Ice Dragon Read Online Free PDF

her, and realized, in that quiet moment, she was comfortable and completely warm for the first time in years.
    “You’re a good dragon, Roland. Thank you. After I sleep a bit, I’ll try another treatment on your side. I’m too tired now.”
    That’s all right, little one. Sleep now. We’ll worry about everything else in the morning.
     
    Roland dozed, careful of the woman at his side. She felt right, cuddled next to him. She unconsciously stroked his flank with her face and hair as she moved slightly, her hands coming to rest in the ticklish spot just where his wing met his body, but he didn’t move. He liked the feel of her small, gentle hands on him. Perhaps too much.
    He became aware of warmth seeping from her into him that should not be. Taking quick stock, he realized she was reaching out to him with her healing ability, even in sleep.
    Lana, sweetling, wake up. You have to stop trying to heal me. I don’t want you wearing yourself out on my account. It could be dangerous.
    “What?” Her voice was drowsy, still half-asleep as her hands subtly stroked him.
    Pull your power back, little one. Do not expend your healing energy like this.
    “But I’m not doing anything.”
    You are. I feel it, Lana.
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    “No.” She faced him, coming out from under the shelter of his wing to meet his gaze. “I feel no power drain.”
    But I feel your heat. The heat of your healing power.
    “That can’t be.”
    Roland remembered then, a legend of his family. It didn’t seem possible that this little, unexpected woman could hold the powers his family had thought lost for generations, but then, stranger things had happened since he’d flown north. This would require a great deal of thought on his part and he didn’t want to trouble her with the magnitude of the discovery until he was certain.
    It’s all right, sweetling. Go back to sleep. I must have been mistaken.
    She moved back under his wing, settled back against him and was soon asleep once more. Roland watched carefully, gauging the energies flowing once more from her to him and back again. He knew then he wasn’t mistaken. Relaxed and out of immediate danger, they were feeding off each other in an endless loop. Neither would suffer ill effects from this kind of innate healing, or so the legends held. This was a rarity among rarities. No pair had formed this kind of bond in centuries, but it seemed this big-hearted, self-trained healer was doing so. It was a miracle. Or perhaps, he thought with a dragonish snort, it was magic.
     
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Chapter Three
    “You’re much better this morning.” Lana moved constantly, trying to stay warm as she examined the worst of Roland’s injuries. He loved the feel of her little hands, so gentle on his hide. “I thought you did a lot more damage than this when you blasted out of the cave.”
    So did I, but I guess we got lucky. I feel fit to fly, as long as we take it easy.
    Tor bounded over, pushing snow everywhere. How long will it take us to get to your land now?
    A few days, I think, but it’ll be warmer as soon as we clear the mountains. I hope we can do that by tomorrow afternoon.
    “So only one more night of snow?” Lana’s teeth chattered as she ran her hand down to his groin injury. He did his best to concentrate on anything but her tender touch in his most private areas.
    If you’re lucky. There may be snow on the ground in the foothills as well, but it won’t be quite this cold.
    Lana sneezed daintily as she stepped back from him and moved to his side. “I’m almost done for now. I think you’ll be fine as long as you take it as easy as possible. No acrobatics, all right?”
    Yes, mother.
    Lana chuckled as Tor laughed and played in the snow. Roland could easily see she’d been a good mother to the orphaned dragonet. He was happy and his innocent heart was full of laughter and fun, as it should 34

     
    be. After hearing what they’d both been through at the hands of Salomar, he knew it could