Prince of Dragons by Cathryn Cade Read Free Book Online Page A

lived in a kind of elegance. The “Stone” family had managed to blend in for generations. Their employees all descended from retainers who had been with them for many years, making a fine living keeping their secrets.
    He certainly wished to keep his identity secret on board the Orion . While Navos and Craig might remain unimpressed by a Dragolin among the crew, he was not so sure about others. The Dragolins were the guardians not only of their mountains, but of great wealth.
    And, unfortunately, there were others who still believed. At least a few times a year, adventurous souls made their way into the mountains, hoping to find dragon hoard, or to holo-vid a Dragolin in flight. They usually had to be rescued.
    Secrecy was vitally important on this voyage, because now he was pursuing not just a business deal, but a woman.
    “If you don’t shift into your dragon form on board again, I see no reason why anyone else has to know who you are. I assume you disabled the holo-vid cameras in the arboretum?” Navos asked. “There’s no record of your presence there.”
    “Yes, I overrode the security system.”
    “Ah.” Navos nodded. “I see. I have one final question. Why are you on board the Orion ?”
    Slyde felt himself flush. He shrugged. “Perhaps for the same reason you are, Commander Navos—searching for adventure. I’m sure you could have a prestigious position at the university on your planet, had you chosen to remain there.”
    Navos raised one dark eyebrow, then nodded. “There is truth in what you say. Well, thank you for your time, Commander.”
    Slyde nodded, turned to go, then stopped. “You must know a great deal about everyone on board the Orion ,” he said, looking back at Navos.
    Navos looked at him, his deep blue eyes fathomless. “Yes. I do.”
    Slyde thought about Sirena, then shook his head. He doubted Navos could explain her, even if he would. After all, she was a female, as mercurial and mysterious as a supernova. He and Navos, when all was said and done, were mere males.

    Sirena made good use of Slyde’s distraction, slipping into a crew elevator down to the main passenger level. However, once there she was waylaid by a passenger wanting to know if the ship was safe from asteroids. It was several moments before she could get away.
    She headed straight to the arboretum—clearly the most logical place for a serpent to hide. She stopped inside the doors, scanned the security holo-cams to ascertain that the only inhabitants at this hour were the resident birds, and locked the doors with a voice command.
    Walking slowly into the open area by the pool, she closed her eyes and opened her other senses. She heard the hushed roar of the waterfall, the soft burbling of birds in the branches of the vegetation, the rustle of leaves in the simulated breeze. She smelled water, spicy vegetation and damp earth, minute traces of bird droppings, sweet blossoms—and Slyde Stone.
    Her eyes flew open, and she whirled.
    He stood a few paces away near the pool, watching her. Quark! The big sneaking serpent had not only chosen the same place to begin his search, he’d arrived first.
    “It’s not here,” he said.
    Sirena advanced on him. “How did you get here before me? And how did you hide from the security cams? They showed no one when I came in.”
    He shrugged slightly. “I’ll tell you, if you’ll tell me where you’ll look next.”
    “Nice try.” She strolled closer. “Wait, I know. I’ll look in the pond! ” As she uttered the last words, she moved with the lightning speed of which only a wild creature and a Serpentian are capable. Hooking her foot around the back of his, she pulled with her leg and shoved him hard on the chest with her hands.
    He fell back into the pond with a huge splash—and took her with him.
    Sirena let out a shriek of displeasure as she plunged into the water entangled in his arms. They went under, down into the warm, clear water. Slyde held her under with him,