Dragon Bound (Elder Races, #1)

by Thea Harrison

He reared back his head and hissed. He crushed her to him and didn’t move, his body strung tight.

The tension in his body started to ease. She felt his mouth pull into a smile under her fingers.

All her jeweled tones had been polished bright.

“You are utterly gorgeous,” he said. He pressed his lips against her forehead.

“What kind of car do you have?” She opened her yogurt. She was starving. “My favorite is the Bugatti.”

My people drive the others.” “Of course they do,” she said.

“Well, you can hardly blame them,” she pointed out. “You did trespass.” “Yes, and you stole from me,” he said. “And look at how well we’re getting along.”

“Do you think I go from possibly rending to kissing in a day with just anyone who’s stolen from me?”

“First, you’re the only one who’s ever successfully stolen from me.”

“Second, I am not a forgiving creature. In fact, you’re the only one I’ve ever forgiven before.”

What happened when he got bored with her?

Following instinct, she grasped his hand between hers. He allowed her to hold it in her lap.

“Good girl.”

He threw his torso over hers, jamming her head into the hollow of his neck.

“Shh,” Dragos whispered. “It’s all right. You’re going to be all right.”

“We’ve been in a wreck, Pia. You’re pinned in, but I’m going to get you out. For now you must listen to me. Don’t move. Can you do that for me? Just for a little while?”

“There’s a brave girl,” he soothed.

if he had not thrown himself over Pia and pushed out with his Power to cover them both, she would have been crushed in an instant.

He would have to be very careful in working to free her from the wreckage. That would take time. She was so much more fragile than he.

He studied how her legs were pinned until he was satisfied he had found a way to widen the area without hurting her further.

Liquid sunlight, magic eternal, young, wild and free. He discarded each word as it came to him. They were all inadequate.

He was in the presence of something unique.

he came to another first in his long bad life as he dis...

but she would live. That’s all that mattered. That’s everything that mattered.

“Pia,” he said, reaching soft and calm into her unconscious mind. “Time to wake up. I want you to open your eyes now.”

“Would you stop talking so loud?” “Pia, look at me.”

It crooned, “I know, but you can’t. Suck it up, baby.” “God, you’re so annoying.” She sighed but opened her eyes.

He stroked her hair. “You’re all right.

“Damn it, I just closed your wounds. You’re going to cut yourself again if you’re not careful.”

His eyes went lava hot as he glared at the Goblins surrounding them. “Fuck if I will,” he snapped.

The bundle burst into flame. “Thank you,” she breathed. He said, “We are so going to talk about this when we get home.”

“Two birds, one stone.” He shrugged when Pia stared at him. He watched with interest as the screaming started.

Payback was a beautiful bitch. She was also a good friend of his, and they were just getting started.

She had watched with wide eyes as he had bent the jagged ends of metal around her legs so she didn’t cut herself again when she moved.

Dragos existed at the center of all of it. He was her one point of stable reference, her compass point, true north.

“Just like it was when the Elves had you surrounded. You wouldn’t fight them because I was in the way.”

“Maybe you could have gotten free of the wreck before the Goblins even got the car onto the flatbed, right?” she persisted. “You didn’t, though, because of me. I’m holding you back.”

“I don’t know what the hell you are. We’re adding that to a growing list of things for that conversation we’re going have when we get out of here.

But one thing you’re not is a problem. Let’s say you are a tact...

“It means you factor into the decisions I make. Stop fretting.” He flicked her nose

“You listen to me,” he whispered. “You are going to do as I say. Do you understand? Now is not the time to argue or disobey me. I am the expert here. Got it?”

That galloping horse was back in her chest.

“That’s my good brave girl.” He let go of her shoulder and brushed his knuckles against her cheek.

It seemed pretty clear by now she had no sense or good taste.

“This is still about that penny, isn’t it?” she said into her palms. “This is about the fucking penny,” he agreed.

“That’s it. You keep your head down, keep quiet and survive.” His gaze was fierce. “I will come after you.”

“I think you’re my hero,” she said. Only half kidding. He stared at her, the picture of incredulity. “Most people,” he said, “think I am a very bad man.”

“Well,” she said at last, “maybe you’re a very good dragon.”

In a move unseen by the Goblins, below their line of sight, Dragos put a hand on her knee. She covered it with hers.

“Buck up,” she whispered to him. “Don’t be such a wuss.”