Read Online Kiss of Danger (The Dragon Legion Novellas) by Deborah Cooke - Free Book Online
Authors: Deborah Cooke
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last thing he saw was a dragon taking flight into the night sky, something Cetos couldn’t identify clutched to his side.
The boy.
The one he said was his son.
It was too late for regrets, but Cetos had more than one.
Chapter Three
There was something soothing about the rhythm of the dragon’s flight. Katina managed to slow the racing of her heart as the dragon carried her into the hills. Her face still hurt and the backs of her elbows stung where the skin had been scraped away, but she didn’t care. She was away from that horrific situation, one she had never expected. Cetos had never been violent before, and it made no sense that he’d been so distressed about not being able to surrender Lysander for some apprenticeship, even if the other man was wealthy.
It was as if a different man had come home from his routine journey.
Was he dead? Katina wasn’t sure and she didn’t want to think about it. Not yet. She could still smell that awful smell of flesh burning and it made her bile rise.
She was more worried as to what had happened to Alexander. Had the dragon attacked him first? Was he still hidden in the bedroom, or had he managed to escape?
Would she ever know? She couldn’t help feeling that she was reliving the past in losing Alexander again and being uncertain of his safety or survival.
It wasn’t any easier the second time.
Katina spared a glance upward at her captor. She probably should have been more frightened than she was to be in the captivity of a dragon. His grip upon her wasn’t painfully tight and she had the sense that he’d been saving her.
But why? A dragon was unlikely to speak to her, much less confide in her.
She’d never believed they existed, but this dragon was clearly real. Was he exactly what he appeared to be, or a god in disguise? How could she find out?
Katina could see the deep silvery purple of his chest scales more closely now and also the power of his muscles moving beneath the armor. His wings beat at almost a leisurely pace, as if it was effortless to both fly and carry her weight. There was a savage beauty about him, and a power that filled her with awe.
“That he was your husband,” the dragon said, his voice sounding precisely like Alexander’s, “didn’t give him the right to strike you.” He gave her an intent look, one that reminded her very much of Alexander when he was annoyed. “Ever.”
Katina gasped in shock. “You spoke!”
The dragon glanced down at her regally. His gaze was knowing, as if he would dare her to believe the impossible.
“But you’re a dragon,” she said, speaking aloud as she considered the possibilities.
“A dragon shape shifter,” he corrected and once again, Katina recognized his voice.
“Alexander?” she whispered and he inclined his head once.
Just as Alexander would have done.
Katina looked away, her thoughts spinning. A dragon shape shifter? Who knew that such creatures existed...never mind that she’d been married to one. But then, the gods were often said to enchant humans, turning them into other creatures or trees. She’d thought the stories whimsical, but they must have a root in truth.
She could easily believe that Alexander would defend her from harm, using any abilities he had.
She just hadn’t counted on this one.
Was it possible that she and Alexander had something in common? Katina’s heart began to pound with hope, but she tried to stay calm. She had to know more to be sure that this was cause for celebration. “Isn’t that impossible?”
“Nothing is impossible, Katina. I’ve learned that much, at least.” He spoke with such conviction that she wondered again where he had been and what he had seen.
“Do you control the change?”
“Yes.”
“Is it new for you?”
“No.”
Katina was thrilled. “Show me,” she said, needing to see the truth with her own eyes.
Alexander didn’t answer, but began a spiraling descent. Katina realized that he was targeting the crest of
The boy.
The one he said was his son.
It was too late for regrets, but Cetos had more than one.
Chapter Three
There was something soothing about the rhythm of the dragon’s flight. Katina managed to slow the racing of her heart as the dragon carried her into the hills. Her face still hurt and the backs of her elbows stung where the skin had been scraped away, but she didn’t care. She was away from that horrific situation, one she had never expected. Cetos had never been violent before, and it made no sense that he’d been so distressed about not being able to surrender Lysander for some apprenticeship, even if the other man was wealthy.
It was as if a different man had come home from his routine journey.
Was he dead? Katina wasn’t sure and she didn’t want to think about it. Not yet. She could still smell that awful smell of flesh burning and it made her bile rise.
She was more worried as to what had happened to Alexander. Had the dragon attacked him first? Was he still hidden in the bedroom, or had he managed to escape?
Would she ever know? She couldn’t help feeling that she was reliving the past in losing Alexander again and being uncertain of his safety or survival.
It wasn’t any easier the second time.
Katina spared a glance upward at her captor. She probably should have been more frightened than she was to be in the captivity of a dragon. His grip upon her wasn’t painfully tight and she had the sense that he’d been saving her.
But why? A dragon was unlikely to speak to her, much less confide in her.
She’d never believed they existed, but this dragon was clearly real. Was he exactly what he appeared to be, or a god in disguise? How could she find out?
Katina could see the deep silvery purple of his chest scales more closely now and also the power of his muscles moving beneath the armor. His wings beat at almost a leisurely pace, as if it was effortless to both fly and carry her weight. There was a savage beauty about him, and a power that filled her with awe.
“That he was your husband,” the dragon said, his voice sounding precisely like Alexander’s, “didn’t give him the right to strike you.” He gave her an intent look, one that reminded her very much of Alexander when he was annoyed. “Ever.”
Katina gasped in shock. “You spoke!”
The dragon glanced down at her regally. His gaze was knowing, as if he would dare her to believe the impossible.
“But you’re a dragon,” she said, speaking aloud as she considered the possibilities.
“A dragon shape shifter,” he corrected and once again, Katina recognized his voice.
“Alexander?” she whispered and he inclined his head once.
Just as Alexander would have done.
Katina looked away, her thoughts spinning. A dragon shape shifter? Who knew that such creatures existed...never mind that she’d been married to one. But then, the gods were often said to enchant humans, turning them into other creatures or trees. She’d thought the stories whimsical, but they must have a root in truth.
She could easily believe that Alexander would defend her from harm, using any abilities he had.
She just hadn’t counted on this one.
Was it possible that she and Alexander had something in common? Katina’s heart began to pound with hope, but she tried to stay calm. She had to know more to be sure that this was cause for celebration. “Isn’t that impossible?”
“Nothing is impossible, Katina. I’ve learned that much, at least.” He spoke with such conviction that she wondered again where he had been and what he had seen.
“Do you control the change?”
“Yes.”
“Is it new for you?”
“No.”
Katina was thrilled. “Show me,” she said, needing to see the truth with her own eyes.
Alexander didn’t answer, but began a spiraling descent. Katina realized that he was targeting the crest of
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