Free Loving Two Dragons (Awakening Cycle Part 3) (BBW Dragon Shifter Paranormal Romance) by James D Horton Page A

used by the witch. I don't know why, I don't know how, but I know it's not right."
    Archer's arm trembles making the sword point move up and down. At first I think it's exhaustion then I look in his face and see he's resisting the drive to kill Brant.
    "Archer, he's okay," I say.
    Archer looks at me. His face is solid for one moment then tears fall from his eyes. The sword clatters to the ground and he runs over and wraps me in his arms. Our lips meet in a bruising kiss but I don't care, I want to devour all of him. I want to wallow in his arms, finding any solace that he might offer.
    "I thought you were dead!" he cries.
    I shake my head, my throat tight. I force the words. "Elise," I choke. "She killed Elise!"
    Archer pulls me tight and whispers soft words to me. Reassuring but unable to bring her back. I break down in his arms sobbing and gasping as the pain of it all washes over me once more.

Chapter fifteen
    Jennifer
    Water drips in the background and a chill runs up my spine. Caves are cold. I don't think I knew that and I'm certainly not dressed for it. Archer puts an arm around me noting the shiver. Logan stands to one side watching but looks away as Archer pulls me close.
    We stand in a circle around a small fire. There are low murmurs of conversation between people. Warring emotions rage inside me. Happy to be rescued, anger that I'm happy. What right do I have to be happy? My daughter was just killed! I'm struggling for a balance, for a way through. Nothing is right, the world is darker, wrong and I don't know what I'm supposed to be feeling much less what I should be doing.
    "How'd you find us?" my voice is hoarse from tears shed and unshed.
    Archer starts to speak, his mouth opens but no words come out. He just pulls me closer, tears welling in the corners of his eyes. Logan chokes back tears too but he doesn't shed them.
    "We've known where you were being held and have been trying to rescue you for a while now," Remy says filling the void.
    Sarissa stands next to him, her hand resting on his back. Lou stands to Remy's right staring into the fire. Lou! I hadn't even thought of his feelings. Tears overwhelm me again flowing like a river as I extricate myself from Archer and take Lou in my arms.
    "I'm so sorry," I say. Lou stiffens as I embrace him. "She loved you, loves you still."
    "Thank you Lady," he says stiffly, his tears wetting my shoulder.
    I hold him tight until his shudders pass. He turns away from me as he stands his hands rubbing at his eyes while keeping his back to the others around the fire. His eyes are red and puffy when he turns back.
    "This is a somber moment," Remy says. "But this place may not be safe for long. Archer, we need a plan. Then we need to move. I've shielded this cave for the time being but I do not trust it."
    Archer nods frowning. He locks eyes with Logan and something passes between the two of them. Oddly, jealousy stabs through all the grief and loss I'm feeling. I throw it on the pile of confusion I'm experiencing.
    "Of course," Archer says. "Marathe has played me. Played us all. The Council has stripped me of my crown."
    "No," I say in disbelief.
    "Yes. They also placed a Mark of Denial on me," Archer says unbuttoning his shirt and pulling it aside to reveal the left side of his chest.
    A tattoo rests there that is new. It's some kind of a knot work pattern that shifts as I look at it twisting around on itself. Looking at it fills my stomach with revulsion, acid rises into my throat. He covers it over and the feeling passes.
    "Archer, no, not you too." Logan speaks in a whisper, utter horror on his face as he too reveals a similar mark.
    Archer grimaces and nods. "That is where we stand. She was moving you both to the Crimson-Gold Industries complex. Remy and I thought she would and assumed she would bring you all out in the open to do it. So we took advantage to stage our rescue."
    "I'm going to kill her," Logan vows.
    Archer closes his eyes inhaling deeply. Then he nods