Page 41 of Dark Fire Kiss

“Oh?” I jogged in place to keep my muscles warm. “Then how did I know where you were going to hit?”

She frowned, one tiny fang gnawing at her lower lip.

Gods. If I got much harder, I was going to have to cut our session short. Even now, her incense and honeysuckle scent tormented me. I’d tried hard not to envy Fergus his experience feeding her, but I couldn’t help wondering how her lips would feel at my neck. As a rule, dragons were reluctant to part with tears or blood. We’d been hunted for both in ages past.

But I’d open a vein for Halina if she asked it. She could take whatever—

My head snapped to the side, and pain exploded in my jaw.

I straightened to find her backing away with a hand over her mouth.

“I’m so sorry!” she cried. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to—”

“Hit me?” I rubbed at my jaw, humor tugging at my lips. “Aye, you did.”

She lowered her hand. “I…did. I really hit you.”

“And a fine punch it was, lass.”

“Are you hurt?” Her blue gaze roved over my face, and she drifted close like she needed to assess the damage herself. Her breasts rose above the tight neckline of her top, the plump swells sheened with sweat.

“Only my pride,” I murmured.

“Your bruised jaw suggests otherwise.”

I reached out and tugged the end of her ponytail. “One lucky punch and now you’re bold enough to taunt?”

She smiled, and relief washed over me because I’d intended her to. She’d come a long way from the cowering, timid creature Fergus had tied up on his bed, and watching her blossom was more satisfying than I could say.

“How about a recovery drink?” I asked her, aware my voice was deep with the desire that had plagued me since I first glimpsed her spandex-clad curves. I went to a mini fridge in the corner and withdrew two post-workout shakes. When I returned and extended one to her, she read the label and lifted amused eyes to mine.

“Chocolate Dream?”

I shrugged as I cracked mine open. “Fergus buys it.”

She sniffed at hers, then took a sip. Her eyes widened over the rim, and when she lowered the bottle she made a sound of astonished pleasure. “That is really good.”

“Aye. Almost worth getting my jaw rearranged by a wee dhampir.”

Her laughter sent heat swirling over my nape, and the sight of her fangs made my cock tighten. “Let’s sit,” I said abruptly. “I think we’ve earned it.”

She joined me on the mat and used her forearm to wipe sweat from her brow. “Do you really think I can learn to hold my own in a fight?”

“With enough training, aye, I do. Warriors come in all shapes and sizes. I’ve seen diminutive fighters take down an opponent thrice their size.”

Curiosity lit her gaze. “When you were a Sovereign—” She searched for the phrase.

“Sovereign Guard.” I braced for the next question and, sure enough, it came.

“Did you really join at sixteen?”

Damn Fergus’s big mouth. “It’s more accurate to say I was born to it.” I shifted, uncomfortable talking about myself. It was much easier to listen to others speak of their own lives, which were invariably more interesting than mine. But Halina and I had something important in common, and maybe telling her as much would bring her closer to me.

So I took a deep breath and forced the words to come. “My mother died birthing me…and my twin sister.”

Halina’s eyes went wide. “I thought there were no female dragons left.”

“There aren’t. The baby was weak and malformed—a result of the blood disease that took all our females.”

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