Firebreather 2: A Royal Continuum Read Online Free Page A

stomped into the house and slammed the door behind her. She wasn't aware of the presence behind her until it was too late. Ava screamed as a battering ram knocked her to the floor, smothering her as a heavy weight settled over her chest and legs, effectively pinning her beneath him.
    She struggled but couldn't break free, and a large palm over her mouth stopped short her screams.
    "A female?" The man leaned close and sniffed, and her eyes widened as she sensed another Dracon this far from any clan holding. "Easy now. I'm going to let you up. One wrong move and you'll find yourself flat on your back beneath me." And loving it , the growing humor in his eyes seemed to add.
    When she looked up and saw his face, she had to agree with her internal assessment. The man sitting up over her was huge, a giant with pale hair and dark black eyes shimmering with Dracon. The hard planes of his face hinted at a ruthless bearing, yet the gentleness in his grip as he helped her to her feet showed compassion.
    She couldn't speak as she stared. For the first time since seeing Matthias, she felt a spark of attraction for a member of the opposite sex. And the spark was slowly fanning to flame as the stranger stared back at her, his attention keen.
    "Sorry, but I have need of your home for a while."
    She nodded, too fascinated with the odd feelings he stirred to protest his breaking and entering. She stared at his hard mouth, at the broad expanse of his chest and the size of his hands. Good lord, they were huge. Licking her lips, she sat with him when he gestured her to the kitchen table. "Who are you?"
    He sighed and sat, his large frame making her chairs look small. Most Dracon were big, but she'd been born on the small side at just five foot five. This male, however, also struck her as dangerous. Though most of her kind were, of course, this one's bearing spoke of structured discipline. Military, law enforcement, maybe? The last time she'd even spoken to a Dracon had been months ago in Chicago. She hadn't thought there were any other of her kind so far north. Apparently, she'd been wrong.
    "My name is Tanner Flay. And you are?"
    "Ava Tailstack." She had no reason to lie. If her uncle had sent him, he had no doubt given the man a picture or description to go by. And if not, well, the intruder was Dracon. If he'd wanted to hurt her, he would have done it by now. So she let her last name dangle, waiting for his response. For as much as she hated to admit it, she missed her people something fierce, and at this point, any conversation with Tanner was welcome.
    His gaze intensified as he studied her, but he made no overt moves as he sat there. "You're much prettier than your cousin."
    Ava flushed. She'd always been told that. Another reason why Emmaline hated her. Then again, Emmaline hated everyone. Thoughts of her cousin ruined her pleasure at his compliment. She waited for the familiar look of sympathy, or worse, disgust, to cross his face.
    When neither did, she gave him a tentative smile. He returned it wholeheartedly and ran a finger over her cheek.
    "Your skin is the smoothest cream, your hair so gold it makes the sun pale by comparison." He stared at the rest of her, his eyes lingering over her breasts that peaked under his regard. But instead of continuing with flattery, he sighed again and dropped his gaze. "Where's your mate?"
    She snorted. "What mate? I'm Ava Tailstack. "
    He frowned. "So?"
    "So I'm 'soiled goods.' My cousin is a witch and would-be murderess, my uncle a traitor." She sighed. "You're much better off not knowing me."
    His frown grew darker and she hated what was to come.
    "Shino Tailstack is no traitor." She wanted to groan. "Why should I not want to know you? Did you have something to do with the assassination attempt on Lea Dekker?"
    "Hell no." She blinked in stunned surprise, not anticipating that he would actually ask before condemning her. "I would never harm the royals. Lea Dekker made possible our ability to have