Read Online A Dragon's Dream of Love (Song of the Sídhí Series #2) by Jodie B. Cooper - Free Book Online Page B

that go on for miles.”
Leah took her frustration out on a small pine cone, kicking it off the path,
startling a small pink fluttle bird that chirruped and ran under a thick
cluster of mint plants.
    Derek touched her shoulder with a
gentle hand and gazed into her eyes. “We’ll find a way to get her out.”
    Leah shook her head; he couldn't give
her what he promised, but she knew he meant every word. Then she remembered
exactly who his sister was.
    “You don’t believe me, do you?” he
asked, as they followed the trail curving around a patch of prickly fiskberry
bushes; the unripe fruit had bright red centers visible through the clear flesh
of the knuckle sized berries.
    She glanced up, only to find him
watching her with an intensity that belied his playboy image. She gave him a
sad smile. “I know you mean every word, but what you promise is impossible.
You’re related to your valley’s ruler. Attacking TèVarrn would cause a war
between the Dhark Valley and Haven Valley.”
    “Anyway, if I had someone to teach me
how to locate and port to a specific destination by relying on a mental voice
as a beacon, I could port in and get her myself.” Leah growled in frustration.
“Since the first day I could port, I’ve cautiously hunted through the tunnels
of that horrid prison. There are underground chasms a mile wide, Sasquatch and
packs of wild werewolves are released into some tunnels, and other tunnels are
booby-trapped. One night I nearly lost my head to a hidden blade.”
    At his rumbling growl, she lightly laid
her hand on his arm. “Maybe we should change the subject.”
    He continued growling and violently
shook his head. “You definitely won’t be joining the rescue party.”
    She chuckled. “Other than me nearly
losing my head, did you hear any of what I just said?”
    “You didn’t tell me anything Haven
Valley doesn't already know. I’ve seen reports on how bad TèVarrn is.” His face
grew serious. “It won’t be easy and it may take a while, but I have faith in my
people. We will get her out.”
    “I know I shouldn't believe you, but I
can't help but hope you're right.”
    “Where did you get the idea you could
use a mental voice as a beacon to port by?” Derek asked.
    Leah kicked herself for slipping up –
using a mental voice as a beacon was believed to be a myth, but dragons had the
ability.

 
Rejected
    Three days later, Derek was dwelling on
Leah's comment about teleporting. Vampires and dragons had the ability to port,
but not by focusing on someone. He was worried about the blind spots in her
training. Her father should be shot for raising her in such ignorance. It was a
wonder she hadn't gotten killed porting blindly into the bowels of TèVarrn.
    The thought of losing her made all the
blood rush from his head. Over the past few days they had become friends,
laughing and teasing each other over the simplest of things. Last night, he
introduced her to s'mores. She insisted she didn't want to taste what looked
like - in her words - 'black oil smeared on cardboard with white goo in the
middle.' Her complaints increased after chocolate dripped on her fingers. When
he finally convinced her to taste the dripping mess, she began oohing and
aahing, and licked the dripping chocolate from her fingers as fast as she could.
He laughed at her expressions of delight until his ribs hurt.
    She paid him back in spades.
    Every night of the hike, they didn't
set-up a tent, but spread their bedrolls out, watching forest sprites as they
darted between the branches of the high trees. Their tiny wings leaving a trail
of sparkling dust mundanes mistakenly called fairy dust.
    As they headed toward bed the previous
night, she acted so innocent, he never suspected a thing. She said goodnight
and crawled into her bedroll, which was several feet from his.
    He did the same, sliding his bare feet
between the thick layers of material. His warm toes touched cold scales. With a
shout, he scrambled out of the zippered