The Queen's Flight (Emerging Queens) Read Online Free PDF Page A

evening news and starts to track us down.”
    “I haven’t seen my mom in over a week. She’s going to be worried about me.”
    Jack and Carolyn exchanged a glance.
    “I need underwear. My own clothes. I’m a hard size to fit. Plus, my mother will put all my yarn in a tag sale. Please.”
    “She needs her hoard,” Carolyn said.
    “I don’t have a hoard,” Viola said. “I’ve only been a dragon a week.”
    “No, you’ve been a dragon all your life. You were stopped from shifting at puberty by an ancient spell.”
    Viola rubbed her forehead. “Yeah, I heard that all on the radio. I’m sorry for your loss.”
    “What loss?” Carolyn said. “My humanity? I wanted to be a dragon all my life.”
    “Huh? No, the other Queen. The one that sacrificed her life to break the spell.”
    Carolyn made a raspberry sound.
    “That was an accident,” Jack said. “Lerisse wouldn’t do anything so altruistic. She gambled on a spell component that backfired, and it consumed her soul instead of the innocent one she’d planned on using.”
    “That’s sad , ” Viola said.
    “You wouldn’t say that if you met her,” Carolyn said. “She killed my friend and she tried to kill me.”
    Viola rested her head in her hands. “I’m not used to this crazy world.”
    “It’ll get easier.” Carolyn punched Jack in the arm. “Especially if she has her stuff. We’ve got some time before the camera crews come investigating that possibility.”
    “Oh all right,” Jack said. “But we need to make it quick or you’ll have to deal with Iron Ass.”
    “Who’s Iron Ass?”
    “Reed,” Carolyn said.

Chapter Four
    The porch light went on as Viola’s mother flung open the door when the Harley pulled up beside the car. Viola climbed out and ran up the stairs to hug her. The slap jarred Viola’s head to the side, and she stumbled back. She would have fallen if Sergei hadn’t been there to grab her arm to steady her.
    Attraction flared at the worst possible time. She hadn’t thought he was hot when he was with Smythe, but up close and personal, he was intimidating in a way that made her lady parts pay attention. She smiled up at him, but he was scowling at her mother. Oh yeah, that. Viola sighed.
    “How dare you not call me and then show up here without any pants, with your druggie friends?” Her mother shook her fists then jammed them down on her hips.
    “Ma, it’s not like that.” Viola rubbed her cheek where she was sure she had a red handprint.
    “Get in the house. I’ll deal with you later.”
    Viola stepped forward, but Sergei wouldn’t let go of her arm. “How old are you?” he asked.
    “It doesn’t matter how old she is,” her mother snapped. “While she lives under my roof, she follows my rules.”
    “It’s okay, Sergei. This isn’t unexpected.” Viola started back up the stairs, Sergei on her heels. “Ma, I can explain.”
    “I’m not letting him in. Is he another one of your fix-it-up projects?” She turned on Sergei. “She doesn’t have any money, baldy. She lives with me because the last loser cleaned out her bank account after she bought him a crotch rocket. Then he dumped her for his ex-girlfriend. So let me save you the time. She’s broke. You got what you wanted from her. Now, get off my porch before I call the cops.”
    “Ma, please.” Is that a crack in the stairs? Maybe I can crawl inside it and die. She peeked up at Sergei. He was expressionless—unless you looked into his eyes. Then you saw the dragon part of him being kept in check.
    “I got a better idea.” Sergei shoved her mother back with a negligent flick of his palm. “I’m escorting the Queen inside while she packs her things, and then we’re leaving. If you get in my way, I will end you.”
    “Sergei!” Viola swung her head toward him as he pulled her back up on the porch. He’d stood up for her. She resisted the urge to give him the world’s biggest hug. He didn’t look like he was a hugger.
    “If you raise