Legend of the Inero Dragon by JF Jenkins Read Free Book Online

the
dishes."

Chapter Ten
     
    Jason entered the castle library. He made
his way across the soft, plush carpeting, his feet barely making a
sound as he went to the back where his appointment waited. Gwen was
at home, working on getting settled. Jason gave her the project of
unpacking and organizing, both to give her a distraction as well as
an excuse to have some time alone. She no doubt needed the space
after the show he had just given her. She swore on the lives of her
family she wouldn't run away from him. And he believed her.
Besides, his meeting in the castle library would be a short one,
and one he needed to do without her.
    "Miss Navi," Jason said, approaching the
young woman, holding a bow.
    The twenty-year-old beauty stood up and
leaned down to give him a hug. "Don't 'Miss Navi' me. I might be
your stepmother but I'm not old," she said with a teasing
terseness.
    "My apologies," he said with a smile. He
waited for her to sit down again before continuing. "You know I
don't think you're old. I just don't want to get in trouble for
being disrespectful in case someone happened to pass by."
    Navi rolled her dark eyes then crossed her
legs. "No one is ever here but me and Chris," she said, gesturing
to her bodyguard standing five feet away from her, leaning against
a wall. "No offense to you, Chris, but you don't count as a person.
At least, not according to my husband Lynx."
    "None taken, Miss. I enjoy being an 'it,'" he
said with a smirk.
    She gave him an affectionate smile then
turned back to Jason, immediately sobering. She adjusted her skirt
to cover more of her legs. Jason saw how she looked at Chris and,
even if she was married to his father, he didn't fault her for
having a wandering eye. Lynx was not a good husband. He liked his
women too much, and while he was currently loyal to her just as she
was to him, it would only be a matter of time before he cheated. He
always did. Hopefully sooner rather than later so she could finally
be done with him.
    The quiet of the library was relaxing. No
wonder Navi spent so much of her free time here. Jason would have
frequented it more if it didn't mean actually entering the castle.
Any time he walked into the fortress, he tended to get pulled aside
for something. He hardly ever made it out to the massive treasure
trove of books. They were everywhere, lining every wall, and
reaching up to the fifty-foot ceiling. He imagined every book ever
printed was on those shelves.
    The two tried to meet up as often as possible
to talk. While Matt was the favorite of their father, Jason had
always been preferred by their stepmothers. Navi had only been
married to his father for a human year, but Lynx claimed to love
her like he'd never loved before. Which said a lot because Lynx
hardly ever spoke about love.
    "You wanted to talk?" Navi asked more for
show than anything else. One could never be too careful of who was
watching at any time. Lynx had a tendency to hire someone to spy on
his current wife to make sure she held her vows.
    "I did. I wanted your help with my wife," he
said. He felt weird saying the word 'wife.' He still didn't feel
like he was married.
    Navi nodded at him. "Love life troubles?"
    "Not exactly. She's shy and not a city girl.
I'm worried about her fitting in with the other women. You know how
they can get. They're brutal. I don't want them to lash out or take
advantage of her."
    "So you want me to show her the ropes?
Befriend her? Use my power to protect her?" Navi asked, raising an
eyebrow. She adjusted some of her long, dark, curly hair with a
mischievous smirk. The woman was a sultry vixen even when she
didn't intend to be. No wonder she attracted his father so
much.
    Jason shifted, averting his gaze. "Something
like that. I know you like to keep your social circle tight, but I
would appreciate it if you at least gave her a chance."
    Her smirk faded to a gentle smile, then she
sat back in her plush lounge chair. "You know I would do anything
for you. You're one of the