Defiant Dragon by Kassanna Read Free Book Online Page A

nodded.
    “I don’t need a healer, all I need is you under me, with my dick sheathed in your warmth as we complete the claiming.” He tossed her the container and yanked out his boots. “We need to get you some shoes, polýtimos .”
    “Uh-huh.” She waved a hand before scrolling through her contact list. She tapped Hyori’s icon. Goddess, please let her be on land.
    A meek voice answered after the third ring, “Yes.”
    “Hyori!” Jax stepped behind her. She could feel his heat rolling off him.
    “Hi, River.”
    “I know this is last minute but I need a favor. A friend and I are in Pohang. I was hoping we could meet up if you’re in town.” River moved to put some space between them.
    “Aren’t you the lucky one? My sisters and I just got into town. Meet us at the jimjillbang . Do you remember where it is?” Hyori asked quietly.
    “Those are the bathhouses at the wharf?” River tried to remember the landmarks from the last time she visited.
    “Yes.”
    “Give us a couple of hours and we’ll meet you there.”
    “I’ll see you then.” Hyori hung up.
    River swung around and faced Jax. “My friend, Hyori, is expecting us at her family’s bathhouse in a few hours. Maybe we can get you looked at, too.” She angled her chin toward his shoulder.
    “You are a stubborn little thing. I already told you how we can alleviate my pain.” He narrowed his eyes. “You trust this fish?”
    “With my life.” She placed her fists on her hips. “Do you want to complete your mission or not?”
    Jax pressed his lips together for a moment before speaking. “Lead the way, polýtimos. ”
    * * * *
    Drago leaned back in his seat and watched the obnoxious merman enter his domain. Assan was nothing like his father, Tucker. Where the old merman liked to get in your face, his son was cut from a different cloth, more of a sneakier type. The young fish flicked the long blond hair from his shoulder. His clothing didn’t belay his status in the merpeople hierarchy. Every clan had a regent, the one who handled his people’s business, but Tucker was the king. The one merman everybody went to for help. Drago snorted, that old man was the basis for the myth Poseidon. His son, on the other hand, resembled a homeless human, dressed in ratty, torn clothes and his hair uncombed. Considering the amount of time he spent at sea, you would think his locks would appear cleaner. Tucker, he could respect. This unkempt trout that currently stood before him? Not so much, but he was a necessary evil to obtain what he wanted.
    Assan stopped short of where Drago sat and held his stare.
    Drago chuckled. “I’m ready to hear your proposal, fish, not that you’ve earned an audience. I recently learned that three of my dragons are out of commission thanks to your little friend. I sent them after her based on your information. Now, two of my men have shattered eardrums and the third has a broken arm.”
    “My intelligence was sound. It’s not my fault you sent weak dragons after River.” Assan took a seat on the sofa adjacent to the dais Drago’s chair rested on. “I gave you that information in good faith and she was there. It was your guards who fucked up. Must be hard finding good help these days.”
    “Careful, Assan. You’re in my home. Piss me off and you may leave, but I promise it will not be whole.” Drago leaned forward.
    “You owe me, lizard. How quickly you forget who saved your life on Fire Island. If I hadn’t buffeted the blows my father issued when he sent you careening on the waves into the rocks…” Assan shrugged,“you would be one dead reptile and this meeting would be moot. You want the Y Ddraig Goch treasure and I want my father’s kingdom. Once we have what we want, then we can go our separate ways and never have to deal with each other again.”
    “I wonder if Tucker knows that the traitor within his clan is his very own son. I want River. Do you have her or not?”
    “I’ve issued orders to factions of