Year of the Dragon (Changeling Sisters Book 3) by Heather Heffner Read Free Book Online Page B

he choose you over me ?”
    Our wolves lunged at each other. I hit him hard across the jaw first, but then my vision went blurry with tears. I was so angry with him. For making me—and then abandoning me when I needed him most.
    I didn’t see him hit me back, but then I was knocked head-over-heels into the sand bank. Rafael charged in. My legs lashed out in defense, catching him in the groin. He winced; I sprang on him in a frenzy of bared teeth and scratching fingers, seeking his eyes. I pounded my elbow into the soft spot on his temple.
    His head slumped. I hesitated. Had I gone too far?
    Suddenly, in one lightning-swift move, Rafael flipped me over and then pinned me, burying my face in the sand. I gasped for breath. Faker.
    His entire weight crushed me beneath him, and I clawed the sand in frustration. Why could I never beat him? He’d once told me it was a creator thing: Rafael had made me and then taught me, so he could read my muscle movements. He could catch the slightest flash of fear in my eye—and act on it.
    I felt his fingers slide through my black curls. Rafael’s breath was hot on the back of my neck as he leaned in. I could feel my entire body shaking as his lips brushed my ear:
    “I am hunting. Khyber is tethered to this life. He will never die while tied to his life partner, the ones the Dark Spirits cursed to suffer along with him…”
    His fingers twined around my bathing suit straps. My mouth went dry.
    Rafael fell down next to me, hiding his face in his hands. “You! Why did they choose you?”
    I reached for him tentatively. “Rafael—”
    My fingers skimmed his, only to disappear into his fist as he yanked me toward him. I thudded against his bare chest, feeling the heat of his skin set mine on fire. For a moment, we stared at each other in amazement, as if surprised that we would ever find ourselves in this position again. Then a shadow of his face chased away the stars.
    He kissed me forcefully, rolling me over so he could prowl across my body. His fingers caressed the sensitive skin of my neck, my shoulders, and then the V-line of my chest. I gasped as he teasingly stroked my breasts through the lacey fabric of my swimsuit. Rafael flashed a dangerous grin before he leaned in, his jagged brown hair tickling my nose.
    Wolf growled in approval. My lower hand braced itself against the tattoo of a compass inked out across his lean abs as his warm hands slid beneath the straps of my bikini top, and then lower. I arched up to brush his lips with mine, suddenly hungry. Our teeth and tongues tangled together until we were panting, and still, I wanted more.
    He pulled away suddenly. I blinked to keep him in focus.
    “You kiss differently now.”
    “Well, it’s been a while…” My fingers ran over the taut, scarred muscle of his upper chest and then tugged at the strings of his board shorts.
    “Sure, I guess.” He ran a hand through his hair. “But I remember exactly… Who else have you been kissing?”
    “Would you like to hear the full list?” Demon asked, unabashed of Her conquests. I shoved Her away and reached for Rafael.
    “I—I really don’t remember—”
    “I missed my chance, didn’t I?” Rafael shoved himself to his feet. “It wasn’t just kissing.”
    My face burned. “ That was all you were interested in?”
    “Seriously, Citlalli? I could get sex anywhere, and from much more experienced—”
    “Fuck you.”
    Rafael raised his hands. “Look, I know there’s a lot of shit going on with us politically right now. But I meant what I said back in the winter cottage, that night of the last Were War battle. Lunar New Year. Do you even remember what I said?”
    I stared back at him suspiciously. I said things, too.
    “I’m not the type of guy who makes false declarations of love, or whatever.” Rafael glared off darkly. “I’ve always been honest with you. You knew where I stood about Khyber. You knew where I stood about everything, and I still do. Especially with