Free Dragon's Curse (Harlequin Nocturne) by Denise Lynn

to take a kiss, and lust was still urging him to take more. “Perhaps.” He
released her. “Unpack. Settle in. Meet me in the lobby at two and I’ll show you
around the Lair.”
    Ariel nodded, then walked into her apartment without another
word.
    * * *
    Aelthed held his shaking stomach and fell into the
corner of his prison cackling with glee. So far this Drake twin, this dragon
changeling of Mirabilus, had made grave errors.
    First, he’d promised his sister-by-marriage that while she was
away, he’d guard her possessions—the emerald dragon pendant was now locked in a
safe in the twin’s office, along with the grimoire.
    But unbeknownst to him, he along with everyone else seemed to
have lost track of the old wooden puzzle cube—the one Aelthed called home. The
changeling should have locked the cube away, too, instead of leaving it
unattended on a bookshelf in his brother’s apartment.
    A fortunate mistake for Aelthed, it allowed him to hear and
envision what was happening. More fortunately, since he was of the dragon line,
they’d been unable to detect his weak magic as he’d practiced until he was able
to levitate his cube, unseen, to the basement. To his relief, it seemed that his
powers, which had been waning through the years, were now increasing.
    Another error had been the changeling’s interest in Ariel
Johnson.
    Enemy or not, this woman was the dragon’s mate. Of that Aelthed
was certain. It hummed in the air, vibrating through the Lair. There would be no
way around that simple fact for the changeling.
    Whether his human form eventually fell in love with the woman
or not made little difference. His beast would never let the female go. It would
kill her first.
    One thing he needed to do was to arm the changeling with
knowledge of the ancient curse. Somehow he had to get the grimoire into the
woman’s hands.

Chapter 6
    A riel clutched the Lair’s map in her hand,
making certain she wouldn’t lose the thing. Even with her guided tour, she knew
that she’d never find her way around the resort again without the map.
    Cam plucked the key card from her hand. “Let me.” He unlocked
and opened the door to her apartment, then to her consternation followed her
inside.
    “You found everything to your satisfaction?”
    She quickly scanned the lush surroundings. “With this
apartment?” When he nodded, she said, “No. It’s too much. I don’t live like
this.”
    He seemed surprised by her honest answer. “Like what? With a
roof over your head?”
    She ignored his comment and swung her arm toward the living
room. “Suede-covered furniture isn’t exactly made for those of us less than
graceful with a full glass of soda. From the smell and feel, I’m guessing it’s
genuine suede, not something manufactured in a factory.”
    He shrugged. “It’s just furniture.”
    Ariel glared at him. “But it’s not my furniture.”
    She’d be a nervous wreck worrying that she might damage someone
else’s property. Completely absurd, considering she was here to steal someone
else’s property to begin with.
    Cam glanced up at the ceiling before asking, “So, what would
you prefer?”
    “I’d prefer to move into the employee wing.”
    “Since Danielle will be helping with the plans for the maze,
it’s easier having you here for now. Besides, the available suites are full.”
Frowning, he ran a hand through the back of his hair. “If it’s that big a deal,
we can have the furniture changed. What kind do you want?”
    Ariel didn’t buy his reasoning about keeping her in proximity.
So, she wondered, why was it so important? Did he suspect she’d been the thief?
As far as she knew, she hadn’t given herself away.
    Knowing he waited for an answer, she replied, “Something
practical like duck, denim or a heavy-weight broadcloth. Something sturdy that I
can scrub if I need to.”
    The temperature in the apartment dropped dramatically. Ariel
shivered from the icy chill. A swift breeze whooshed through,