LIAM (The Rylee Adamson Epilogues, Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A
Author: Shannon Mayer
snapped the fragile necks in a matter of seconds, ending whatever suffering the beasts had, ending the fear.
Ophelia stepped around her children, hiding the sight of them feeding with the bulk of her body.
Liam, Eve tells me the ogre babies are in dire straits? Ophelia dropped her head so we were eye level. I ignored the sound of Levi stuttering behind me. One day this would be normal for him, and he wouldn’t even blink. Until then, though, it was best to pretend I didn’t even notice his shock.
I nodded. “I need you to take me to Seattle and be my backup. I know that I am asking you to leave those three monsters, but I can’t go on my own. Not when lives are on the line. If it was anything else, I wouldn’t ask.”
Eve fluffed herself up as she drew closer, Selene once more glued to her side. “I will watch them. They like me and they are all strong enough to take on most supernatural creatures on their own. If that is acceptable, Ophelia?”
The red dragon’s brow furrowed and she closed her eyes as though a shot of pain ran through her.
How long must we be away?
“Two days at most. If we leave now, maybe less.” I knew what I asked of her, to leave her children after losing Blaz . . . it was going to be hard to convince her.
The silence stretched long enough that I began to wonder if I should repeat myself.
I can take you there. Ophelia said. But I . . . I must come back right away. I can’t stay with you.
I gritted my teeth, already feeling the loss of her help, but knowing she would have a reason. I knew she would not leave me on my own without just cause; that wasn’t like her at all. “Then let’s go, we’ll find another way back. Levi, meet Ophelia.”
I strode to the Jeep, jerked the back door open and grabbed my bag. I pulled the heavier coat out and slid it on, which left the bag sparse. Only a few weapons really, but it was better than going in empty-handed. I slung the bag over my shoulder and hurried back to Ophelia. “Ready?”
She didn’t even look at Levi, as she snaked her head toward me. I jumped and she slid underneath me, then did the same to Levi, though his jump was more of a startled fall. I grabbed him as he rolled across her back and situated him behind me. We hadn’t put together a harness for Ophelia yet. Between laying her eggs and protecting her clutch, she hadn’t been interested in having much company other than Rylee. And to be fair, we’d thought there was no rush. No need to hurry something that wasn’t necessary.
Within two heartbeats, we were launched into the air.
I cannot leave them for more than the time to take you and fly back. It is too dangerous. The ogres are not the only ones who are seeing their children die off in droves.
“What do you mean?” I asked. Behind me, Levi’s hand clutched at the back of my jacket. Over the wind, the sound of his teeth chattering filled the air around us. I glanced at him. He wasn’t cold, I could see it in his face. He was damn terrified. Of course, he would be afraid of heights. He heaved once and I glared back at him.
“Don’t you dare puke.”
“I’m sorry.”
I shook my head. “Just close your eyes. Breathe through your nose and out your mouth.”
He nodded and leaned his head against my back, the shuddering of his breathing taking up a steady rhythm.
We were above the farm, looking down. None of Ophelia’s children looked up from their meal. Not even Blue, which I thought he might, seeing as of the three of them he needed his mother’s protection the most with his limp.
While they are strong enough on their own, I can’t leave them yet. Not yet.
“Well, I can understand that. I wouldn’t leave if I didn’t have to,” I said, not entirely understanding her need to explain the obvious.
She shook her head as she beat the wind with her wings. No, you don’t. Dragons don’t stay with their hatchlings for more than a week. Dragons are left on their own within seven days of life outside of
Ophelia stepped around her children, hiding the sight of them feeding with the bulk of her body.
Liam, Eve tells me the ogre babies are in dire straits? Ophelia dropped her head so we were eye level. I ignored the sound of Levi stuttering behind me. One day this would be normal for him, and he wouldn’t even blink. Until then, though, it was best to pretend I didn’t even notice his shock.
I nodded. “I need you to take me to Seattle and be my backup. I know that I am asking you to leave those three monsters, but I can’t go on my own. Not when lives are on the line. If it was anything else, I wouldn’t ask.”
Eve fluffed herself up as she drew closer, Selene once more glued to her side. “I will watch them. They like me and they are all strong enough to take on most supernatural creatures on their own. If that is acceptable, Ophelia?”
The red dragon’s brow furrowed and she closed her eyes as though a shot of pain ran through her.
How long must we be away?
“Two days at most. If we leave now, maybe less.” I knew what I asked of her, to leave her children after losing Blaz . . . it was going to be hard to convince her.
The silence stretched long enough that I began to wonder if I should repeat myself.
I can take you there. Ophelia said. But I . . . I must come back right away. I can’t stay with you.
I gritted my teeth, already feeling the loss of her help, but knowing she would have a reason. I knew she would not leave me on my own without just cause; that wasn’t like her at all. “Then let’s go, we’ll find another way back. Levi, meet Ophelia.”
I strode to the Jeep, jerked the back door open and grabbed my bag. I pulled the heavier coat out and slid it on, which left the bag sparse. Only a few weapons really, but it was better than going in empty-handed. I slung the bag over my shoulder and hurried back to Ophelia. “Ready?”
She didn’t even look at Levi, as she snaked her head toward me. I jumped and she slid underneath me, then did the same to Levi, though his jump was more of a startled fall. I grabbed him as he rolled across her back and situated him behind me. We hadn’t put together a harness for Ophelia yet. Between laying her eggs and protecting her clutch, she hadn’t been interested in having much company other than Rylee. And to be fair, we’d thought there was no rush. No need to hurry something that wasn’t necessary.
Within two heartbeats, we were launched into the air.
I cannot leave them for more than the time to take you and fly back. It is too dangerous. The ogres are not the only ones who are seeing their children die off in droves.
“What do you mean?” I asked. Behind me, Levi’s hand clutched at the back of my jacket. Over the wind, the sound of his teeth chattering filled the air around us. I glanced at him. He wasn’t cold, I could see it in his face. He was damn terrified. Of course, he would be afraid of heights. He heaved once and I glared back at him.
“Don’t you dare puke.”
“I’m sorry.”
I shook my head. “Just close your eyes. Breathe through your nose and out your mouth.”
He nodded and leaned his head against my back, the shuddering of his breathing taking up a steady rhythm.
We were above the farm, looking down. None of Ophelia’s children looked up from their meal. Not even Blue, which I thought he might, seeing as of the three of them he needed his mother’s protection the most with his limp.
While they are strong enough on their own, I can’t leave them yet. Not yet.
“Well, I can understand that. I wouldn’t leave if I didn’t have to,” I said, not entirely understanding her need to explain the obvious.
She shook her head as she beat the wind with her wings. No, you don’t. Dragons don’t stay with their hatchlings for more than a week. Dragons are left on their own within seven days of life outside of