Read Online Open Flame (Dragon's Fate) by Lacy Danes - Free Book Online

home within the frame. Was that real? Her chest tightened. She wanted it to be real. She didn’t want to be here in Paris any longer. She wanted to go home. “I will go home.” She clutched the brown-paper wrapping to her breasts. “You won’t follow me, will you?”
    The man’s expression changed to one of shock. “Never.”
    Oddly, she believed him. She stepped through the window and into her very own bedroom.
    She twirled about and stared at her small bed made up with the yellow-and-blue quilt that her mother had made before she died. The round wooden stand with the white water pitcher and bowl sat on the top. The trunk with her blankets and treasures tucked within.
    Her room.
    How could this be?
    She pivoted back. The window to Paris rippled, misted and disappeared.
     
     
    Hudson heaved a sigh of relief as Fina stepped into the glowing light of her room. She skipped off to London. Away from Paris. His heart lightened. Away from the blackness, Madoc and himself. Things would be easier with her removed from the fray.
    Dark mist rushed at him from the direction of the hotel. He jumped out of the way.
    The darkness steamed passed him.
    Hudson scrambled after the dark fog, his throat tightening and pain gripping his chest. He staggered and fell to his knees, breathless.
    The darkness slipped into the glowing frame as the window to London snapped closed.
     
     
    Fina sat down on her bed and slowly lowered the package to her lap. Her heart pounded away in her breast, and the room wavered slightly before her. How did that work? Could she wish to go anywhere and a window would open? So many questions that needed answering.
    Her father coughed down the hall. Pa. She stared at the door.
    How would she explain how she got here?
    She stared at the brown wrapping and pulled the paper open. Inside lay dark pink fabric embroidered with royal blue. She ran her fingers over the silk and the lines and swirls the blue created. A drawing made of thread. With each line her finger traced in her mind, a new clock-face drawing came to focus. Flowers curled on ribbons that drifted on the breeze, destination unknown. She closed her eyes and opened them. She would create that drawing on the morrow.
    She pulled up the dress, and a long skirt and elbow-length sleeves fell to the sides. Her breath caught. Much too pretty for a clockmaker’s daughter to wear. Everyone would wonder where they got the coin to pay for such a dress.
    She shook out the fabric, and a piece of parchment skittered to the floor. The script consisted of clean looping lines. A perfect steady hand. She picked the note up.
    Fina,
    A dress not nearly as enchanting as you. It is beyond words how I regret the pain and confusion I have so unexpectedly thrust into your life. I am overjoyed to have found you.
    Please wear this gown and accompany me to dinner tonight at half past eight in the gardens off the Hotel De Louvery. I have asked your friend Jonathan to join us.
    Enraptured,
    Madoc
     
    She stared at the note on top of the dark pink fabric. Half past eight with Jonathan. How would she even get there? She had no idea how she got here, and she honestly didn’t want to go back.
    A moan and scuffling came from the other side of the door.
    Fina stood and placed the dress on the end of the bed. She pressed her ear to the crack in the door.
    “You must be quiet.” Catherine’s hushed voice echoed in the hall.
    What was afoot?
    “We can use this room.” The handle on her door jiggled. Fina panicked and darted under the bed and into ice cold. She shivered as the dark mist from the hotel smothered her.
    The door swung open, and Fina quickly tugged on the dress at the foot of the bed so it slipped down to the floor. The note landed just out of reach beyond the end of the bed.
    The door closed.
    Fina held very still and locked her breath in her chest.
    The cold mist hissed a whisper in her ear. ”You are mine now.”
    “Make this quick. And pay me first.” Catherine’s