Let the chase begin!

Jan 06, 2025

Hi, Chasing Dragons publishes today!

And we’d also like to wish my scribe’s dad a happy birthday in heaven. He died in Sept 2024 while Melinda was writing this book, so it’s dedicated to his memory and to all the fathers out there raising little adventurers and mages like me.

As always, this is Ran, Sarn’s son from the Curse Breaker series writing on behalf of my introvert scribe and my even more introverted father. Do you see a pattern here?

Anyways, I promised Melinda I wouldn’t prattle on too long. So now I’ll be good and wish you again a year filled with magic and dragons. And if you ever need more, you know whose books to read. ;)

Without further ado, welcome to the actual first chapter of Chasing Dragons. It contains spoilers for the previous book, Shards For His Gift. So if you haven’t read that, stop here and do that! I’ll wait.

Since I can’t ever get Jerlo win, I talked Melinda into writing the chapter excerpted in this newsletter over the last two weeks. But this was supposed to be the first chapter. So here we go!

Chasing Dragons

by Melinda Kucsera

Chapter 2: A Dragon Creeps In

Jerlo hurried through the dark tunnel with one hand on the wall, feeling his way, but he couldn’t outrun what he did. Thing’s words echoed in his mind, ‘a black lumir crystal.’ But it can’t be.

I assure you. It was a black lumir crystal, but the object in question is now at the bottom of the River Nirthal. May it stay there forever, Thing said in his mind, proving that drama-loving OwlCat was still listening to his thoughts.

I’m sorry. And Jerlo was. His heart hung heavily in his chest, like it was ashamed to be part of him. Ahead, water babbled as it flowed over something, rocks probably. That sounded like rapids. A faint light kindled off to the left as the rock wall under his hand curved that way. So Jerlo followed the curve.

I’m not the only one you need to apologize to. Your crystal gave quite a few people a shock. Thing sent an image of his feathered face, glowering at him as Jerlo stepped into an enormous cavern.

The Andurai glowed where they floated lazily on the water. Their light sparkled on a golden scale. At last, I found a clue. Jerlo approached the scale. It was as long as his hand and it could only have fallen off the Mother Dragon. He picked it up and cradled it in his hands. Yes, she messed with his mind, but he could forgive that. After all, she did it out of fear for her young. Magic was illegal here.

So are magical creatures like me, Thing whispered. Whose side was he on? I don’t take sides. That’s my mate’s job, but she’s busy right now. So I’m playing the devil’s advocate as per usual. Thing sent an image of himself winking.

Why are you talking in my head when you could fly over and talk to me out loud, like normal folks? Now he had Jerlo thinking his questions instead of speaking them aloud. Jerlo stroked the golden scale.

Because I’m allergic to danger. I thought that was obvious and you, my friend, are standing hip-deep in danger right now. Thing chuckled like he made a joke, but nothing he said was at all funny.

But something he said made Jerlo stand at attention. If Thing was playing the devil’s advocate, then that meant — Jerlo’s heart raced at the thought. Are you talking to the Mother Dragon?

Of course. How else can I play both sides against the middle? Thing sent an image of himself sitting on a branch of an enchanted tree, then turned his head to show his family occupied the other branches.

Except me. I’m in this cavern with you, said a new mind voice that sounded male. Apologies. I’m Crispin. Thing is my father. I followed you down here as a favor to Sarn. But I’d love it if you moved this conversation above ground, preferably outside, so I can see the sky. All the rocks overhead are making me nervous.

“Where are you?” Jerlo turned, but the light from the Andurai only rose a few feet above the water. Darkness cloaked the rest of the cavern so thickly, the Mother Dragon could be nearby or one of Thing’s brood of OwlCats, and he wouldn’t see them.

OwlCats don’t have broods. We have one child at a time, like humans. Thing sent an image of the OwlCat glaring at him, but Jerlo ignored it. Thing was just trying to annoy him as usual, and he was probably lying.

What if the Mother Dragon was close by? Could I convince her to come and talk to me face to face?

***

Get Chasing Dragons now to read what happens next. Have a great week!