Serpent's Kiss: A Dragonfire Novel Read Online Free PDF Page B

done without. These complications might have been enough to make another goddess walk away from the whole quest.
    But no. Chandra always finished what she started.
    She always kept her word.
    Even with complications.
    And Thorolf was more of a complication than she’d ever expected to encounter.
    Chandra knew all about the Pyr , she’d studied every resource she could find about their nature and abilities in preparation for undertaking this quest. She had to study because the Pyr were passionate creatures, as different from her as any being could be. She did her homework when she undertook a task. She knew about the firestorm and its promise, the respect the Pyr gave it.
    She also knew that no mortal woman managed to resist the power of the firestorm once it sparked. She wasn’t a mortal woman, so she’d never expected it to undermine everything she knew to be true.
    But with one kiss, Thorolf had shaken the foundations of Chandra’s universe. She stared down at him sprawled on the floor, touched her lips and took a deep breath. Thorolf’s kiss had awakened a desire in her body unlike anything Chandra had ever experienced. And it had worked fast. In seconds, she’d practically forgotten not just her quest but her ancient vow of chastity. Incredibly, the longer his kiss lasted, the more she wanted it to continue. Pleasure had filled her body in a new and wonderful way. She’d wanted to explore the firestorm’s promise. She’d wanted to learn the truth of the pleasure she understood a man and woman could share.
    She’d even revealed herself, her barriers dissolving before the firestorm’s sensory assault. It was frightening to have been so impetuous.
    It was dangerous .
    Thank the gods and goddesses that the mortal had hit Thorolf in the back of the head. He’d saved Chandra from the firestorm—or maybe from herself. He’d proven to be more useful than mortals generally were.
    Even with Thorolf out cold, she couldn’t keep herself from admiring his physique. Tall and muscular, with long blond hair and eyes of vivid blue, Thorolf was a veritable Viking and a force to be reckoned with. Passionate, loyal, powerful. In human form, he was enough of a sight to make her heart skip. In dragon form, she could imagine that he’d always taken her breath away.
    But now she needed to get herself and Thorolf into hiding, quietly and quickly, and revise the plan as necessary. She needed to keep him from attacking humans in order to find out what he knew about Viv, which meant she had to take him to her sanctuary.
    The very idea troubled her. It smacked of complication. But Chandra had to repair the damage that was done, or everything could be lost.
    The apartment’s resident had disappeared into the bathroom. Chandra hoped he’d lock the door and ignore them.
    She knew enough about this Pyr ’s nature to understand that so long as Thorolf was within a talon’s length of urban temptations, she’d never get his attention, let alone convince him to tell her what he knew. She’d have to touch him to move him, then the firestorm would spark, desire would overwhelm her and they might end up somewhere completely different due to her inability to focus. She needed to deal with the existing complications before inviting more.
    The easiest and fastest way of moving Thorolf was to have him shift shape and fly them both to her sanctuary.
    Which meant she had to wake him up.
    In that moment, the apartment resident reappeared with a towel wrapped around his waist. Worse, he was reaching for his cell phone. She’d already missed the chance to ensure they didn’t attract more notice, thanks to the distraction of Thorolf.
    Quick and quiet, that’s how Chandra preferred to work. Humans didn’t really need to know what was going on beneath their noses.
    That was another good reason to work alone.
    What would a mortal woman do?
    Beg for mercy. Try to persuade the guy to help her.
    “Please don’t call the police!” Chandra stood up