Plight of the Dragon Read Online Free PDF

glanced at Kyra and winked. They walked the path at a mild to slow rate. “When it is done, Kyra will return to you.”  
    “And the boy,” Bolsvck yelled.  
    Zeke did not respond.  
    “I shall go. Make sure everything goes all right. Make sure they both return,” Ryhuu said.  
    Kyra glanced back, saw Queen Shui stop Ryhuu with a touch to the shoulder. At the back of the dragon crowd, Drakhögg’s head snapped up. He’d been in tight, a little too tight, with that other girl dragon. The one that made Kyra self-conscious.  
    “Send no one. We will return,” Zeke called over his shoulder and kept walking.  
    When the dragons were out of view, Zeke stepped to the side and took a seat on an old bench pushed out of the crowd’s way. “This is it for me, for now. Talia will take excellent care of you. She’s a good girl.”
    “Thank you, Zeke, for everything.” Sebastian took the old man’s hand in his and squeezed it. Then he knelt close to Zeke and whispered something Kyra couldn’t hear. The not knowing made her eyes burn. Silly.  
    When Sebastian stepped back, dragonflies swarmed a chaotic ring inside Kyra’s gut. She should say something to this man who had somehow stricken respect and compliance in her parents. But that alone kept her feet from taking a step closer. “Thank you for your help,” she said from where she stood. Zeke smiled, and his blind eyes glistened. Kyra’s brow narrowed, and she studied him hard. She almost stepped closer. Is he really blind?
    “Let’s go,” Talia said and started toward the array of spinning lights and magical music.  
    The air was thick with the scent of hot dogs, turkey legs, caramelized bacon, and something else. Something metallic. Something…burning? Kyra regarded the scenes on her left and right. From what she could see, nothing was burning, but that didn’t rule out an electrical fire. A flash snapped near her right ear, and she turned to see what it was. Another flash to the left. Tiny flashes everywhere, like lightning bugs exploding. She jerked her head and jumped.
    Sebastian tightened his hold on her hand. “Don’t worry. You’ve been through this many times. It’s Mystic’s—the carnival. She’s getting ready to change.”
    Kyra paused and stared at him, a wrinkle in her forehead. “What do you mean, change?”
    “You’re about to find out.” He pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her waist. Studied her with concern brewing in his dark, sultry eyes. “How are you dealing with the knowledge that you’re a dragon shifter?”
    “I don’t know. I feel like it should bother me, and yet…” She paused, peered down at her hand and flexed it. She could almost see it morphing into something scaly with wicked-long nails. Damn, she had a wild imagination. She squinted back toward the flashing lights of the rides. “It’s almost like that’s what’s wrong here. I’m supposed to be a dragon, but I’m not.” She glanced at him. “Does that make sense?”
    “In your amusing Kyra-speak, it sorta does.” He rubbed her arm. “I don’t want to alarm you, but this place is full of things of a supernatural nature. Like dragons, but not like dragons at all. Does that make sense?”
    Kyra’s lips twisted to the side, and she thought about what he’d said for a moment. “I guess it does. Like you?” she asked. “You’re not a dragon.”
    “No, I’m not. Your parents made that abundantly clear.”
    The metallic smell grew stronger, and the flashing increased.  
    “She’s working slow today. Must be giving you a chance to acclimate.”
    “Who?” Kyra asked.
    “The carnival,” Sebastian said. “Like your people are dragons, and I am not, the carnival is an entity all her own. A rather interesting being, at that.” He admired their surroundings, giving pause to his commentary. “She will move us visitors around the landscape of her domain as she deems necessary. You used to tell me it was a fun challenge, making your way