Chapter 2 Sprite Vs Dragon

Yana’s Point of View

I held the Hearthstone in my hands, staring at it in disbelief.

I had only ever heard of them in tales and read about their legendary magic in books—the power that belonged exclusively to the Dragons.

And now, one was sitting right in the palm of my hand. I glanced at Pip, who was still hovering curiously above me.

A Dragon’s Hearthstone was worth a million moonstones, and the best part was that its magic wouldn’t extinguish after a single use.

“We’re going to be rich,” I whispered with a grin.

“Chu, chu!” Pip squealed excitedly.

I had given Sareth two hundred thousand gold coins for this, which was practically every coin I owned. There wasn’t even a speck of gold left in my house, but the stone was worth every single coin.

I could simply tell my customers that I offered healing services. I only needed to find one or two people desperate enough to pay, and after that, word would spread. Customers would be lining up outside my inn before I knew it.

Chime! Chime!

My fox ears twitched at the sound of the doorbell, finally! A customer.

I quickly activated my concealment magic again and hid the stone before I drew the curtains shut.

Lumi approached the counter, restless.

He hissed under his breath before letting out a low purr; Lumi only behaved like that when danger was close.

Bang! The door was kicked open.

Heavy footsteps rattled across the floorboards as a man walked inside.

He was nearly seven feet tall, with a massive frame and broad shoulders that made him look even more intimidating. His clothes were torn and stained, and judging from the blood soaking through them, he was severely injured.

Then his gaze found mine.

Those notable golden irises.

Sharp. Predatory. Dangerous.

I instinctively stumbled backward.

Pip ducked behind me while Lumi disappeared behind the counter.

The man's long, dark hair was in the wind as he slowly lifted his head. Those golden eyes narrowed on me, studying me as though he could see straight through me.

“A fox?” he murmured, tilting his head curiously.

Shit.

My concealment magic had worn off; his pheromones were far too strong.

I hurriedly pulled the sleeves of my clothes over my nose, trying to block out his scent. Judging by the sheer intensity of it, he wasn't an ordinary beast.

He had to be a high-ranking shifter.

A black bear… or perhaps a panther, or something even more dangerous.

“G-Good evening, sir,” I stammered, forcing myself to remain calm despite the trembling in my fingers. “D-Do you need a place to stay?”

His golden eyes swept across the room before returning to me.

“Where is it?” he asked.

“Where is what?” Confusion flashed across my face.

“My Hearthstone.” The words barely registered at first.

I stood frozen, staring at the man before me. Up close, his face looked almost unnaturally beautiful, his features so sharp and perfect. “The one you stole from me.”

My blood ran cold when I realized what the hell had just walked into my inn.

It wasn't a bear, nor a panther; it was a freaking Dragon.

Sareth, that scamming snake, had deceived me yet again! Did he not say the dragon that owned the stone was dead?

I should have known better than to trust that snake.

“It’s here,” he said, his voice low and commanding. “Give me what belongs to me.”

I studied him; he was injured terribly, blood trickled from a wound on his head, and he could barely stand upright.

This was my chance.

I'm sorry, Dragon… but I spent a fortune on that Hearthstone.

I'm not giving it back.

I had used my seduction magic before to escape dangerous situations, but never on an executive beast.

And certainly, never on a Dragon.

Still…There was no harm in trying.

My eyes flashed crimson, and I reached toward him, allowing my magic to seep into the air between us.

“You're already big and strong,” I purred, flashing him a sultry smile as my fingers slowly reached for his massive hand. “What could you possibly need a stone for?”

His gaze locked onto mine; his eyes reflected the red in mine.

My compulsion was successful.

“A man should always listen to a woman,” I whispered, rising onto my toes and leaning closer to his ear. “Forget why you came here, and wander into the forest.”

The spell was complete; I waited for him to turn around, walk out of my inn, and disappear into the forest.

But he didn't move; my smile faded when he blinked, and the red in his eyes vanished.

“What the hell are you doing?” he growled. Before I could react, he lunged forward.

His massive hand closed around my neck, and suddenly my feet left the ground. I gasped, instinctively grabbing his wrist as he lifted me effortlessly into the air.

My breath seized in my throat as I kicked helplessly in the air.

“Where is the stone?” he snarled. “Tell me, or I'll skin you and wear you as a coat, little fox.”

I tightened my grip around his arm as I struggled against his hold.

“I can't give it to you!” I choked out. “I bought it from Sareth! If you want the Hearthstone, you have to pay as much as I gave to Sareth!”

“Whoosh!” A violent gust of wind tore through the room.

My eyes widened.

Sparky.

The tiny fire sprite spiraled through the air like a blazing comet before crashing straight into the Dragon.

Flames erupted across the dragon’s body.

“No!” I screamed. “Fire can't burn a Dragon!”

I was dropped to the floor. I coughed as I scrambled backward, the Dragon swatted Sparky away with his palms.

He dusted off the fire that once engulfed him, and his skin remained unburnt, my eyes darted around the room, searching for where Sparky had landed.

Then the Dragon turned back toward me.

He was standing there shirtless now, his muscular body covered in faint scratches and blood, yet somehow, he still looked more intimidating than before.

He took one step toward me; I stumbled backward, and Whoosh!

A powerful gust of wind slammed into him.

The Dragon was hurled backward, his massive body crashing straight through the wooden cupboard.

Wood splintered across the floor.

Before he could recover, thick vines burst from beneath the ground, wrapping tightly around his arms, chest, and legs.

Terra, the earth sprite and Feather, the wind sprite.

They had also come to help me, but sadly, all five of us combined could never defeat a dragon.

“Chu! Chu!” Pip squeaked frantically, warning the others not to.

The only reason we'd managed to restrain him at all was that he was already severely injured.

“Toot!” My head snapped toward the sound.

Sparky was hovering near the ceiling, his entire body engulfed in blue flames.

He was furious…very, very furious.

“Sparky, don't!” I yelled, but it was too late.

The little fire sprite flew straight toward the Dragon, who was still bound by Terra's vines.

But the moment Sparky came within reach—The Dragon's hand shot out, and he caught him despite the flames engulfing Sparky's tiny body.

“Want to have a fire contest?” The dragon asked, his golden eyes gleaming dangerously. “I'd gladly burn this entire forest to the ground just to prove you're no match for me.”

“Tut! Tut!” Sparky's flames grew brighter.

He was pushing himself too hard, and if he kept doing that, he'd damage his spiritual core.

“Sparky, stop!” I screamed, rushing toward them. “Sparky, you're going to hurt yourself!”

“Chu!” Pip too was frantically urging Sparky to stop, and I just couldn't watch him hurt himself any longer.

I spun around and rushed toward my desk where I'd hidden the Hearthstone. My hands trembled as I grabbed it and hurried back.

“Let him go!” I cried, holding the glowing stone tightly in my hand. “You can have your Hearthstone back.”

The Dragon's lips curved into a satisfied smirk. The vines wrapped around his body immediately loosened and fell to the floor.

He flung Sparky aside.

“Toot!” Sparky whimpered.

“Sparky!” I rushed over and scooped him into my arms.

His eyes were closed from tiredness, his tiny body trembling in my palms, his spiritual core was cracked, and he would be unable to move for a while.

“Give me the Hearthstone.” The dragon ordered again.

“Please let me heal Sparky, and I'll give it back to you.”