Dragons Don't Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

satisfying grind of nails against armored
scales.
    A well-placed punch to my jaw is my
reward. I shake my great head, spin, and charge through another
cloud only to find him gone.
    “ Let me know when you tire
so we can land and discuss this like mature men.”
    “ That’s why your mate has
you so pussy-whipped it’s laughable. We are dragon and not men at
all. I will kill you, Bastian, along with Acasia.”
    His strike comes from above this time
and his talons sink deep into the unprotected juncture where my
wings meet my back. He furls in his wings and takes us both toward
the ground. He doesn’t release me as we crash and roll. Our wings
tie up together as we go head over tail. Bastian’s giant jaw
captures my throat before I can stop him. The pressure grinds
against my windpipe.
    “ You will never threaten my
mate again, Laryn,” Bastian grounds out no longer able to control
his temper.
    “ She stole my bride” I snap.
His hold doesn’t relent.
    “ And you stole mine
first.”
    I’d spew fire if I could get it past
Bastian’s grip on my throat. “So this is revenge for something I
did twenty-five years ago?” His teeth press down just a bit harder
and I continue. “I have done everything so you will grant me
forgiveness. It does no good because you can’t forgive yourself.
You did not guard your greatest treasure close enough. You failed
her, Bastian. I only took advantage of an incompetent
dragon.”
    Ashrac’s quiet voice enters my head.
“You would harm my mother, Uncle Laryn?”
    Oh, hell.
    “ Release me, Bastian,
please.” Ever so slowly, Bastian’s jaws open. I shift. It’s the
only way I can truly control the fury eating at my insides. Ashrac
is standing about twenty feet away. I beckon with my hands. “Come
here, Ash.”
    He looks uncertain and it wounds me
deeply. “I would never harm your mother or you.” I glance up at
Bastian. “Or your father.”
    Ashrac shifts to human and leaps so
fast I almost don’t catch him. I wrap my arms tight around his
small body and heft him up. “I love you, Uncle Laryn,” he says as
he squeezes me tight. “Your bride is afraid of you and I asked
Mother if we could keep her. I didn’t mean to make you angry, Uncle
Laryn.”
    I glance over his shoulder to his
father who stands by and watches me hug his son. It’s the first
time Bastian has willingly allowed me to touch him.
    Bastian shakes his head in seeming
irritation. “We’ve always known where he is when he visits you,
Laryn. I forgave you a long time ago, but you know how stubborn I
am. I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.”
    Guilt, relief, and sadness wash over
me. Twenty-five years wasted because of my foolishness. I stole
Bastian’s bride and he has a right to hate me. “My bride,” is all I
can manage as I hold tight to my nephew and try to keep tears at
bay.
    “ I will speak with Acasia
and we will bring your bride back to you.”
    “ She is very beautiful,
Uncle Laryn.”
    I set him down. “Yes, she is. She
belongs with me, Ash. You need to convince your mother of
that.”
    He stares at me with his serious dark
eyes flashing red. “Do you promise not to frighten her again,
uncle?”
    The last bit of fight leaves me and I
place my hand over my heart. “I promise, Ash.”
    He turns and runs. His dragon form
replaces the boy as he shoots skyward. “I will tell her she must
return to you, Uncle Laryn. She will be so happy that you will be
nice, I know she will.”
    “ You’ve promised him,
Laryn.”
    I turn and meet Bastian’s gaze. “I
have and I will keep my promise, or at least try. The pint-sized,
ball-of-nothing female attacked me with a sword at the claiming
ceremony.”
    Bastian, still in dragon form, rears
his head back and blows fire with his laughter.
    I can’t help myself, wimp that I’ve
become in the last few minutes. I wait until his laughter subsides
before saying, “Am I truly forgiven, Bastian?”
    His goliath head nods once. “Yes, my
friend. I