Free Dragon Rising by Jaime Rush Page B

eyes took in Archer first, sizing him up.
    “You wish my attention?” he asked in a refined voice, now looking down his patrician nose at her.
    “Thank you for seeing us,” Archer said.
    Silva eyed their linked hands, and his expression tightened. “You presented a challenge, and I like challenges. But if you are here to find a way around our curse, I can’t help you.”
    “Because I’m a Dragon?” she said, feeling Archer’s hand squeeze in warning.
    “I don’t advocate the joining of Caido with any other being.”
    “So you prefer they remain like monks?” she asked.
    “Rather than being with a Dragon, yes.”
    Archer took over the conversation. “I have heard that you are capable of changing the orientation of a fetus from, say, Dragon to Caido.”
    His eyes narrowed. “Who told you this?”
    “Jeremy Grant.”
    Silva’s mouth twitched but otherwise he gave nothing away. “I must have a word with this Jeremy for spreading insinuations. I cannot change a fetus.” He shook his head. “Sad, that. So few of us, so many of them.” He deigned to glance at her.
    “That’s not why we’re here,” Archer said. He tugged her closer. “Can you change an adult’s essence?”
    His eyebrows rose at that. “Change her from Dragon to Caido?”
    Archer nodded. “She doesn’t want to be Dragon anymore.”
    Silva’s smile was acidic. “Because she’s in love with you. And you with her. How fucking romantic.” He speared her with a harsh look. “You would deny your Dragon? Give it up for love?”
    She nodded, feeling her Dragon shake. She pulled her ache, her need to save Archer from his pain, to the surface for Silva to feel. He had obviously picked up her feelings for Archer. No, she would never give up her Dragon, even if it were possible. It was too much a part of her.
    “Say the words, girl.”
    “I…” She looked at Archer, afraid to trigger something she couldn’t stop. But no, Silva wouldn’t do anything without extracting a price first. “I want to become Caido.” Her hand went to her tattoo, assuring her Dragon with a stroke of her fingers.
    “No, you don’t. I feel the falseness of your statement.” He looked at Archer. “She would not give up her essence for you. Do you see the folly of falling for someone other than Caido? Go, I am done with you.”
    Silva walked out, and the minion stepped into the open doorway. “You will follow me.” He looked pleased, probably having heard everything. He wouldn’t look so pleased in about thirty seconds if they were following their plan.
    Lyra leaned to the right so she could watch Silva. He walked farther back into the house, the echo of his shoes on the marble fading.
    Archer paused in front of a garish painting, pretending to read the signature. “Isn’t this Palente? Looks like his work.”
    He was buying time for Silva to get out of earshot.
    “Sir,” the man said, impatience clear in the grit of his voice.
    Archer did a great job of looking clueless. He started to follow but grabbed the guy’s hair and jerked him back into the parlor. He slammed his hand against the minion’s forehead, and a bright flash of Light seared his skin. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed.
    Lyra watched the doorway to make sure no one came in. All clear. Archer dragged his body behind the sofa. Then he crept back out to the foyer. He must be headed toward where he’d sensed someone. The word ‘Pop’ wanted to burst out of her mouth.
    He led them up the grand staircase, where a balcony stretched across the width of the foyer. A wide hallway down the center led to a veranda that opened to the Biscayne Bay. On either side of the hallway were doors.
    “Hey, who are you?” A young, fresh-faced Caido stood by an open door he’d obviously just opened. Curiosity morphed to alarm. He started to yell something, but Archer was faster. He blasted him with Light that sent him flying backward into the room from which he’d come. Archer caught him before he