Read Online Rogue Dragon by Kassanna - Free Book Online

yelled to be heard over the wind. “It’s too cold for anything to hide in there.”
    She narrowed her eyes. “I swear if I get skunked or bit you may never hear the end of it. Now, do you really want to start our eternity off on that note?”
    “Woman.” His voice was rife with exasperation. Spirals of smoke rose from his nostrils before he opened his mouth and blew a stream of fire illuminating the room no larger than a refrigerator box.
    Synda pressed her lips to keep from smiling. She nodded at him before stepping up into the tiny area. The door slammed behind her and she turned around to stare out the half-moon shape at the top of the barrier. Kirill stood stoically to the side, leaning on the outer wall with his arms crossed.
    Warmth filled her, and she giggled. That cold empty space within her body, which had grown into a chasm, was filling up fast. She truly wasn’t alone anymore. Manx would have to understand. The idea of what her father would say, the disappointment she would witness in his eyes, dampened her spirits. She took one last look out the hole and studied Kirill’s face. He stared off into the distance and absently combed his fingers through his hair. She took the few steps to the makeshift commode. Resolve made her square her shoulders. She would make Manx see. Her bonding was a good thing.
    * * * *
    Kirill stared into the blur of white that billowed around him. When he returned to the house and found Synda missing, his first thought was Drago had somehow discovered he was hiding her. He dropped his head back and peered into the night sky, finding it hard to differentiate the flakes from the stars. Then he’d found Timur preparing to leave, and growled at the man who’d had his back for hundreds of years for letting Synda go out by herself.
    In that moment, Kirill knew he had to go on the defensive, and to the chagrin of Timur, he changed his message to Drago. Once Drago received it, he knew he wouldn’t have much time to prepare before the crazy fuck came for them. No one knew where to find his lair, but he wouldn’t take a chance, he couldn’t risk Synda. They would separate once the missive was delivered. The gargoyle would go to ground, while he’d take Synda someplace safe and hide her, then return to fight that bastard, Drago, in a Malice Challenge.
    The door swung open and she jumped out, walked to a large bank of snow and stuck her hands into it. She rubbed them together after she pulled them free and looked up at him. “I don’t suppose you have any hand sanitizer?”
    He shook his head. “I have fire and it can cleanse anything.”
    “Ha ha.” She smiled widely at him and his heart stopped.
    Kirill cupped her face. “Let’s get you back inside before you freeze.”
    She rubbed her cheek against his palm and eased up next to his body, wrapping an arm around his waist. “Yes, because I think we have quite a bit to talk about.”
    “Yes we do, mate, starting with who and what you are?”
    She waved a hand in the air. “I’m me and I believe you have seen a lot of me in all my glory.”
    “I have, but now we need to discuss specifics.” He lifted her over a large white mound.
    They trudged toward the looming structure that had been his home for almost three hundred years. At the entrance, he held the door open for her. Heat buffeted them as they entered the small foyer and walked into the great room.
    He led her to a double chair and knelt before her to pull her boots. She wiggled her toes and he rubbed her feet. Lifting her leg, he kissed her ankle.
    Kirill leaned back on his haunches. “How about something simple. Tell me your full name?” He massaged her calf.
    Her eyes had fluttered shut and she cracked one lid. “My name is Synda Supreme of the Tarasque Clan. At least that’s what my dad says I’m to tell other dragons when asked who I am.”
    Kirill stopped moving his hands and stared at her. She belonged to the same clan as Drago. His mind worked looking for the