Master of Dragons Read Online Free PDF

her, at least Brandy Clark would be alive. And if she failed and got caught anyway…
    Well, Ansgar would regret tangling with her. Nineva wouldn’t go down without a fight.
    She swung into what was usually the act’s climax, pulling Snowball out of a ribbon-bedecked hat with much wand-waving and magical gestures. While all the little girls clapped, Nineva sank to her knees in front of Brandy. “Would you like to pet Snowball?”
    The child nodded so hard, her crown tipped forward. She pushed it back with one hand and accepted the little animal with the other.
    As Brandy petted the purring kitten, Nineva pulled her into her lap, closed her eyes and cupped the thin little face in one hand. And opened herself to the magic.
    She shielded hastily as the Mark began to blaze. A buzzing wave of energy flooded her consciousness with such intensity, she felt dazzled, breathless. It was like flying. No, like being a shooting star, all light and exhilaration. God, it had been so long since she’d dared use her full power…
    Dragging her attention back to business, Nineva sent magic pouring through her fingertip and into Brandy’s small head, right into the knot of lethal darkness. Slowly, carefully, she attempted to pick the knot apart. It only tightened protectively.
    Nineva drew in more magic and breathed it over the little girl, concentrating fiercely on the malevolent spot. Heal, she thought, focusing her will like a laser. Heal. Heal, heal, heal, HEAL.
    The tumor abruptly yielded. Mutated cells began to return to normal, slowly at first, then faster as the cancer melted away like a snowball in the sun.
    Her tired eyes stung. Ruthlessly blinking back the tears, Nineva sent more magic surging through the little girl’s body to repair the damage from chemotherapy and radiation. The Mark blazed until her entire right breast throbbed. She set her teeth and strengthened her shields as she worked, wondering all the while if it would be enough to save the child. Nineva was burning a hell of a lot of power, and she suspected it was leaking through the shield.
    â€œWow, look at the lady’s tattoo!” a little girl whispered.
    At last, drained and euphoric, she opened her eyes.
    Brandy was staring up at her with wonder. “My head doesn’t hurt anymore.”
    Nineva pressed a quick kiss to her forehead. “Good.” She lifted the child from her lap and climbed to her feet. Her knees shook under her, and her skirt was as wrinkled as a gunnysack. She’d have to spring for a dry cleaner.
    In her current dizzy state of exhaustion and exhilaration, she didn’t particularly care.
    Brandy’s mother was staring at her, puzzlement on her pretty face. Even the other children watched with solemn eyes. Joyce stepped closer and lowered her voice. “Are you okay? You seemed to zone out for a minute there. And what is that thing on your chest? How’d you make it glow like that?”
    Nineva flashed her a smile and spun her standard line. “It’s a special paint. Increased blood flow makes it luminesce. Part of the act.” She’d grown very skilled at lying.
    â€œYou’re really good.” Joyce’s eyes drifted to her daughter’s face, suddenly grown animated as she showed the kitten to her friends. The gray pallor was already beginning to lift. “Brandy does look better.” She bit her lip. “I was afraid this party would be too much, but…”
    It was easy to guess the rest of the sentence: It might be the last birthday she’ll ever have.
    Nineva concealed a secret smile. Brandy would now have many more birthdays to look forward to. Her doctors would be puzzled at her spontaneous remission, and her parents would be overjoyed.
    I did it. Happiness sang through her as she went to work packing up her magic box with shaking hands.
    Now, if only she could manage to stay out of Ansgar’s hands…

TWO
    The Mark pulsed on her skin,