Dragon Rising Read Online Free PDF Page A

expression shuttered. “I can’t discuss my clients.”
    “My father was your client ?” Lyra got right in her face, feeling her Dragon push against her skin. “He was with Jeremy a few days ago, and he’s missing, too. If you know anything…” Her teeth tingled, fangs ready to extend. “Don’t make me eat you.”
    Kye stepped away, her gaze on Archer. “Pull your Dragon back.”
    He shrugged. “She’s not my Dragon. But I do know she’s impulsive and headstrong and she’ll do whatever it takes to find her father. It’s made her a pain in my ass.” He gave her a sterile smile. “Now she can be a pain in your ass.”
    Kye released a quick breath. “I’ll tell you what I can. I wasn’t counseling him directly. About five months ago, he accompanied a woman who came to see me. She identified him as a friend who was there for moral support.”
    “That woman.” Lyra’s heart tightened. “Was her name Tara Becker?”
    Something flickered across Kye’s expression. She was about as good at hiding her thoughts as Lyra. “I can’t discuss the actual client.”
    “Which means Tara was your client. She went missing right after she saw you. Three missing people connected to you. Confidentiality or not, we need answers.” Lyra moved closer. “Jeremy and my father are probably in danger. Talk.” She shot Archer a Give me some backup here look, but he lifted his eyebrow in a You’ve got it covered response.
    Kye sank down to the couch, picking at a rivet on her sleeve. “I can only give you generalities, understand?” She was clearly figuring out how much to say while preserving her professional oath. When Lyra and Archer sat down across from her, she said, “One of my abilities is telling inter-Crescent couples which type of magick the baby’s going to inherit. As an example, if you and Archer came to me, I could tell whether your fetus was Dragon or Caido.
    “Let’s just say that Tara’s request went beyond not only my abilities, but one of the Hidden laws. She was so desperate that I asked Jeremy if he knew someone who could help, since he mentioned having some powerful acquaintances in the Caido community. He made some calls but had no luck. When I heard Tara went missing, I thought she had probably taken time away from everyone to…handle the situation privately. She made me promise that I would never divulge her reason for seeing me.”
    Lyra rubbed her chin. How could sex or babies be illegal? She heard Archer ask Kye something, but her mind kept poking and prodding until an idea hit her. “Tara was pregnant, which would have been a surprise at her age. She was going to terminate the pregnancy.”
    Kye shook her head. “I have nothing to do with abortions. Besides, she would have gone to a clinic.”
    “True. So Tara discovers she’s pregnant.” Lyra snapped her fingers. “And she wanted to know if the baby was Dragon like her or Deuce like her husband. Huff hates Dragons.” Her eyes widened. “Her baby was going to be a Dragon.”
    Kye blinked, giving away that at least something Lyra said was on target.
    Lyra went on. “She wanted to change the fetus, didn’t she? To preserve her marriage.”
    Not only was it illegal to change a fetus and risky to both mother and baby, but also the fact that she’d tried to eradicate a Dragon would make her and even her family anathema to all Dragons.
    Kye neither confirmed nor denied Lyra’s statement, keeping her client confidentiality intact and letting Lyra know she was on the right track.
    Lyra stood. “Thank you.”
    Kye rose, too. “I’m not sure how something that happened five months ago factors in, but hopefully it helps.”
    They exchanged numbers, and Kye said, “Please let me—us,” she added, nodding toward Anika, “know when you find him.”
    Lyra heard Archer’s exhale of relief as they stepped into the cool, clean air. Her ears still buzzed with music. “We worked well together just now.”
    His eyes flashed for a second.