Defiant Dragon Read Online Free PDF Page A

window at the waves lapping the pylons on the wharf below. With all his resources, he still wasn’t able to destroy a rogue dragon, a stone statue, and two humans. He refused to consider his cousin, Manx’s daughter, a dragon. The Halfling had the luck of the Goddess and word must be spreading. He’d issued an order for Harper’s daughter, River, to stand before him. The young mermaid had the gall to refuse, even though he’d threatened to behead her father. Drago rubbed the stubble along his jaw. All his plans were turning from sugar to shit and it seemed good help was becoming impossible to find. He hadn’t heard from the men he’d pulled from Kirill’s detail to find the little female fish. That was a mistake he wouldn’t be repeating, considering he lost track of that asshole for a few days. At least he still had the witches to rely on and he hadn’t heard from Nicolette for a few days.
    He pulled his cell free from the inside pocket of his jacket. He’d sent her to another one of his lairs to secure the wards before he relocated. Scrolling through the list he tapped her icon and listened to the beeps as her number was dialed.
    “What, Drago?” she snapped.
    He bristled at her tone. “Nicolette, I am going hang up and call you again. If you answer my summons with that tone again, I suggest you hide, because when I find you I will burn your ass alive.” He disconnected the call and ticked off numbers in his head until his temper was controlled. The witch thought she could talk to him like some mere mortal. Hell, he’d watched the birth of her species. He slid his finger over the screen again.
    “Yes, Drago,” Nicollette answered with a submissive tone at the first ring.
    “Better. I was concerned for you when I realized I hadn’t heard from you.” He dropped his voice an octave.
    She perked up. “Oh. I’m sorry, baby. I got to the old airfield and needed to handle a bit of coven business. I’ve spoken with the other crones about the Babel Coven and no one can get a feel for them. There are rumors that they were wiped out by one powerful witch, but I’m having a hard time confirming that.” He could hear the worry in her words.
    “That is interesting.” If that was the case, then there was a witch out there who could replace Nicolette and her coven. With someone that formidable at his call, he could easily quell the rumblings of dissident from the other dragon clans. He could kill Kirill, as well as his cousin, and then he could locate the Y Ddraig Goch at his leisure and everything would be right with his world. “I’m sure you will get to the bottom of that mystery. Keep me posted.”
    “Of course, honey. When will you be arriving?”
    “Take care of protecting my home. Once I’ve handled this Harper business, I’ll be changing lairs and coming that way.”
    “All righ…” he disconnected the call without responding to her good-bye.
    Drago leaned back in his seat and exhaled. Finding the treasure was taking longer than it should and he was tired of changing homes every few weeks, but his ex-assassin was smart. It would be stupid to stay in one place for too long, that would give the Russian dragon the opportunity to plan and execute his demise. His idea of infiltrating the old Dragonrex’s home on Fire Island was sound if he could get the obnoxious mermaid to work with him. If she wouldn’t respond to the threat to her father’s life, maybe he should try another tactic. It wasn’t like he wanted the mermaid tribes in his court. He could make a deal and have her delivered to him on a platter. He would apply that human adage. Work smarter not harder. He would let his adversaries do the job for him.
    The picture of River laid out on a silver tray flitted through his mind and gave him an erection. He swiped his palm across the crotch of his slacks adjust his cock. Perhaps he should allow her to warm his bed first. He’d always heard the species were sensual lovers. No matter, he’d