Free Backyard Dragons by Lee French Page A

stood and watched the sun sink lower in the sky. Behind her back, he laid his cloak on the stone floor, covering the symbol. Iulia looked over her shoulder as he unbuckled his sword belt and set it aside.
    She grinned and took a step to the side so she cast a shadow over him, the sunlight shining around her head in a halo and revealing the curves under her dress. “Build me a house here, Caius.”
    Caius laughed as he retrieved a wine bottle and two wooden cups from his saddlebag. “This place is sacred. It’s also too high for mortal men to carry stone as fine as you deserve.” He yanked the wine cork out with his teeth and poured for them. After setting everything on the ground, he returned to his horse. He and the horse held a quiet conversation Claire couldn’t hear as more than murmurs.
    Iulia hurried into the temple while Caius spoke to his horse, casting furtive glances over her shoulder. She sat beside the wine with her back to them. Claire saw Iulia’s lips move and heard a droning sound like a swarm of bees. Brown eyes glowing emerald green, Iulia picked up both cups of wine. She sipped from one, swirled the mouthful, and spat it into the other cup. The glow faded, and Iulia’s face flashed with a disturbing grin. She set the second cup down and kept the first in her hand. With care, she arranged herself and her dress for Caius’s viewing pleasure.
    Caius set the horse’s saddle on the ground and patted its flank as it walked away. He stood and took in the sight of Iulia before joining her on his cloak. As she sipped from her cup, he picked up the one she’d set aside for him.
    “Don’t drink it,” Claire whispered. She watched him take a gulp and swallow, his gaze on Iulia. “You’re an idiot!”
    Caius took another drink before pulling Iulia into his lap. “I’m glad you like the view, my love.”
    “It’s impressive. If men didn’t build it, how did this temple get here?”
    “By the grace of the gods.”
    She leaned against his chest, letting him support her. “I thought this new title you hold in secret gave you godly powers.”
    “Some, perhaps.” He took one more drink from his cup before setting it aside.
    “What kind of temple is this, anyway?”
    Caius tipped her head to the side and kissed her exposed neck. “Who knows? It’s been here for centuries already, and will stand for centuries more.”
    Though he sounded sincere, Claire knew he lied. Caius knew exactly what purpose this temple served and that it hadn’t been here long. She thought the story explaining it might be in one of the other pictures. In this one, she only knew he’d worked hard with other Knights to build it for an important reason.
    “You would ravish me in an unknown temple?” Iulia raked her fingernails through Caius’s hair as he trailed kisses down her shoulder.
    Having a fair idea of where this scene seemed to be headed, Claire blushed. No one would judge her for watching, though, and curiosity gnawed at her. Besides, why include a memory like this in a prominent place in the library if something important or interesting hadn’t happened? It had to show more than a private picnic.
    When Caius raised his head, his eyelids drooped. His movements as he brushed his lips across Iulia’s reminded Claire of Justin this morning, trying to soldier on despite deep weariness.
    “I would…” He took a long time to blink. “…ravish…” Trying to keep a hold on Iulia, he leaned back to lie on the cloak. His lips moved, but only mumbles came out.
    Iulia suddenly moved with firm purpose, all signs of love, care, or seduction gone. She grabbed the cloak and used it to drag Caius’s unconscious form off the stone slab.
    Claire rushed forward, eager to see the symbol on the stone. To her surprise, it seemed to match the one on her locket. She flipped the pendant out of her shirt and compared the two. Where her locket had been made in a heart shape, the one carved into the stone was a circle. Otherwise, she