The Dragon Healer

What’s better than a knight sweeping you off your feet? Two knights.

Silla is a healer riding circuit on the border, helping those in need. When she hears the pained cries of a dragon in distress, she comes to his aid, using most of her precious supplies to help the badly injured creature.

The dragon’s knight, Brodie, is fascinated by the woman—the miracle worker—who has come to help his friend. She is both beautiful and kind hearted and he quickly realizes she is his destined mate. And if she is Brodie’s mate, she is Geoff’s as well, for Brodie’s dragon was mated to Geoff’s dragon many years ago.

Geoff doesn’t believe in the tales of love at first sight among knights, but he knows that when either he or Brodie finds a wife, they will share her. Hearing about the dragon’s injury, Geoff and his dragon race to help, only to find the dragon on the mend and Brodie in bed with the most stunning woman Geoff has ever seen.

Love at first sight turns out to be real and it strikes them as they come together and realize that no matter what the obstacles, they are meant to be together. Silla is the missing link that will join their lives and make them a true Lair family—if they can just convince her.

Note: Knights like to get frisky and these two are no exception. Beware the passion, playfulness, a bit of bondage and a whole lot of three-way loving with a tiny bit of exhibitionism thrown in for good measure.

As dusk settled over the valley of Bayberry Heath, Silla topped the last small rise that led down into the village. The innkeeper was already lighting his lanterns to welcome strangers in the night. She could see the little dot of flame dance and bounce as he walked along the gate, lighting the two lanterns on either side of the entrance to his yard that would burn through the night to welcome weary travelers.
It was a sight for sore eyes. And this time, she didn’t have to imagine Hero’s pace picking up as he probably scented other horses in the stable not too far away. A few more minutes and they’d be there in time for a nice dinner of fresh fodder for Hero and good, hot food she didn’t have to prepare for herself. She could almost taste the inn’s savory stew. She closed her eyes for just a moment, imagining how good it was going to taste.
Suddenly, an inhuman bellow of unmistakable pain shattered the night. Silla’s eyes flew open as she searched for the source of the sound. It had come from up ahead and frightened Hero into a near standstill.
She got him going again, even as she searched the night for whatever had made that tone of pure anguish. If there was any way she could help, she would, but she had no idea what kind of creature could have made such a noise. It wasn’t any of the domesticated animals she knew. She’d been called upon to heal a cow or horse more than once and hadn’t minded in the least. Her skills were for all things living—person, animal or plant.
Hero balked only once more as they entered the inn yard, and his reasons became clear at once. Next to the inn, on the side away from the horse stables, was an open area filled with sand that Silla had seen before but never questioned. Now she understood why it was there. It was an area set aside for dragons. There was one there now.
It was the dragon that had howled in pain as a big man poured bucket after bucket of water on what looked like deep, acidic burns around the joint where wing met body. Silla winced in sympathy as the creature writhed in pain. Smoke puffed out of his nostrils, but he seemed to be making an effort to contain his agony as the man scurried with the help of what looked to be every able-bodied person from the village.
The innkeeper saw her and came right over, grabbing on to Hero’s halter.
“Thank the Mother of All you’ve come, Healer Silla. If ever there was a need for your medicines, it is now. Can you help yon dragon? We would all count it as a favor. He went down protecting us from a rogue skith and is badly burned.”
Silla jumped down from her cart and grabbed her satchel. “I will see what I can do. Will you take Hero to the stables? Leave the cart in easy reach. There are some plants in back that I may need for the dragon’s treatment, if his knight will allow.”
“Sure thing, mistress. And thank ye.” The innkeeper took charge of her horse and cart while Silla approached the dragon and all the people trying to help him.

Sir Broderick was at his wit’s end, trying to help his dragon partner, Phelan, his best friend in all the world. They had been in tight spaces before, but never had Phelan been so injured or in such pain.
They’d fought skiths before and come out unharmed. It had been a lucky—or rather, unlucky—shot that had taken Phelan down this time. Thankfully, the good people of Bayberry Heath had been willing to help, getting as much water as they could to bathe the wound free of the terrible acid.
Brodie didn’t know what else to do. They’d poured as much water as they could on the burns, bathing the dragon thoroughly. The acid was diluted enough by now to be harmless, draining away into the sand pit beneath them. But Phelan was still in terrible pain.
The shoulder joint on a dragon was one of his few vulnerable places. The acid had eaten deep into Phelan’s flesh before they’d been able to land and get water on it. Brodie felt anguish at not knowing what to do to help ease Phelan’s pain.
“Sir, I am a journeyman healer from the High Temple of Our Lady of Light. Though I have never treated a dragon before, I offer what help my humble skills may bring to your partner.”
The soft voice at his side distracted Brodie for a moment. He turned and stopped in his tracks. Before him was an angel sent from above, a gorgeous woman in the simple clothes of a healer. The marks of her Temple were clearly visible on her cloak, and Brodie thought he’d never seen a more beautiful sight.