sooner.
She’d have to take the chance.
“A library?” he echoed. “We’re not in any books, not really.”
“But you’re in this library. Come on, I’ll show you.” The falcon took flight as Chandra spun with purpose. She strode toward the stone building that had once been a temple of some kind. Thorolf matched his steps to hers and caught her elbow in one hand. It was a gentlemanly gesture, one that surprised her, and maybe that was why the firestorm flared to incandescent brilliance.
She pulled her arm from his grasp, uncertain what would happen if she was this distracted when she did any sorcery. “Just keep your distance,” she warned, hearing the strain in her own words. “I have to think straight to complete this quest.”
Thorolf grinned in a way that both excited her and warned her. “Keep my distance during our firestorm?” he asked. “Not a chance.” He caught her hand in his and gave her fingers a squeeze. “The burn is part of the reward.”
When his palm collided with hers, Chandra felt a vehement thrum of desire, one that slid through her body and filled her with need. She could have turned and surrendered everything to him in that moment, without a second’s hesitation. The feeling was completely seductive and exactly the wrong response if she intended to keep Thorolf at bay.
“What quest?” he demanded, bending to whisper in her ear. That he could think straight during the firestorm was like salt in the wound.
Chandra shivered with pleasure even as she forced herself to answer. “My quest to save the Pyr , of course,” she said, realizing that once again, she’d revealed more than she’d intended to.
And Thorolf, his gaze bright, hadn’t missed it.
* * *
The Pyr didn’t need saving, as far as Thorolf was concerned, so Chandra’s answer made no sense. Sure, there were obstacles before them, and Chen was still out there, making trouble, but that wasn’t anything the Pyr couldn’t handle on their own.
Saving the Pyr in the final battle against the Slayers wasn’t the job of a mate.
He decided that she was just being evasive again, giving him a half answer instead of the truth.
Thorolf decided to let it go, for the moment. If he could win her trust, she’d tell him more. If Chandra always worked alone, as she said, then she wasn’t used to exchanging confidences. He’d win her over. Gradually.
No problem.
In fact, with the firestorm on his side, his success was a given.
She seemed relieved that he let it go.
Chandra led Thorolf to a small stone building that was less derelict than the rest. It was built like a fat column, but with a rounded top. It was maybe twenty feet wide and twice as tall, and the stone exterior was heavily carved. There was one of those big serene smiling faces carved over the low opening. This time, Thorolf was reminded of a midway ride, the kind that you entered through some demon’s mouth.
Maybe that was why he had such a bad feeling about going inside.
There were some gaps in the stone and some pieces missing, as well as those vines growing all over it, but this structure was clearly in better shape than the others.
Was that because she’d maintained it?
He looked at Chandra, only to find her watching him with a challenge in her smile. He’d come to expect her to push him, but the change in her appearance startled him. He blinked, but she stayed in this new form.
And watched for his reaction.
Her hair had grown longer and hung in ebony waves to her hips. She was Caucasian now, her features pretty and her breasts more full. She was still tall and athletic, but now her eyes were clear blue and thickly lashed. Her lips were lush and rosy, offering an invitation he was inclined to accept. She had a blue tattoo that wound around her arms, a network of Celtic knots that looked like chain mail.
Not snakes, thank the Great Wyvern.
His body responded with enthusiasm to the change. She could have been a new mate, a new conquest to be
She’d have to take the chance.
“A library?” he echoed. “We’re not in any books, not really.”
“But you’re in this library. Come on, I’ll show you.” The falcon took flight as Chandra spun with purpose. She strode toward the stone building that had once been a temple of some kind. Thorolf matched his steps to hers and caught her elbow in one hand. It was a gentlemanly gesture, one that surprised her, and maybe that was why the firestorm flared to incandescent brilliance.
She pulled her arm from his grasp, uncertain what would happen if she was this distracted when she did any sorcery. “Just keep your distance,” she warned, hearing the strain in her own words. “I have to think straight to complete this quest.”
Thorolf grinned in a way that both excited her and warned her. “Keep my distance during our firestorm?” he asked. “Not a chance.” He caught her hand in his and gave her fingers a squeeze. “The burn is part of the reward.”
When his palm collided with hers, Chandra felt a vehement thrum of desire, one that slid through her body and filled her with need. She could have turned and surrendered everything to him in that moment, without a second’s hesitation. The feeling was completely seductive and exactly the wrong response if she intended to keep Thorolf at bay.
“What quest?” he demanded, bending to whisper in her ear. That he could think straight during the firestorm was like salt in the wound.
Chandra shivered with pleasure even as she forced herself to answer. “My quest to save the Pyr , of course,” she said, realizing that once again, she’d revealed more than she’d intended to.
And Thorolf, his gaze bright, hadn’t missed it.
* * *
The Pyr didn’t need saving, as far as Thorolf was concerned, so Chandra’s answer made no sense. Sure, there were obstacles before them, and Chen was still out there, making trouble, but that wasn’t anything the Pyr couldn’t handle on their own.
Saving the Pyr in the final battle against the Slayers wasn’t the job of a mate.
He decided that she was just being evasive again, giving him a half answer instead of the truth.
Thorolf decided to let it go, for the moment. If he could win her trust, she’d tell him more. If Chandra always worked alone, as she said, then she wasn’t used to exchanging confidences. He’d win her over. Gradually.
No problem.
In fact, with the firestorm on his side, his success was a given.
She seemed relieved that he let it go.
Chandra led Thorolf to a small stone building that was less derelict than the rest. It was built like a fat column, but with a rounded top. It was maybe twenty feet wide and twice as tall, and the stone exterior was heavily carved. There was one of those big serene smiling faces carved over the low opening. This time, Thorolf was reminded of a midway ride, the kind that you entered through some demon’s mouth.
Maybe that was why he had such a bad feeling about going inside.
There were some gaps in the stone and some pieces missing, as well as those vines growing all over it, but this structure was clearly in better shape than the others.
Was that because she’d maintained it?
He looked at Chandra, only to find her watching him with a challenge in her smile. He’d come to expect her to push him, but the change in her appearance startled him. He blinked, but she stayed in this new form.
And watched for his reaction.
Her hair had grown longer and hung in ebony waves to her hips. She was Caucasian now, her features pretty and her breasts more full. She was still tall and athletic, but now her eyes were clear blue and thickly lashed. Her lips were lush and rosy, offering an invitation he was inclined to accept. She had a blue tattoo that wound around her arms, a network of Celtic knots that looked like chain mail.
Not snakes, thank the Great Wyvern.
His body responded with enthusiasm to the change. She could have been a new mate, a new conquest to be
Similar Books
