Dragon’s Oath Read Online Free PDF

eyebrow at Anastasia and said, “Dragon Lankford? But he has been away from Tower Grove competing in the Vampyre Games for the past two weeks. You and he have not even met, yet you say he is somehow creating a problem for you?”
    “No, not for me. Well, yes, I suppose the problem does have to do with me, though it isn’t technically mine.” Anastasia rubbed her forehead. “Wait, I’ll start again. You asked if there was a problem among the students I know of because I am close enough in age to the fledglings that they feel comfortable talking with me. My answer is yes, I do know of a problem, and it has been created by what I can only call an obsession with this fifth former the students call Dragon.”
    Diana didn’t try to hide her smile any longer. “He is dynamic, and very popular, especially with the female fledglings.”
    Pandeia nodded in agreement. “Case in point—he just bested all of his opponents, fledgling and vampyre alike, to win the coveted title of Sword Master at the Vampyre Games. It is almost unheard of in our history for a fledgling to have won such a title.”
    “Yes, I know of his victory. It is all the girls could talk of today,” Anastasia said wryly.
    “And you see this as a problem? Dragon’s swordsmanship is impressive already, and he has yet to have completed the Change,” Diana said.
    “Though it would not surprise me to see his adult tattoos appear very soon,” Pandeia added. “I agree with Diana—there is nothing unusual about the girls being distracted by Dragon.” The High Priestess smiled. “When you meet him you, too, may understand their distraction.”
    “It is not simple distraction that concerns me,” Anastasia explained quickly. “It is the fact that as of close of school this night a total of fifteen fledglings, thirteen girls and two boys, have come to me, one at a time, begging me for love spells with which to ensnare Dragon Lankford.”
    Anastasia was relieved that this time the silence of the two women was filled with expressions of shock and surprise instead of amusement.
    Finally Pandeia spoke. “This news is disappointing, but not tragically so. The fledglings are aware of my policy on love spells—they are foolish and can be dangerous. Love cannot be bespelled or coerced.” The High Priestess shook her head, obviously annoyed at the fledglings. “Diana, I would like you to teach a lesson in the coming week on what happens when obsession is mistaken for love.”
    Diana nodded. “Perhaps I should begin with the story of Hercules and his obsession with the vampyre High Priestess Hippolyte, and the tragic end that brought about for both of them. It’s a cautionary tale they should all know, but have obviously forgotten.”
    “An excellent idea.” Pandeia turned her wide brown eyes on Anastasia. “I am assuming your response to these inappropriate requests has been to remind those mistaken fledglings that under no circumstances will you perform any type of love spell for them.”
    Anastasia drew a deep breath. “No, Priestess. That was not my response.”
    “Not your response! Why would you–,” Diana began, but her mate’s raised hand cut her off.
    “Explain,” was all the High Priestess said.
    Anastasia met the vampyre’s gaze unwaveringly. “I, too, have no use for love spells. Even when I was first Marked and began to show talent in spellwork my instinct told me love spells were dishonest. I am inexperienced but not naïve. I know love cannot exist with dishonesty.”
    “Insightful yet not an explanation,” Pandeia said.
    The young professor straightened her spine and shifted her gaze to Diana. “You called Lankford ‘dynamic’ and ‘popular.’ Did you not?”
    “I did.”
    “Would you also say he is arrogant?”
    Diana lifted one shoulder. “I suppose I would. But that is not unusual. Many of our most talented Warriors have a sense of arrogance about them.”
    “A sense of arrogance, yes. But is it not tempered with the