Read Online Dragonvein - Book Three by Brian D. Anderson - Free Book Online Page B

expression. This fueled her own longing.
    She was ready.
    A loud, piercing screech from above completely shattered the moment. Ethan was on his feet in an instant, but as he took a protective step toward Kat, Maytra landed on the blanket, barring his path. She was hissing and snarling at Kat, her head low and her tail whipping back and forth.
    For a moment, Kat could not believe what was happening. A mixture of frustration and anger rose up. Then, almost against her will, she began to laugh. “I think someone is jealous,” she said.
    Ethan appeared equally accepting of the situation. He joined in the laughter and knelt down next to the little dragon. “It’s all right girl. I still love you.”
    Maytra reacted by spinning around and flicking her serpentine tongue angrily at him. She then turned back to face Kat again.
    “I’m sorry, Maytra,” Kat said. “I'm afraid he’s mine tonight.” She took a step forward, but the dragon immediately snapped at her feet, forcing her to retreat.
    Ethan frowned. “That’s enough, girl.” He stretched out his hand, but he was snapped at too, the bite missing his fingers by mere inches.
    “What’s wrong with her?” asked Kat.
    At this point her humor was quickly fading. She was not about to allow this creature to ruin the night she had awaited for so long. She looked around for something with which to shoo her away. But a moment later Maytra became calm and crawled into Ethan’s lap. He stroked the dragon's snout as she cooed and purred.
    “It’s all right now,” he said softly. “I’m here.”
    This was too much. A flash of anger passed through Kat. “Can you please make her go away?” she snapped.
    Ethan looked up at her. But there was no trace of the tenderness that had been in his eyes only a moment before. Rather, they now regarded her with the intensity of a predator – slowly looking her up and down like a potential meal. A sly grin crept up from the corner of his mouth. “Truly stunning,” he said. “I can see why he wants you so much.”
    With a rush of fear and panic, Kat realized that the eyes now staring at her naked form were not Ethan’s. Instantly but ineffectively, she did her best to cover herself with her hands.
    He laughed, clearly amused by her embarrassment. “If you need a moment to dress, be my guest. Though in truth, I rather like you the way you are.”
    Kat scrambled to put her dress back on, nearly tearing the fabric in her haste. “What the fuck is going on?” she demanded. “Who are you? And what have you done to Ethan?”
    He tilted his head, still grinning. “Who am I? I could tell you. But I think you already know that.”
    “Martok!” she said in a loud whisper.
    “Indeed,” he replied.
    “What have you done to Ethan?”
    “Ethan is perfectly fine,” he assured her. “I would never harm my own kin.”
    “Then let him go.” The stories she had heard about Martok should have made her afraid to be in his presence. But all she could think about right now was the safety of her true love.
    “In good time, my precious beauty. But first I must do what that coward Renald would not. Then we shall talk.”
    Picking up Maytra, he placed the little dragon on the blanket in front of him and began speaking to her. “I am so very sorry. You’ve been cursed for such a long time. This is going to cause you great pain. But I promise that it will subside and you will be whole again.”
    Martok closed his eyes, stretched out his hands, and began muttering almost inaudibly. Gradually, a bright blue glow surrounded Maytra. This continued for more than a minute, at the end of which, beads of sweat began forming on Martok’s brow. Then the glow turned to a deep violet. Maytra let out an ear-rending scream that sounded almost human. She writhed and twisted violently until Martok eventually placed both hands across her back. At once, the tiny dragon went limp and the glow blinked out.
    This done, Martok gently lifted the creature into his