Freedom's Fall Read Online Free PDF

now?”
    Sorcha’s smile was pure evil. “Now my work is done and you
get to spend however long you want bonding with your new master and mistress.”
She slapped Tansy on the back. “Good luck with that, sister.”
    The smartass turned and left, singing an out-of-tune
rendition of “Puff the Magic Dragon” so loud and off-key that it was a wonder
the pale-gray paneling didn’t peel from the walls.
    Fellescend’s mammoth body shifted and he brought his forearm
forward, wrapping his lethal claws around Tansy. She went rigid in his grasp,
her proximity to those razor-sharp talons completely freaking her out.
Unfortunately her anxiety didn’t slow Fellescend’s motion. Drawing her close,
he didn’t ease the pressure until they were practically nose to nose.
    We need to talk, pet.
    About what? She tried not to hyperventilate, but
being held so firmly a breath away from the teeth of a battle dragon would make
anyone pee their pants.
    We want to know why you won’t let our males claim you.
    What now? That wasn’t where she’d expected the conversation
to go, and the topic was so surprising that her fear of the battle dragon took
a backseat. Fellescend, I have no idea what you’re talking about.
    He growled, a low rumble in his belly. Yes you have. You
like our males, they like you, it is right that you should mate.
    It’s not that simple.
    Yes it is.
    Tansy had often seen her Enforcers shake their heads in
disgust at “dragon logic”, and she was beginning to understand why. Fellescend
made it sound so simple and easy, and it probably was to his way of thinking.
Unfortunately, from her side of the fence everything was complicated and messy.
    She wondered if she could explain her experience in terms
the dragons would understand. When I was being held against my will, bad
things were done to my mind and my body. Physically I have healed but my mind
and my emotions will take a bit longer. It’s not as simple as moving on because
I want to. It takes time to process what happened, to sort through my
experience and find the best way for me to deal with it and move forward. The
kind of hurt I suffered lingers and it’s not the type of thing I can just wish
away.
    Zenbaylan lowered her head and rubbed her cheek against
Fellescend’s claw in a movement that was clearly intended as affection by
proxy. Tansy wiggled her arm free and reached up to lay her hand on the black’s
smoky scales.
    I like your males very much, Tansy said, the
admission out before she thought better of it. But I wouldn’t be doing them
or myself any favors if I pushed my recovery too far and too fast.
    Very well, Zenbaylan said. You can have a week.
    Tansy shook her head. It doesn’t work like that. You can’t
put a time limit on healing.
    Zenbaylan snorted, her breath hot enough to singe Tansy’s
cheeks. A week will be long enough. If you’re not ready to move forward by
then, Fellescend and I will help you.
    Yes, pet, don’t worry, Fellescend rumbled in Tansy’s
head. We will have you ready to mate in no time.
    Bloody hell, she was being steamrolled by ten tons of scaly,
well-meaning muscle and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it.
Apparently, pet status was going to suck ass.

Chapter Three
     
    The following week flew by and Tansy knew she had to make a
decision if she wanted to avoid dragon “help”. Well, that wasn’t entirely true.
She’d already come up with a plan—she just had to find
the courage to sit down with Rye and Dev and explain to them what she wanted.
Yeah, no sweat.
    She’d cleared away the dinner dishes, wiped the table and
straightened the chairs. Then she spent a good ten minutes talking herself into—and
out of—her upcoming conversation. Rubbing sweaty palms on her silk pants, she
wandered into the living room. Rye and Dev were sprawled on the plump sofa,
their bare feet propped on the coffee table.
    She had to clear her throat twice before she found her
voice. “Have you guys got time for a