Eva Weston's excerpts leading up the release of BETRAYAL, book 2 in THE DRAGON LORDS! Excerpt 1

Greetings!

I am nearly finished with the final edits to BETRAYAL, book 2 in THE DRAGON LORDS series!  I am so excited!  As promised, I will post excerpts leading up to the release!

In the following excerpt, Isbet has been placed in a precarious situation--she has been given to King Ramos of Ephos and in return, he will give his armies to Dragone.  This does not sit well with Baric who loves Queen Isbet.

“You and I will become one.  We will consummate this partnership and only when that has been done, Dragone will be given command of my armies, or rather, King Brynt will be given command.”

Baric shifted noisily as he stared with harsh severity at Isbet.  Was he understanding this correctly?  Was the Queen supposed to sleep with King Ramos?  Were those the terms?  Baric grasped Isbet’s wrist and looked at her questioningly.  Surely, she would not agree to this?

Isbet cleared her throat, “Baric, Captain of the Dragon Elite Mechante, you are dismissed.”

“Excuse me?” he muttered as confusion dug his thick, blonde eyebrow deep into his forehead.

Isbet wrapped herself in calculated objectivity, “Do not force me to repeat myself.  These are matters of politic.  You are no longer needed here.  You are dismissed.”  Saying those words was like shredding her heart with a spoon.  She never wanted to treat Baric with such cruel disregard but she could not show vulnerability.  She could not allow her own feelings to cloud the situation.  She could not allow Baric’s love to protect her.  She needed to sacrifice herself for the betterment of Dragone.  Nothing else mattered even as vile weeping swept throughout her mind. 

Baric’s steel gray eyes betrayed his anger as he replied, “Yes, my Queen.”  He did not look back as he left his newfound lover in the hands of a madman.  He did not look back as he left Isbet to her fate.  Duty would always overshadow emotions and duty would always ignore the screaming of the heart.

Isbet watched him leave as her soul cried aloud.  She never wanted to be without his kindness, strength, and friendship.  But such yearnings were trivial in the grand scheme of things.  Only one thing mattered:  Dragone.  King Brynt willingly threw Isbet to the dogs in order to save it.  Isbet would willingly do the same.  She had a responsibility to her people.  She was their Queen, she was their leader, and she would be their savior.