Free Web Of Bones: Book II of the Dragon Mage Series by Kelly Lucille

blood mage.”
    “ Are you sure you want to do this? You don’t have to go.”
    “ Yes, I do.” She looked at her sister and smiled sadly. “I think if I do not see this through it would haunt me. I have enough ghosts already without adding that.”
    General Solan carefully placed her on her own legs and stood, towering over her by a good two feet. “I need to prepare for the journey.”
    “ I would have a word General Solan.” Eben’s voice was ice cold and hard with it. “In private.”
    But Solan looked to her first. “You will be well now?”
    She smiled at him. “Eventually.” She took a deep breath. “Thank you, General.”
    He shrugged his massive shoulders and followed Eben out. It made her smile, the way he acted so stoic and still managed to put her at ease.
    When he was gone from sight , trailing Eben out of the room, she turned and caught her sister’s eyes on her. “I hesitate to tell you this when you are dealing with so much, but I worry you will develop feelings for the General that he cannot reciprocate.” Morgan’s voice was soft and uncharacteristically unsure. “A dragon knows his mate almost immediately.” The ‘and it’s not you,’ went unsaid but was heard nonetheless. “I don’t know that a relationship is a good idea when he has a chance of running into his mate with the mages coming here. If they come here.”
    “ I know what I am, Morgan,” Melisande said simply, though she did feel the hit with each word from her sister’s mouth. “I have always known I am no match for a dragon. But it would be a lie to say I am not drawn to him ... in many ways.”
    Morgan blew out a breath. “I just don’t want you hurt anymore.”
    “ I know that. But I am not as fragile as all that.”
    “ I don’t think you fragile at all.” She sighed. “Just be careful. He is a good man, that I know, but you are a beautiful woman and he has been alone for far too long. He may decide to start a relationship with you, but what happens if he finds his mate? He would not choose to dishonor you, but I have seen the power of the mate bond myself.” She walked to her sister and took her hands. “Do not bet your happiness on this. That’s all I am saying.”
    “ I cannot say that I will keep my distance. He makes me feel safe, and that is a powerful thing. This journey we begin ... I will need that. But I do not seek to trap him.” She took a long breath, wondering at the roller coaster of emotions she had gone through this day. “I would be his friend; he seems to need one, as do I ... But I will let him go when I must.”
    Morgan studied her face, seeing the implacable resolve there. “And you say I consider you fragile, little sister?” She shook her head with a sad smile. “Daily I am awed and inspired by your fortitude.”
    Melly smiled, for real this time. “You might be a bit biased in my favor.”
    “ I might.” Morgan laughed, and then lost her happy when she spoke again. “You remembered everything?”
    “ I can’t talk to you about this, Morgan.” Melly pulled a deep breath. “It is enough to tell you that I have remembered and that I can find the blood mage.”
    “ I will not press you, but if you need to talk ...”
    “ I know you will be there if I need you. That has never been in doubt, sister.”
    ***
    This time Eben did not take him to the war room, but deeper inside Forsaken. Solan had an idea what this talk would entail and he was not looking forward to it. But he would fight for the right to escort Melisande. No one would deter him from that purpose.
    They reached a room deep in the bowels of the place. Here there was less pretense of human comforts and more appreciation of the beauty of nature in its most natural form. Great stalagmites hung over cavernous echoing chambers. A hot spring created a great underground waterfall surrounded by rock groupings that created natural seating that shot from the stone of the mountain. Ladon was already in the chamber