Free The Dragon’s Appraiser: Part Three by Viola Rivard Page A

that.”
    Sevrrn’s expression gave away little, but Madja could tell that he was seriously considering her words.
    Finally, he folded his arms over his chest and frowned. “This sounds rather unappealing.”
    Her lips curved. “I guess when I put it like that, it does. But it’s actually quite rewarding, from what I’ve heard.”
    “And what about it is rewarding?” he asked, his face a study in skepticism.
    “Well, for starters, you’re going to care about him very much, maybe even more than you care about me.” And he’s going to love you so much, I know it .
    She could tell that this was getting too heavy for the dragon, but she had faith that when the time came, he would embrace fatherhood. She had a feeling that this child would add a whole new depth to the ancient creature’s existence and for now, all she could do was help him to prepare.
    “So,” she said, scooting closer to him. “Do you think it’ll be a boy or a girl? I’ve been leaning more towards boy.”
    “Does it matter what I think?” he asked, looking genuinely intrigued.
    “Not really, I think it already is what it is, but it’s fun to guess. Plus, we get to think of names.”
    His hand snaked around her side and he pulled her closer to him. “Why do we choose its name? Shouldn’t it choose its own name?”
    “A baby can’t really pick its own name,” she told him. “I mean, I guess it could, once it got older, but then we wouldn’t have anything to call it for several years.”
    “Why not simply call her ‘daughter?’” he asked, falling back into his usual logic.
    “We can’t name a baby Daughter. That’s a title, not a name. Can’t you think of something else?”
    “Kehza,” he said, surprising her.
    It was a foreign name and it sounded particularly beautiful in Sevrrn’s rich accent. “I’ve never heard that name. What does it mean?”
    One corner of his wicked mouth lifted. “It is Lathian for ‘daughter.’”
    Madja smacked the side of his arm. He let her, but then grabbed her hand and once again overpowered her, pushing her back onto the bed silks and climbing atop her body. This time, he positioned himself between her thighs, making his intentions abundantly clear.
    “Will you at least let me stitch you up first?” Madja huffed, not really trying to push him off. “You’re going to bleed to death.”
    Without preamble, he pushed himself inside of her. Madja gasped, not because it was unexpected, but because she hadn’t realized how wet she already was. Then again, Sevrrn did have that effect on her.
    Once he was fully inside of her, Sevrrn held still and captured Madja’s gaze. His expression was one of perfect contentedness and quiet reverence.
    “I can think of no better way to die.”
    Slightly breathless, she asked, “I see. So you’re willing to die in me, just not for me?”
    Appearing perfectly serious, he replied, “I will not die for you, but I will live for you. I will live every moment of my life for you.”
    Then, he gave up all words and moved inside of her with a feverish need. All of her insecurities melted away under the heat of his touch and she felt as though they were experiencing one another for the first time.
    No, she did not need him to die for her. She just needed him: him and the life they shared together, the future they would have, the family they would become. Compared to their reality, ‘love’ seemed like nothing more than an insubstantial word. Madja was his, and Sevrrn was hers.

The Fox and the Dragon
    Never make a deal with a dragon .
----
    The daughter of a fox goddess and a renowned hunter, all Lehrys has ever wanted was to have a normal, boring, and mortal life. To do so, she’ll have to escort Kael, a legendary dragon and self-proclaimed Most-Powerful-Being-on-the-Planet, across three continents and help him to steal the most treasured possessions of a king, an emperor, and a god. What could possibly go wrong?
    Provided they survive their journey, Kael has