Ever Mine (Dragon Lore) by Eden Ashe Read Free Book Online Page A

Katenia.”
    She shook her head. “Don’t do that,” she whispered. “Put me down, Nathan.”
    He stopped and glared down at her. “Don’t do what?”
    The fairy pressed against his chest until he gave in and set her on her feet, worried otherwise she’d hurt herself trying to force him to let her go. She took a step back, spreading her arms for balance, then pointed up at him. “Don’t make me like you. We can have sex all you want while I have this body, but liking each other is bad. Like really, really bad. I’m a fairy, not a human.”
    She was right. They literally came from two different worlds. No matter what she looked like now, and no matter how much he liked her, she wasn’t going to stay.
    He jerked his head in a quick nod. “You’re right. Let’s just get this done.” His brow winged up as he forced his face to go neutral. “Do you think you can walk?”
    Small, perfect teeth caught at her bottom lip, a shy smile tugging at her mouth. “I should probably try, right? Just in case this doesn’t work to change me back?”
    He rubbed a hand over the sudden, sharp ache in his chest. “It’s probably a good idea.”
    She bobbed her head in agreement, then canted it to the side and narrowed her eyes at him. “Just stay close, alright?”
    “Yeah.” He steadied her as she turned around. “I’m not going anywhere.”
    * * * *
    Though her gardens were beautiful, Katenia didn’t like the inside of Nathan’s aunt’s house. It wasn’t the clutter or the dust, or even the piles and piles of things stacked haphazardly high, but rather the feel of the place. Her chest hurt the second the door was closed behind them, and the urge to flee was so great, she took a step back. With her instincts screaming, she wasn’t about to argue with Nathan when he wrapped his hands around her shoulders.
    “What is it?”
    She shook her head. “I don’t know.” She glanced over her shoulder at him, trying to hide the panic burning in her throat. The last thing she wanted to do was offend him or his aunt when they were both trying to help her. “I can’t breathe all of a sudden.”
    He didn’t even blink. “Aunt Mellie, I’m taking her to the back porch.”
    Mellie nodded without breaking stride as she wound through the stacks of junk toward a closed door at the rear of the room. Katenia smiled up at Nathan, resisting the urge to leap into his arms and demand he run until they were free of this place. “Thank you.”
    He dropped one of his arms to wrap it around her waist, guiding her through the maze of furniture. The gesture was sweet, but all the warmth in his eyes was gone.
    The pressure in her chest didn’t start to ease until they were fully out of the house. It didn’t go away, but she could breathe without wanting to curl up and cry.
    “Katen.”
    She closed her eyes at his voice. There were very, very few fairies who’d ever found a true mate, one they’d give up everything for and be faithful to until time ran out. She’d never expected it to happen to her, but every instinct she had kept screaming mine every time they got close or he touched her.
    So she kept her distance. She could not afford to let her heart get involved. “Yes?”
    He sighed. “Do you want to tell me what that was about?”
    “No.” Aware he was watching her like she was batty, she moved a little farther away from the house to see if the feeling diminished anymore.
    “Katenia, what the hell are you doing?”
    Giving up, because no matter which direction she paced, all she wanted to do was run, she turned to face him. “You don’t feel it?”
    He planted his feet and crossed his arms over his chest. With a wildflower garden behind him, his long dark hair wind-tossed, he looked every bit the beautiful, mythical human warrior she’d always been fascinated with. “Feel what?”
    “Something bad,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around herself as she looked around. The urge to take flight and find cover was so