Free The Torn, Book One of the Holding Kate Series by LaDonna Cole Page B

there, beauty…thank God…oh great, the princess is waking…couldn’t she sleep for ten more minutes, the soup smells so good…sssshhheee is mine sssst…back off kitty cat!”
    I pressed a hand to my temple, and my eyes fluttered.
    “Kate?” Trip’s voice.
    “Is she awake?” Tara’s voice.
    “Sweet love, my perfect Kate.” Corey’s voice was really loud. I opened my eyes to find him hovering near and saw an ocean of concern in his sea blue eyes.
    “Corey?”
    “Oh, thank God. Yes, my love. Yes, I am here.”
    I frowned. His lips weren’t moving, but I could hear everything he said.
    “Hey, Jane.” Oh. Well. There, his lips were working just fine. Silly me. I smiled.
    “Hey.”
    “I am so sorry I told you to touch the dragonet. If you had died, I would have died with you!”
    “No, Corey. I wanted to pet the little dragon, it wasn’t your fault.”
    “What?” His eyes were startled, but his mouth was definitely not moving.
    “I wish he would just leave us alone!” Trip shouted. I turned my head to see his brow furrowed.
    “Why are you shouting? I don’t want Corey to leave.” I tried to sit up but felt very shaky and heavy. I struggled with my noodle arms, but couldn’t find any strength. “Help me sit up!”
    They sat with stunned expressions and stared at me.
    “I don’t care what that dragon does, I am going to help her.”
    SSSSSSsssssstttttt!
    “Don’t touch her, Corey!” All four voices shouted in stereo.
    ZZZZat! “Ouch!” Corey jerked his hand back.
    I gaped at him in horror. “Corey! Are you okay?” His hands were smoking. I reached for him, but he pulled away suddenly. Rejection blistered through me.
    “Mine!” The child’s voice screamed. I turned my face to the sound and the pressure on my chest. A little dragon face peered up at me from between my breasts. My initial reaction was to push it off. After all, this splitting headache was his fault.
    “Hello, Beauty,” The little dragon spoke into my mind and a sense of wonder and affection seeped into my heart.
    “Hello,” I purred.
    Corey laughed.
    “Can you hear him?”
    He nodded. “I think because I touched him before he…imprinted on you.”
    I looked at Trip. “You can’t hear him?”
    “Great, just one more connection she has with Corey. I can’t get a break! ” He shook his head but didn’t move his mouth.
    “What did you say?”
    “Nothing. I said nothing. You are hearing our thoughts. Somehow.” He cut scathing eyes to the dragon.
    I looked at the little dragon and then at Corey. I gulped for air, panic rising to steal my breath. “Why can’t you touch me?”
    “Technically, I can touch you, it just hurts like hell.” He smiled sadly.
    I looked at Trip. He pressed his lips together. “I tried to hold you when we first got here and was thrown against the wall.” He thought to me.
    No physical contact? How would I survive? I needed physical reassurance constantly. I sucked air through my lips and hot tears spilled onto my cheeks.
    “I have to hold her.” Corey reached a tentative hand toward me, his thoughts screaming in my head.
    “NO!” I crab walked away from him.
    Sssssssttttt! The little dragon hissed and fought for balance on my tummy. I curled into a ball on the floor and the dragon snuggled up next to me and hissed at my team mates. I sobbed into his soft leather hide.
    “I can’t bear this…oh good grief…can’t we just eat…poor princess can’t manipulate the boys anymore…my love…Mine…if we kill the dragon, maybe she will be okay…ssssttt…God help her, give her peace…I will kill it tonight when everyone is sleeping.”
    “Nooo!!!” I screamed and pressed my fists against my ears. “Shut up, just please shut up!”
    They backed out of the cave and left me to my possessive dragonet. The last thing I saw was Corey’s tender expression as he turned. “I have always loved you, Kate. We will get through this.”
    I moaned in despair and tried to shut everything