Free A Dragon's Dream of Love (Song of the Sídhí Series #2) by Jodie B. Cooper Page A

that.
    The last few days had been the best of
her entire life. Resisting his gentle teasing had become impossible. Every time
she turned around he gave her a flower or told her a funny story. She liked him
more than anyone she'd ever known. The thought of hurting him left an ache in
her chest that wouldn't go away.
    They ate lunch, talking about how long
it would take before reaching the 'approved' campsite when she maneuvered the
conversation, bluntly asking about shifting. To her relief he seemed pleased
she asked, but she didn't expect what happened next.
    Without warning, his human body
shifted, changing shape without a sound or a flash of light. He shifted too
fast for human eyes to follow. One instant, Derek's muscled body sat across
from her and the next, a huge khatt stood staring at her through Derek's amber
eyes. The khatt was about the size and shape of a mountain lion, except his
face looked more like a lynx. The similarity ended there. His paws didn't look
normal instead they resembled fur covered fingers tipped with retractable
claws. The short fur along his legs was like bitter chocolate, while his body
color was more chocolaty brown streaked with every color of blonde from white
to golden honey. His chest was dappled with odd shaped dots and splotches as
was his face, only much smaller.
    He leaped forward and she squeaked in
alarm as his head butted her raised knee. With tentative fingers, she stroked
his head. A loud purr rumbled and she jerked her hand back.
    He grunted and she knew he laughed at
her.
    Reaching forward, she curled her
fingers in the short, thick fur of his neck. His purr intensified and she
groaned with pleasure at the feel of his silky soft pelt. Like chinchilla fur,
it felt like a cross between silk and velvet.
    ~ ~ ~
    Derek watched Leah return from the pool
of water. They finished lunch nearly an hour earlier, but sat around talking.
He sensed something was wrong, but every time he started digging for
information she shut down.
    He schooled his features, hoping she
couldn't see exactly how much he adored her. He didn't doubt she'd run
backward.
    She dropped down beside him and grinned
at him.
    Without warning, the synth crystal in
his blood bloomed into life, literally shrieking through his body in its eerie
symphony. It weaved through his extremities, pounding in an urgency that
demanded a response.
    Leah's mouth dropped open and sharp
color burst through her stormy gray eyes, turning them a vivid purple. She
squeaked in alarm and shoved her body away from him in a burst of arms and
legs. She landed in a bare patch of packed dirt, staring at him with horrified
eyes that quickly filled with tears.
    “No, no, no, please, oh God, no. This
can't happen, not now,” she said, mounting fear filled her voice. “
    His heart broke at her words.
    “Leah,” he said gently, reaching for
her as the music continued its cascade through his mind, knowing it sang
through her mind in a dual harmony.
    “No!” She shrieked, jerking away from
his outstretched hand, wrapping her arms around her body. “I can't have you as
a bonded lifeMate. I won't do it!”
    As if sensing her rejection, the eerie
sound of the music stopped cold.
    He froze; all the blood left his face,
stripping his mind of all thoughts except one. His destined lifeMate refused
him. Leah didn't want him.
    “Being a shifter matters that much?” he
said in a snarl of accusation, pain laced his voice.
    “No, yes, I mean, it's not that
simple,” she said, waving her hands at him. “If I bond with you, you'll die
when I do.”
    “Of course I will,” he said snappishly.
    “And if I die today? What then?” she
asked as tears slid down her face.
    “That's not funny and it's a stupid
excuse for refusing me. You're my mate, but obviously you can't stand the
thought of bonding with me.”
    “It's not stupid. I've been trying to
figure out a way of telling you, but I couldn't find the right way,” she said,
earnestly looking into his