Read Online Dragon's Touch (Book 1 Linty Dragon Series) by J.M Griffin, Kristina Paglio - Free Book Online Page A

Cullen and we walked around the glittering room as he explained his lineage and the centuries of his ancestors’ lives depicted in the numerous paintings hanging on the walls. Every painting included a dragon, looking intently out at the viewer. Large, small, or tiny, a dragon had been inserted, even though it took time to find the small ones. We stopped in front of a painting that nearly caused me to gasp. Drake was in full war mode, his golden eyes afire, and his fangs bared while his claws ripped through an advancing army. He was vicious, angry, and menacing. I loved him anyway.
    “This is Drake the Conqueror. He was a fierce dragon who aided my family in the fifth century. With his help, my ancestors brought many a battle to a final end. We, of course, were the victors. Unfortunately, Drake is no longer with the remainder of our dragon collection that is kept under lock and key, but resides at Dragon Hill, instead.” His words were followed by a sniff, and I turned to see the gleam in his eyes as he stared at the painting of my dragon.
    I’d begun to speak when we were approached by a servant who whispered in George’s ear. The old man turned his head sharply and gave the servant a terse nod. “Come with me Ms. Dragon, I wish to introduce you to my guest of honor.”
    Not knowing what to expect, or how to extricate myself from his clutches, the creepy man drew me forward. My senses sharpened as we neared another tall, gaunt gentleman, whose flaming red hair stood out in a similar style to that of Albert Einstein, his intense bird-like, brown eyes missed nothing. I felt I’d been cast into a horror film with the walking dead. He, too, was pale and had a look of death personified. Geesh, what had I gotten into here?
    “Perkell, so good to see you,” George said with a smile that creased his cadaver-like skin. “This young woman is the new dragon keeper of Dragon Hill, Lynn Tegan Dragon. Ms. Dragon, I present Arwin Perkell.”
    The introduction held some type of importance that I found intriguing. Why did he feel the need to say I was a dragon keeper? No one, as yet, was supposed to know that I had been made the new keeper by Gran, or had I simply been the last one to know? Well, shit, someone had opened their mouth, and Smythe’s name came to mind.
    Perkell’s dark brown eyes pierced mine as he shook my hand. “Ah, Ms. Dragon, I’m happy to meet you at last. Sorry to hear of Essie’s untimely death. You must be distraught, my dear.”
    “Indeed, I am,” I murmured and then said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I gave him a smile that cost me dearly to summon. Wading through a bog would have been easier than understanding what made these people tick. The ability to charm people and accomplish a goal hadn’t been an issue in my short lifetime. I could make a deal in no time flat when it came to what I knew best. Restoration and restructuring ancient tomes, and bringing them back to life, was how I made a living. This was a whole different set of circumstances. I quickly glanced around the room and found Cullen’s stare on us. He gave me a slight nod that I took to mean I was doing fine. Doing what fine? I hadn’t a clue.
    George faded off into the crowd. I turned my attention to Perkell, who had now tucked my hand into the crook of his bony arm as we walked through the crowd toward a waiter. He offered me a glass of champagne and then took one for himself. I pretended to sip, but had no intention of missing one single nuance since I knew Cullen would question me later.
    “Where did George go and what’s his last name again? I seem to have forgotten,” I asked. Though I’d never heard George’s last name, I wanted to gather my own information.
    A smile was all I got as Perkell glanced about and then settled his gaze on me once again.
    “Tell me, Ms. Dragon, what do you have in common with your dragons?”
    “I-I’m not sure what you’re asking, Mr. Perkell,” I stuttered.
    “You have Drake,