Ruined by the Dragon

Crown of Thorns and Sins Book 2 Ruined by the Dragon Meg Xuemei X Ruined by the Dragon © 2023 by Meg Xuemei X Copyright notice: All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental. Edited by Emily Nemchick Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Books by Meg Xuemei X MONSTERS AFTER DARK SERIES UNDERWORLD BRIDE TRIALS SERIES HALF-BLOOD ACADEMY SERIES DARK FAE KINGS SERIES THE WAR OF GODS SERIES OF SHADOWS AND FIRE SERIES SHIFTER’S WITCH SERIES Table of Contents Ruined by the Dragon CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 9 CHAPTER 10 CHAPTER 11 CHAPTER 12 CHAPTER 13 CHAPTER 14 CHAPTER 15 CHAPTER 16 CHAPTER 17 CHAPTER 18 CHAPTER 19 CHAPTER 20 CHAPTER 21 CHAPTER 22 CHAPTER 23 CHAPTER 24 CHAPTER 25 CHAPTER 26 CHAPTER 27 CHAPTER 28 Excerpt of Half-Blood Academy Books by Meg Xuemei X About the Author Ruined by the Dragon RyderI assume I live only for the next Wild Hunt. But all this time, I’ve been looking for her, waiting for her, craving her.I’m damaged, but I can’t let her go, not only because the gods’ curse will make me hunt her to the end of the universe. My dark soul craves her tender flesh and fierce passion. My beast and I won’t rest until I imprint her and make her truly ours. Sign up to Meg’s mailing list to hear about her new releases and get newsletter only bonus scene and a special gift. CHAPTER 1 June “Temper, temper,” Ryder taunted as I tried to pluck the phoenix feather from my hair and fling it at his fucking gorgeous face that I’d grown to hate so much. The phoenix, the god queen’s messenger, had departed. My heart sank all the way to the pit of my stomach at the bad news—the next Wild Hunt would happen soon, and I would be hunted alongside the team. The Wild Hunt had never occurred twice within three days in the past. Lilka, Ryder’s ex, already blamed me for the last hunt. She now pointed an accusing finger at me again, as if I was the source of all their misfortune. Yet in my bones, I instinctively sensed that a dark force had turned the wheel and sped up the impending doom by forcing me to be a pawn in this final game. I could smell dark conspiracy in the air. I’d thought Mom was paranoid, but now I understood the reason that she’d taken us on the run. Yet the fates still caught up with me, and Mom died trying to prevent it. Pain and rage boiled in my veins. Running was futile, so I’d take up the fight. My glare landed on Ryder. What he’d said about me to the phoenix rang in my head. “June’s fun, more fun than other bitches. Your bitch queen can watch how I play with her pawn, but she’s a fucking fool if she thinks that June means anything to me.” He knew that I’d heard his every mean word, but he didn’t give a fuck. My hate couldn’t even land a scratch on him; it seemed that he preferred the taste of my hatred. His display of cruelty toward me had no end, yet my body still lit up for him, still strumming from the orgasm his fingers and tongue had brought, no matter how much humiliation I hoarded against my bruised chest. Ryder returned my gaze, a slow, cruel smirk tugging up the corner of his sensual lips. The heat in his blue-golden gaze sent my pulse running wild. My will was at odds with my body. My dragon had awoken with a roar, and she wanted the black dragon more than anything, not caring that he’d caused me a great deal of grief by evoking the heat circle in me. Ryder had seen me partly transformed with dragon scales covering my neck and arms, but it seemed that he hadn’t told his men yet. I gave him a warning glare, as I didn’t want anyone else to know about the incident. He stalked toward me, his intense gaze never leaving me, as if I was the most captivating creature he’d ever laid eyes on. I clenched my fists, suppressing my dragon’s purr in the back of my throat. “Hello, sparrow,” he crooned. My fury surged at his taunting tone and broke me out of the remaining haze of lust. I rammed my fist into his throat. I was getting faster by the minute, but he was even quicker. The fucker caught my wrist and spun me, slamming my back into his hard chest. I waited for him to strike me as I came up with my own move, like banging my head against his jaw, since he had pinned my arms to my sides. Instead, he held me, rocking me into a slow dance, his left arm now wrapping around my waist to trap me. His embrace sent a shiver of pleasure down my spine. His nose snuggled into my hair to sniff my scent, as if it was catnip to his dragon. Why was he doing this when a moment ago it seemed that he couldn’t wait to get away from me? I freed a hand, going for the phoenix feather,