Read Jake's War, Book Two of Wizards for Free Online Page A

saw he didn't believe me. I'd made a slip and we both knew it.
    “Something's going on, Jake. The Matthews, your parents, Jenny and her parents, they've all been dropping off the radar for days at a time. Don't think we haven't been keeping an eye on all of you. We'll find out what you did to Bronwyn sooner or later, you'd best believe it.”
    I felt my anger building again. How dare he suggest my parents were murderers?
    “Bronwyn is fine. No one has done anything to her. And I'll tell you this, Sergeant Brandon Jones, if she were to appear on this corridor right now, it's you who should be afraid, very afraid.”
    He backed away from me looking shocked. He must think I'm some kind of madman. I hobbled away from him as quickly as I could.
    After about twenty steps I stopped and turned to see if he was watching. He had his back to me so I hopped.

 
    Chapter Eight: Visitations
     
     
     
     
    Fluffy stared into the large mirror on the wall, preening himself. Strictly speaking preening requires feathers and Fluffy hadn't had any since he was newly hatched, though that does explain the name I gave him. But in the same way humans preen, that was what my dragon was up to.
    “Jenny's told you?”
    Fluffy turned his head to look at me and grinned dragon-style. Likely any knight in amour would have run at the sight requiring emergency underwear. His teeth are big and unnervingly sharp.
    [Anything important she wants me to know, I know. It's a Dragon-Rider thing.]
    “She seemed less than pleased when I told her.”
    Fluffy waved a massive clawed hand dismissively.
    “Meeeeep.” [She's delighted. Jenny's been trying to figure a way to get me into the wedding for months. She just never thought of making me Best Man.]
    “Then why did she try to stop me when I suggested it?”
    [This way she can tell her parents she tried to talk you out of it, but you wouldn't listen. You have a well-established reputation for stubbornness in the Owens household. Jenny has been using that excuse since the day you met.]
    Said explanation goes to show exactly how much I don't understand the women in my life.
    “If I'm going to marry both of them I felt I needed a dragon with me for moral support.”
    Fluffy ignored me and went back to admiring his orange and gold reptilian head in the mirror.
    “Meep, meep, meep.” [Do you think I should wear a bow tie? Could you get me a dragon-sized one?]
    I took a step towards him, planning to give him a playful slap on the rump. Instead I staggered and had to grab him to stop myself falling over.
    “Meeep.” [You're not recovered yet. Why did you leave your bed?]
    “Bronwyn is now twelve years old and has been making plans to take over Salice for more than four months. My wedding is in ten days, or is it nine? I've got important things to do.”
    Fluffy looked down at me, his eyes narrowing. [You must preserve your health or defeat is certain. On top of which, you're nineteen now, as is Jenny. That Bronwyn is a year older means nothing.]
    I slid down Fluffy's side to the floor. Four months is a long time, and mine and Jenny's birthdays had slipped by while I was out of it.
    “She'll kill me. I didn't get her a present.”
    Fluffy laughed. This can be a pretty frightening experience even when you're used to it. The Bat Cave shook as spurts of flame shot from his mouth and nostrils. I pulled my legs in as dragonfire licked across the cavern floor.
    [I think you gave her a present she'll never forget.]
    “I don't think a baby was anywhere on her list.”
    Fluffy's laughter got worse and I cowered against his flank until he calmed down.
    [Humans have it easy in love. A female dragon selects her mate and takes him in battle. She pins him against the ground and puts a claw on his jugular. He must submit to her will in all things or deny her and risk her killing him.]
    I thought about it.
    “Our system isn't all that different. At least, not in my case.”
    [I will make a dragon of you yet, Jake. Jenny was