Free Kiss of Danger (The Dragon Legion Novellas) by Deborah Cooke Page B

smell a human who is terrified.”
    “You have to save him,” Katina said immediately. “Put me down anywhere and fight the Slayer . I’ll help as much as possible.” Her practicality made Alexander remember just how much he loved her.
    Perhaps they could work together, as some of the modern Pyr worked with their mates. Alexander flew at his quickest speed, easily following the scent. It was to the south of them, toward Sparta, which wasn’t encouraging at all. That it was being unveiled just for him was an unavoidable conclusion—which made it a lure as well as a taunt.
    Lysander was en route to Sparta!
    He had time to feel a pang of fear before he saw the blaze of dragonfire on the ground.
    “There!” Katina said and gripped his arms.
    She’d seen the flame, but wouldn’t discern the detail as well as he did. Alexander could see the dragon battling a Spartan hoplite in full uniform. He saw the dragonfire reflected in the warrior’s greaves and chest plate.
    The Slayer was brilliant yellow, a dragon the color of topaz tipped in gold. There was something serpentine about this one, for he was large and powerful, but sinuous and sleek, too.
    The color of the scales told Alexander the truth. Somehow, Jorge was here in his own time. That wasn’t the best news as Jorge was vicious, but at least he didn’t control any old dragon magic.
    Chen would have been worse. Alexander had no understanding of magic, be it that of dragons or others, and Chen was a master at dragon magic.
    There was no time to be relieved, though. The hoplite slashed at the Slayer with his sword, so much smaller than the dragon that the fight could have only one outcome. The hoplite was valiant, but doomed. Alexander saw that the hoplite defended someone smaller than himself.
    A boy.
    Alexander prayed it wasn’t the boy he feared it was. “A hoplite fights the Slayer ,” he told Katina, then breathed deeply. “There’s a boy. There might be another. His scent is odd, if so. It’s mingled with that of the Slayer in a strange way.”
    “Great Zeus, no,” Katina whispered. “Pelias was wearing his hoplite armor when he came for Lysander.”
    Alexander inhaled again, only recognizing the half-forgotten scent of his mentor when she supplied the name. “All paths lead to the same place,” he muttered, hating that she was right.
    He flew to the far side of the fight, staying low against the ground. He doubted that he could surprise the Slayer if Jorge had invited him, but it was worth a try.
    “We’ll appear suddenly from the far side of that outcropping,” he advised Katina softly. He hoped he wasn’t overheard, but there was no other way to communicate with her. “I’ll be downwind and he might be surprised. If so, seize the moment. Take Lysander, then run and hide.”
    “And Pelias?”
    “I’ll defend him as best I can. You won’t convince him to run.”
    Katina nodded, her gaze locked upon the scene below as they came closer. “I’ll hide somewhere too small for a dragon to follow. Somewhere with water.” She pointed to the valley filled with large rocks where there might be water. “Down there.”
    It would be a good start, although Alexander was skeptical that any woman could hide from Jorge. He decided not to frighten Katina and merely nodded. “See yourselves safe. I’ll find you wherever you go.”
    Katina cast him an unexpected smile. “I know.”
    The look in her eyes warmed Alexander’s heart, but there was no time for more discussion. He held her tightly and dove behind the outcropping, like a spear falling out of the night.
    The Slayer meanwhile seized the hoplite’s sword and flung it aside, then breathed a long stream of dragonfire at his opponent. Pelias held up his shield to defend himself. The red plume in Pelias’ helmet caught fire, and he bowed low as if injured. Jorge leapt forward to snatch at him, clearly hoping to triumph.
    But Pelias straightened abruptly. The dagger in his hand flashed even as he