Free The Dragon in the Stone by Doris O'Connor Page A

on the great hall, as Drorgan stepped
back and resumed his seat on the dais. The very air seemed to hold its breath
as to what he was going to say.
    “ Very
well, Duncan. You and your family have been loyal supporters of my clan these
many years since at great personal cost to yourself.” He paused, ran a hand over
his face and sighed, as he scanned the great hall. “You all have suffered for
your association with me, and will continue to do so unless…” Drorgan glanced
her way, and Rhonda wanted the ground to swallow her whole as everyone’s
attention seemed to shift to her. What the hell was that all about?
    “ Be
that as it may, I grant my permission for the wedding, Duncan.” A grim smile
kicked up Drorgan’s full lips when the young couple whooped in delight. “Let
Eugene know if you need anything. Call it my wedding present.”
    A gasp went around the room, and Duncan’s eyes grew
huge as he bowed as deeply as his advanced age would let him.
    “ That
is most generous of you, my lord.”
    Drorgan waved him away.
    “ ‘ Tis nothing, Duncan.”
    The steward Johannes let out a stream of obscenities
under his breath, and Drorgan’s jovial mood dissipated in a cloud of smoke as
his dragon roared again. Rhonda was half expecting him to breathe fire, the way
his nostrils flared and he pinned his steward in place with the sheer force of
his will it seemed. The fine hair on Rhonda’s exposed arms rose in response to
the silent power display, and she swallowed hard, fearing for the hapless
steward.
    “ If
you have something to say, do have the courage to say it to my face, Johannes.”
    The steward paled and shook his head.
    “ Nothing,
my lord.”
    Drorgan smiled.
    “ Good.
That will conclude today’s audience, unless anyone else has something
particularly pressing for me to see to?” He swept his gaze across the room, and
when no one stepped forward he extended his hand to Rhonda with a silent
question in his crystal blue gaze. Heat flared in the blue orbs, when she took
his hand without a moment’s hesitation and allowed him to pull her to her feet.
She was once again struck by his presence as he pulled her closer, so near that
his body heat infused her, and she had to fight the urge to lean in even more,
to wrap herself around his tall, hard frame and to never let go.
    It was the damnedest thing, the way their
connection pulsed between them like a living entity. It made the rest of the
great hall fade in the background as Rhonda stared up at him, waiting for his
next move.
    Drorgan pulled her closer still, and Rhonda forgot
to breathe altogether, when he cupped her face with his free hand, and rubbed
his thumb over her lips in slow, lazy moves that made her heart rate go into
overdrive. His jaw tightened, and in the next instant he blinked and pulled
away, releasing her from whatever strange hold he’d held her under.
    His fingers flexed around her hand sending a surge
of heat up her arm, and he shook his head and mumbled something that she didn’t
quite catch.
    Turning them both so that they faced the hall he
raised his voice.
    “ Let
me make one thing clear. If I hear of any attempts to stop this wedding, or any
unfortunate accident should befall the young couple or indeed Duncan, I
shall be very displeased. Do we understand each other, Johannes?”
    His steward blanched and bowed his head.
    “ Perfectly,
my lord.”
    “ Good,
likewise if I hear any rumors or speculations about Lady Rhonda here...” He
stopped to glance at her and raising their joined hands up to his lips, dropped
a kiss on the back of hers. Rhonda clamped her lips together to stop herself
from moaning out loud, but the feel of his soft warm lips on her bare flesh,
even if engaged in such an innocent act, sent her libido into overdrive.
Amusement showed briefly in his gaze, before he addressed the hall again.
    “ The
lady is my guest, and as such will be afforded every courtesy. I will not
tolerate anyone filling her head with