Charred Tears (#2, Heart of Fire) Read Online Free PDF Page A

he’d agreed to give up all his magic in the first place and couldn’t do it on his own. Though I doubt you told him up front what he was doing. You both sound like dicks in this scenario.”
    “He traded you the first time around. He just didn’t know it.”
    She considered him for a moment. “Because I was – am – the other half of his heart. Because he’s my dragon.”
    “You’re safe. It’s all that matters.”
    “You want me just to stay here for eternity and be happy about it?”
    “Yes.”
    “You know as much about me as Chace does,” she snapped.
    “I don’t need to know you. I need to keep you safe,” Gavin growled. “You are all I have in this world, and I won’t lose you again, even if that means chaining you in your room so you can’t leave!” His eyes flashed fire, and muscles began to move beneath his skin, a sure sign he was angry enough to shift involuntarily.
    Skylar began to think he’d lived five thousand years without anyone ever challenging him the way she did.
    “There are days when I want to use the lassos on you both,” she said.
    “Lassos?”
    “Yeah. Like the one on my dresser.”
    “How many are there?” he asked. Gavin’s fire seemed to be snuffed out instantly. He was staring at her hard. This cold anger was scarier than the hot fury.
     “Chill, dragon,” she murmured. “There are two lassos. You go fly around and cool off, and I’ll go inside and make tea. For me, because you’re being an asshole. You can make your own when you get back, and we’ll talk later.”
    Gavin was still for a moment then shrugged his shoulders to try to loosen them. The fire remained in his eyes.
    She didn’t wait for him to calm down but strode back to the house and went inside, angry with him but able to recognize a wall when she hit one. There really was no option. She had to help Mason, if not Dillon, along with the rest of the slayers. She didn’t know what to think about Chace or the deal he’d made with her father. They both got their hands dirty in that agreement.
    “Why can’t you guys be less like dragons and stop to think before doing or saying something?” she muttered.
    She turned to see Gavin flying into the sky, the powerful wings beating hard in the ocean wind. The dark blue scales lining his body reflected the last rays of sunlight, creating tiny rainbows around him. He was magnificent, beautiful and terrifying in the way of a mythical creature the size of a building.
    Watching him fly calmed her, confused her. She’d spent the past few years believing dragons to be the enemy, only to discover her past and her future were intertwined with their kind.
    Chace’s betrayal hurt in a way that made her think she’d never be able to trust him again and yet, she sensed she was supposed to help him the way her mother helped her father.
    Maybe this way is better. She knew now not to trust him, not to fall for the dragon she was safeguarding. Maybe now, she was able to focus on her duty and not on the spark between them.
    Skylar shook her head. She’d never be able to face Chace again without wanting to melt into his arms. But if he was the man her father portrayed him to be, he’d just hurt her, if she gave him her heart.
    “First things first,” she said aloud to distract her thoughts. “Warn Mason and help the others.” I’ll figure out what to do about Chace later.
    Skylar returned to her room and changed out of the shorts and tank she wore on the island into clothing she could fight in. Her gaze went to the old, folded letter on top of her dresser. It was the final note written by her mother, Ginger, to Gavin. Seeing it softened Skylar’s anger towards her father, made her remember there was a man beneath the scales who had lost someone he loved.
    Gavin was hurting. What he said and did were to protect the only thing that mattered to him.
    “Sorry, Dad,” she said, picking up the note. She tucked it in her pocket. “But I can’t stand by and let others