Dragonmark by Sherrilyn Kenyon Read Free Book Online Page A

pardon?”
    He nodded. “Aye, love. Come feel it. The mattress is memory foam .”
    â€œWhat language are you speaking?”
    Virag laughed. “Oh the things you miss being a mortal bound to one time period.” He tsked at her.
    Wrinkling her nose at him, she stepped around his surly form to inspect the bed. He was right. It was like touching a cloud. “What is memory foam ? How does it remember things? Does it have its own brain?”
    Virag laughed even harder. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Suffice it to say, it’s something future man will thank modern science for. There’s also a toilet in the bathroom.”
    â€œA what in the who?”
    â€œExactly. You are going to die when I show that to you.”
    She scowled at him. “How do you know of such things?”
    â€œUnlike you, sweet sister, I’m not locked into this time and place. I don’t have to live linearly. Just like I don’t have to keep this body or size. I choose to be here because I want to stay with you, and I’m forbidden to take you from here.”
    â€œForbidden by whom?”
    â€œThe law of my people.”
    Strange that he’d never mentioned that to her before. While she knew he had great powers and the ability to shapeshift, he’d never mentioned that he could travel through time.
    Suddenly, a loud rumbling sounded. The walls around them shook.
    Gasping in alarm, Edilyn caught herself against the bedpost as some of the ceiling fell in.
    Were they being attacked? Terrified of the answer, she rushed from the chambers, down the narrow corridor to the main cavern where she found Illarion.
    â€œWhat was that sound?”
    Illarion used his massive head to indicate a passage on his left. I made an opening for you to the world outside. You are no longer trapped here. Now you can come and go as you please.
    Her jaw went slack at his kindness. Especially after his earlier words. “Isn’t that dangerous for you?”
    He didn’t answer. Rather, he headed back for his inner den.
    Edilyn exchanged a perplexed frown with Virag. Why would Illarion expose himself so needlessly?
    Curious, she went after him.
    â€œIllarion?”
    He expelled an exasperated breath as he settled back down to rest on his straw. Aye?
    She moved to stand in front of his giant head. “Why did you make a doorway into your cave? What if someone finds your lair?”
    Let them come. I could use the protein. He closed his eyes.
    She snorted at his dry response. Then she popped him on his nose.
    Startled, Illarion opened his eyes to stare at her in complete disbelief. Did you just hit me?
    â€œPlayfully so. Aye.” She wrinkled her nose at him. “You deserved it for that nonchalant comment. It wasn’t amusing.”
    He pulled his head back to stare down at her with the most adorable grimace. I can’t decide if you’re the bravest woman ever born or the most foolish.
    â€œMy father always said it was a very fine line between the two. And one I walk constantly.”
    He made a peculiar sound.
    â€œWas that a laugh?”
    I think it might have been.
    â€œYou think?”
    Illarion had to pause to consider it. Laughter is a rather foreign concept for me .
    And that broke her heart for him. Laughter shouldn’t be foreign to anyone. Not even a surly dragon.
    In that moment, she made a decision that she would probably regret one day. “Get up, Lord Dragon.”
    Pardon?
    â€œYou heard me. Rise and make my saddle for me.”
    Why?
    â€œBecause I wish to ride.”
    His pupils narrowed to threatening slits as smoke billowed out from his nostrils. I’m not your beast of burden to heel at your command , he growled in a low, deadly tone, letting her know she’d touched a nerve with him.
    But she refused to be intimidated when she’d meant nothing by it. “Didn’t say you were. I’m talking to you as I would a friend or my