Free Charred Hope (#3, Heart of Fire) by Lizzy Ford Page A

hibernation.
    But Mason deserved the chance to right the wrongs he committed.
    Chace’s warm breath puffed down on her from above. Skylar craned her neck back to see his massive head hovering over hers, his sharp gaze lingering in the direction where Mason had gone.
    Gunner got up and shook himself off then issued a mewling sound.
    As if understanding what the panther shifter said, Chace responded with a quiet, rumbling growl.
    Gunner loped away into the woods.
    Skylar faced Chace. He glanced at her then leapt upward into the sky, as if he wasn’t done reveling in his newfound freedom.
    Or he’s too pissed to turn into a human right now.
    She shook her head, nonetheless proud. Her smile grew as she took in what remained in the meadow after he left it.
    “Cabin!” she exclaimed, trotting forward.
    The lights went on, and all the windows and door open in welcome.
    Skylar hurried inside, anxious to be in the one place where she’d always felt safe and happy. The cabin was as she remembered it: welcoming, cozy and humming with subtle magic. The door and windows closed when she entered.
    “How’s life, cabin?” she asked, fingertips tracing down the back of the couch.
    It didn’t answer.
    “How pissed is your dragon?”
    A stack of books was shoved onto the floor.
    “I thought so.” Skylar sighed. Knowing he was mad did nothing to temper her happiness. She’d learned something far more important this afternoon.
    Her eyes went to the bed where she’d first made love with Chace. She stood beside it, exhausted after her shifting exercises with Mason and the stress of being stuck on a peak for almost an entire day without decent food or water. Skylar slung herself across the bed and groaned.
    It was still the most comfortable place she’d ever slept in her life. Maybe it was the magic cabin or maybe it was just being able to lay down somewhere without worrying about dragons or griffins coming to get her, but she felt calm and centered after her swan dive off a mountain.
    The only thing that would make her life complete in that moment: a dragon shifter who wasn’t too furious to turn human.
    She grinned, not caring how upset he was at the moment.
    “I know just how to cheer you up, dragon,” she murmured. “Hey, cabin. You got any sexy lingerie around?”
    She waited a moment then pushed herself up to look around. At the bottom of the bed was exactly what she needed.
     
     

Chapter Seven
     
    Chace didn’t expect it to take him until nightfall to cool down. Not that he was in a hurry to give Skylar a piece of his mind, especially since he was able to fly again.
    But, well, he kinda was. Every time he felt calm enough to shift back into his human form, the thought of what she’d done sent dragon fury pumping through him once more, sabotaging his attempt to shift.
    So he soared up and around, unable to recall when flying had felt this good or when the world below had been so beautiful. Nothing was new about the familiar scenery or the way the wind tickled his sensitive muzzle and ears.
    I’m different. He was surprised to realize just how much he’d changed. He had never noticed or appreciated how steady his wings were or how perfectly formed each and every pine tree below truly was. There was so much outside of himself he’d never been grateful for, including the damn slayer-turned-Protector who scared him shitless earlier in the day.
    Landing in the field as twilight draped over the world, he willed himself to stay focused long enough to make it inside the cabin, whose lights glowed warmly, as if it was happy Skylar was there. The moment he touched her, he’d have no problems controlling his magic.
    Assuming she let him touch her. If not, he’d be right back out in the field, unable to control his temper or his magic once more.
    Chace shuddered and shifted back into his human form. Standing naked in the field, he took a deep breath and waited a moment to make certain he was calm enough not to start changing