Dragonmark Read Online Free PDF Page B

life to you. He pulled his hood up to conceal his features again and turned to leave.
    â€œWait!” Edilyn spoke before she even realized it.
    Illarion stopped and turned back toward her.
    You hate dragons. You hate them all, she reminded herself.
    And yet …
    She saw in her mind the way he’d rushed to protect her. Remembered the way he’d teased her and made her feel warm, even while the others mocked her during the trials.
    This was all kinds of stupid. She knew it.
    Even so, she couldn’t stop the words from leaving her lips. “I’ll come with you.”
    With a hesitation that seemed incongruous for such a powerful creature, he held his hand out to her. But he made no move toward her, letting her know that the final decision was entirely up to her and her alone. He would not encroach on her choice in any way.
    That made this much easier.
    Illarion wasn’t like the others. He seemed as uncertain of this as she was.
    Her hand shaking, she took his and stepped into a most uncertain future with the last creature she’d ever thought to meet.
    The moment she made that tiny physical contact, a bright flash blinded her. Everything spun until she couldn’t gather her bearings. She floated in what appeared to be a dream. Or was she falling? She couldn’t quite tell what was happening.
    Not until she found her feet on solid ground in the center of a huge, dark cave.
    A massive cavern, really.
    Yet it wasn’t cold. Rather it seemed a pleasant temperature. Nor was it overly dark. Especially since torches lit themselves the moment they appeared inside it.
    She turned around slowly so that she could examine the glistening black walls. “Where are we?”
    My home.
    â€œWhich is?”
    Where I live. His tone was flat and dry.
    As well as irritating.
    She gave him a peeved stare. “And that is?”
    In a place where no one can find me. He lowered his hood to stare at her. Are you afraid now?
    Edilyn knew what he wanted and she refused to give him that satisfaction. “Should I be?”
    One corner of his mouth lifted. Most would be terrified.
    â€œI’m not most.”
    Nay, you are not, especially for such a tasty little morsel.
    For some reason, the note in his voice warmed her, in spite of words that could be construed as a threat. “And I still wish to know where this place is.”
    Where I cannot be disturbed or attacked.
    Or found.
    Someone even less trusting than she. Had she not borne witness to it, she wouldn’t have believed it possible. Truly, this was amazing.
    And that made her curious about another matter where he was concerned. “Are you incapable of speaking?”
    I have no vocal cords, if that’s what you’re asking. They were severed by a cruel hand when I was a small dragonet. He slowly drew near her, stopping just as he reached her back. Yet he didn’t touch her. Not that he needed to. His presence was so fierce and intimidating. Overwhelming. The power of him bled and filled the room to capacity.
    It electrified her.
    And terrified her in spite of her bold words and resolve to not let it. He was a savage beast, even in the guise of a man. No matter how hard she might want to pretend otherwise, she couldn’t deny it. There was something innately raw and commanding about him. Something so sinister and cold.
    He didn’t have to say he held no value for human life, it was as if the very fiber of his being telegraphed it for others.
    With a gentleness that belied the bloodthirsty dragon she’d seen rip apart her enemies, he lifted a lock of her hair from her shoulder. A light smile hovered over his lips as he brushed her hair against his skin and inhaled its scent. In that moment, she was grateful she’d listened to her brother, who was being uncommonly quiet through all of this.
    Which led her to a much more awkward thought.…
    â€œDo you wish to rut with me now?”
    He let out a peculiar