Bonus Short – Derek and Kora

I’m so happy you’re here!

Thank you so much for reading The Bastard Duology. As a token of my appreciation for loving the The Bastard King and The Uncrowned King as much as I do, here is an EXCLUSIVE bonus short!

Iron Hall

Kora paced around the pool in the main area of the city. She picked a speck of lint off her tunic and then rubbed her hands together. She touched her hair, wondering if she should have braided it instead of leaving it free.

“There’s no reason to be nervous,” Derek said from his seat along the edge of the pool.

She paced in front of him, shooting him a dry look. “Of course there is.”

“He’s just a man.”

“Fae, actually.”

Derek drew in a long breath and slowly released it. “He’s probably just as nervous to meet you.”

“Doubtful.” She halted and sank down beside her mate. “What if I say the wrong thing?”

He wrapped an arm around her. “Impossible. Remember, Xaneth hasn’t met another hellhound.”

“But he’s a Fae and a hellhound. I don’t even know how that’s possible.”

“Does it make him any less of a hellhound?”

She glared at him. “Nay.”

“Then you might want to stop saying that,” Derek said with a grin.

“I’m in awe of such a thing happening, but I can see how someone might take that the wrong way.”

Rhi and Con suddenly appeared in the hall. With them was another couple. The woman’s black and silver hair was in dozens of small braids. Her dark red eyes were wary but pleasant. But it was the man next to her that snagged Kora’s attention.

Xaneth was tall and muscular. The top half of his long, black hair was gathered behind his head. His silver eyes studied her for a long moment, taking her in just as she looked him over.

“Kora, Derek, this is Xaneth and Aisling,” Rhi said proudly.

Kora nodded to Aisling as she and Derek stood. She took a step forward at the same time Xaneth did. “I didn’t think I’d ever see another hellhound.”

“I didn’t think there were more,” he replied.

“You have the same accent as Rhi.”

Xaneth glanced at his cousin and grinned. “The Fae on Earth chose a place called Ireland to call home. You should visit.”

“A trip to Earth is being arranged so Derek can see Dreagan,” Con said.

Rhi flashed a smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure Kora and Derek get to see Ireland.”

“I can’t wait,” Kora said.

Aisling asked, “Rhi said you were born a hellhound?”

Kora nodded. “Aye. All in my village were hellhounds.”

“Which means there are more.” Xaneth looked away. “I wasn’t born like you. My abilities came only recently.”

Kora shook her head. “That isn’t true. You were born a hellhound. Your abilities came when they were needed.”

Aisling threaded her fingers with Xaneth’s as she looked up at him. “That’s what I’ve been telling him. Maybe he’ll listen to you.”

“I listen,” Xaneth told her, a soft smile curving his lips.

Derek motioned for them to follow him. “Come. We have food and drink waiting. I’m sure you and Kora have a lot to talk about.”

“I do have many questions,” Xaneth said.

Kora nodded eagerly. “Me, too. I want to know every detail of how you found your hellhound powers.”

“It’s a long story.”

“I love those.”

He chuckled. “I only got a condensed version from Rhi about you. We’d love to hear all about it.”

“Now, that one is a long story,” Derek said.

Aisling took a chair and began pouring wine into goblets. “Details are a must. No glossing over things like Rhi.”

“Hey,” Rhi said, sounding offended. “I was in a hurry.”

Con pulled out her chair and waited for her to sit. “I doona think Xaneth heard anything after you said there was another hellhound.”

Xaneth’s laugh bounced off the walls. “I didn’t.”

“Speaking of stories,” Derek said as he sat beside Kora. “I want to know yours and Rhi’s.”

Aisling handed everyone a glass. “Now that one is definitely a long story, but one worth telling.”

“Later,” Rhi said as she settled against Con. “One of you go.”

Xaneth nodded to Kora. “You first.”

She looked at Derek. “Where to start?”

“The beginning,” he told her.

Kora took a deep breath and slowly released it. “There was once an old woman…”

If you’ve enjoyed The Bastard Duology, be sure to find out what’s happening on Zora with the Dragon King series and the Elven Kingdoms series!