Beneath Stained Glass Wings

Magic Independent Dynamic Adventurous Rebel strong female lead sword fighting

Ava is on the run for a crime punishable by death: killing a dragon. As a human-dragon hybrid, Ava has never doubted the godlike dragons’ dominance. Her life has been sheltered beneath their stained-glass wings in the city in the sky—until she murders one. Hunted, she flees to the human desert below the floating city. Yet she’s not alone. Though he doesn’t know the crime she’s running from, Vito, the dragon Ava serves, refuses to abandon her to the harsh world of humans. Paired to be her master and she his caretaker, their friendship has always meant more than titles. The desert holds no sanctuary for them. The long-suffering ground dwellers are tired of having their water supply monopolized by the dragons above and want all dragon-kind dead—including Ava and Vito. Surrendering to the dragons isn’t an option with Vito by her side, and the rebellion has offered a tempting deal. They will keep Ava alive and hide her crime, but only if she reveals the weaknesses of dragon-kind and the secrets of her city. Ava must choose between her life and everything she once called home—including Vito, the closest thing to family she has left.

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Chapter: Chapter 2: The Others

Vito and I exchange a glance. My breathing comes quick, lungs full of the smoke and spice scent of dragons. We can still run, but they will chase us. They can report us to the dragons of Caelum.I guess there isn’t a choice.Rising to my feet, I spread my wings wide and step on top of the dune. The woman stands there, hands crossed over her chest, her clothes and hair as dull and dirty as the dust around her. But her eyes are a sharp green that I can make out from here, contrasting against dark bronze skin, darker than mine. But like me, her hair is cut short, almost to her scalp. A scar cuts straight across her face, but I can’t tell whether it’s from a blade or a dragon’s talon. The excessively large man has some muscle, and his sandy hair, grey eyes, and dusky skin could blend into the desert. So plain it almost seems like it’s on purpose.Behind them is a centimare. The massive myriapod’s eyes gleam in the sun, hundreds of pointed legs pacing as it resists the urge to crawl undern

Last Updated: 2023-11-02

Chapter: Chapter 1: The Fall

To disobey a dragon is to disobey a god.— The Caretaker’s Oath How long is the fall down to earth?I lean against the fence that marks the drop from the floating city to the desert below, digging my fingernails into the wet wood. The city rests drowsy behind me, golden spires and cobblestone roads cloaked in morning mist. My legs shake underneath me. I fidget with my scaled fingerless gloves.It’s morning already.And the smell of blood is still so strong.I should have left hours ago, but I couldn’t leave my room, couldn’t stop scrubbing. Hot iron blooms in my nostrils as if the sticky red liquid is still smeared across my face, my clothes, my palms.But it isn’t on my skin. I’ve washed myself raw. It can’t be there.Gravel scrapes behind me. I curl my wings snugly against my back, gripping the fence tighter and looking around. I don’t need to see through the fog to know the maze of the tall stone buildings and metal roofs beyond the cobblestone yard behind me—but what moves throug

Last Updated: 2023-11-02

Novels by karawolf09

Beneath Stained Glass Wings