With a shudder she crashed painfully into the net.

Shrieking and wheeling, she hit the wall and then craned her neck downward to see slaves in ragged tunics calling out to each other, watching her intently.

In their hands were lengths of iron chain, some slender as whips, others thick and heavy. Desperate to get away from them, she flew up to strike the net again. With nowhere to go, she slammed hard against the stone wall, scratching at it with her forelimbs, biting and snapping in vain.

Something grabbed hold of her leg. The grip of iron was painful, making her shudder at the touch of cold metal.

Screeching, she peered down and saw a chain wrapped around her hind leg. The chain went taut as three slaves pulled in unison, hauling her toward them. Now spiraling out of control, she crashed into the opposite wall while still more slaves worked together to bring her to the ground.

A moment later she struck the blood-streaked floor, sending the slaves scattering. Braver souls ran forward, throwing iron netting over her, pinning her down. She snapped at anyone who came near, reaching out with her claws, even as she became tangled. Glaring at her enemies, she promised to disembowel the first who dared to come close.

The circling slaves hung back, wide eyes filled with terror, torn between the threat of not following their orders and the danger posed by the silver-scaled dragon in the center of the tower’s floor.

Two men in gray robes pushed through.

As Liana glared at them darkly, a rumbling growl began deep in her chest and exited through the gaps in her sharp teeth. She immediately recognized the short man with the burned face who had captured her. His companion, a bearded older man, raised a staff with a golden disc on its summit and suddenly she was blinded.

She snapped and writhed, lunging in all directions, but before her vision could clear, a heavy iron collar went around her neck, and she heard a click as it was swiftly fastened tight enough to constrict her breathing. For a brief moment she was stunned. The encroaching wildness that came from being in another form had vanished, as had the ability to change back to her normal shape.

Panicked, as the stars darting across her vision subsided and her sight returned, she lunged at a scrawny slave nearby. A swipe from her claw sent the man flying through the air until he crashed against the wall. Her tail lashed out, whipping another slave across the neck.

Moving with surprising dexterity, the robed man with the melted face came around her other side and fixed strange reins of shining copper to the collar.

Liana went still. She was suddenly transfixed, unable to move. There was a connection between her and the scar-faced sorcerer. She could sense his satisfaction at dominating her will. In turn, she felt violated, knowing he was aware of her every thought.