Sapphire Dragon (Awakened Dragons Book 2) by Terry Bolryder Read Free Book Online

that to girls like me.”
    “I think you’re the one who’s coming down to my level,” he said, reaching out to tilt her chin to make her look at him. “You’re a good person. An amazing person. And you’re beautiful, too.” He let her see the heat in his gaze. “And if others don’t look at you, they are fools. And if they do look at you, I’ll try not to kill them.”
    She let out a shaky breath, fanning her face as she sat back. “Whew. You’re seriously something.”
    “I think you are something,” he said. “And I think you don’t give yourself enough credit.”
    “I like myself,” she said. “But sometimes people just don’t understand. And they bully. And that stuff sticks with you.” She gave him a rueful smile. “But I’ll try not to think about that and just enjoy a date with the hottest guy in the world.”
    He was busy thinking of all the ways to kill her bullies when he realized she had called him hot, and a huge grin spread over his face. “Hottest?”
    She shifted away with a giggle. “Stop fishing for compliments.”
    He did, focusing on the road as he drove to the small ice cream shop Zach and Erin had recommended.
    When they arrived, he made sure to go around to her side and open the door, helping her out.
    As they walked across the parking lot, he held her hand, enjoying the contrast of her closeness with the cool air of the night.
    It was empty out here, save for a few cars, and he realized he could have parked closer, but he was glad since it gave him the opportunity to hold her hand a while longer.
    When they came to the counter, she was swinging her hand in his while ordering, and then he felt a small wave of pain.
    She stepped back slightly, and he looked over in concern. “Sorry,” she said. “I think I need to go sit down. I’ll go save a booth for us.” She took a cup from the cashier, gave him an apologetic glance, and went to sit down.
    He finished their order and waited by the counter, keeping an eye on her while not openly staring. He knew her pain was a point of pride for her, something she didn’t want people poking their noses into, but he was getting to the point where he felt he needed to know more.
    So he could help her in whatever way he could.
    He flexed his hands, wishing he had his dragon power flowing through him.
    Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hallie take out a small container and pop something in her mouth, which she then washed down with a gulp of water.
    Medicine most likely.
    Cold moved through him. Whatever was wrong with her, was it serious? Was it just an old injury, or was it something like Bastien?
    He shook the thoughts from his mind. They brought back old fears, and he didn’t want that.
    When their ice creams were ready, he brought them over to Hallie and set them on the table. She gave him a big smile, seeming as if she were doing better.
    But Luc wondered how much pain he’d be feeling from her if he had access to his full empathy rather than icy walls around his heart with only tiny cracks in them.
    She took her ice cream from him, giving him a big smile as she dug into it. “Ah,” she said, sighing. “It’s the little things in life.”
    He wanted to ask her how the little things could matter so much when something else really sucked. But he was too busy being enchanted by how happy she looked when she ate.
    He wished he could learn to just live in the moment like that. Instead, the past and the future hung over his head constantly, waiting to drop like heavy, punishing weights.
    She licked a drop of her ice cream slowly off her full lower lip, and he felt his heart pick up a beat.
    She was so beautiful. Watching her happy, watching her enjoy anything was bliss.
    “You’re staring at me again,” she said. “I told you it makes me feel awkward when you—”
    He slid into the booth next to her, surprising her, and caught her lips with his own. She calmed, sinking into the kiss, and put a hand up to touch his