his people.

Ilsa, daughter of a wood cutter, is brought to Lorient to wed the cold, distant Arawn, terrified she will become the king’s next dead wife.  There she learns about the true High King of Britain, Ambrosius, and his brother Uther, who build an army to take back Britain from the Saxons and Vortigern the Usurper.

Can Arawn find a way to save his people and the land that supports the future Pendragon?  Will Ilsa break the curse?

This story is part of the historical fantasy romance series, Once and Future Hearts, set in Britain during the time of King Arthur.

1.0 Born of No Man
2.0 Dragon Kin
3.0 Pendragon Rises
3.5 Once and Future Hearts Box One
4.0 War Duke of Britain
5.0 High King of Britain
6.0 Battle of Mount Badon
6.5 Once and Future Hearts Box Two
7.0 Abduction of Guenivere
8.0 Downfall of Cornwall
8.1 Touch by Maen Llia
9.0 Vengeance of Arthur
9.5 Once and Future Hearts Box Three
10.0 Grace of Lancelot
11.0 The Grail and Glory
12.0 Camlann

A Historical Fantasy Romance/Ancient Historical Romance series

This series is also available as a Special Bundle
{Also see: Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Historical Romance, Fantasy Romance, Romance, Novels}

~ Maps for the Series ~

Who’s Who and What’s What for the Series

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Excerpt

EXCERPT FROM DRAGON KIN
COPYRIGHT © TRACY COOPER-POSEY 2018
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

“You do not understand,” Arawn replied.  “It is not simply a matter of getting an heir.  Kings are reluctant to offer me their daughters, for all my wives have died while bearing their first child.”

Uther’s smile was knowing.  “Then don’t marry a princess.  The prophecy does not insist upon it.”

Arawn thought of Mair, the last of his wives.  It had only been two years but already he had trouble recalling her young face.  “I tried that, too,” he admitted.

“Yet here we are looking for a magic spring to break the curse, instead,” Uther said.  “You will risk bringing down the power of Brocéliande upon you but you will not take a fifth wife, when one of the greatest Ladies of all history has told you that is what you must do to save your kingdom.”

Arawn shifted in his saddle, his chest clamping even harder.  “You are young, Uther.  You do not understand the challenges of a ruler.”  His tone was sharper than he intended.  Uther was brazen and his questions impertinent.  Ambrosius had thrust Uther at Arawn, to smooth out his brother’s rougher edges.  The man would not learn subtlety living in the middle of an army camp as he did in Carnac.

Uther stared at his horse’s ears and said nothing.  He was sensitive enough to know he had overstepped his bounds.

Arawn relented.  “Hunting for a spring does not bring death upon an innocent woman.”

“Perhaps the next wife you take will be the one to break the curse,” Uther said.  “You cannot know until you marry her.”

“Therein lies my quandary,” Arawn said, with a gusty sigh.  “If she is not the one…”

Uther grinned, showing white, even teeth.  “We are hunting the wrong prey today.”

“I assure you, where we are going there are no suitable wives.”

“Suitable?” Uther repeated.  “A cursed king cannot demand his next wife meet any standards.”  His smile made his eyes dance.

Arawn laughed, drawn into Uther’s mischievous mood.  “Very well, then. Any woman at all…only, she must be healthy and young enough to bear children.”

“And unmarried,” Uther said gravely.  “As you are a king, you must wed the girl to bed her.  I, of course, do not have that limitation.”

“I will not be inviting you to the wedding, then,” Arawn replied.

Uther’s laughter sent a raven flapping into the air, cawing his objection.  The other men were far behind them, now, busy with their own conversations.  Winoc was far ahead.  It was just the two of them, which let Arawn relax a little more.

“It would be nice if she was of passing prettiness,” Arawn added, warming to the subject.

“And with all her teeth, too,” Uther said.

“I’m surprised you are that choosy, Uther.”

“It is your bed we are planning to fill, not mine,” Uther replied, his tone urbane.

“Of course, she must be a maiden,” Arawn said.

“Now you are objecting purely to narrow the field to nothing,” Uther said.  “The more conditions you add, the less chance we have of finding her.”

“As I have no idea how many suitable women there are in the first place, I’m unlikely to know that adding conditions would make it an impossible task. You, of course, know every beddable woman in all three kingdoms.”

Uther smiled.  “Perhaps I prefer to wonder, like you.”

Arawn laughed at the notion.

Uther patted the neck of his war horse.  “Then we are agreed.  The first woman we come across who matches the criteria, you will wed.”

Arawn drew in a sharp breath.  “I was jesting, Uther. One does not enter a marriage with the casual approach you are suggesting.”

“Why not?  The proper approach to marriage has not served you.”

“You have not been wed–”

“And have no intention of being so bound,” Uther shot back.  “But I am not a King and have no heir to get.  You have a kingdom to save, or so I understood from your lecturing a while ago.  Do you want to save your people, or not?”

Arawn swallowed.  “Yes,” he said shortly.  “I would do anything to save them.  Look at where we are and what we do today.  I am to sprinkle spring water upon stones in hope that a miracle will occur.”

“Then why not add a wedding to your list?” Uther asked with a reasonable tone.

Arawn tried to consider the matter in the straightforward way that Uther was.  Stripped of the burden of emotions, the concept of marriage to any woman was reduced to nothing more than a step on the path to breaking the curse.  Following forms and protocol had not served him.  He had not lied–he would do anything to see his people suffer no more.  Anything.

Including this.

“Done,” Arawn said shortly.

Uther sat up.  “The first woman we find, you will wed?”

“The first young, healthy, marriable woman,” Arawn amended.

“With all her teeth, yes,” Uther finished.  He looked up at the blue sky that could be glimpsed between the trees.  “Now the day is interesting.”