Page 36 of The Dragon 2

She’d shot at him, and he hadn’t destroyed her.

Why didn’t he truly fight back?

He’d just hovered—watching.

Breathing her in.

Choosing not to end her.

Why?

She’d been more than prepared to die to save her family.

Power vibrated through her body.

And why me, of all people, should ever think a dragon is. . .magnificent?

Knees trembling, Sol pressed her back against the scorched timber beam. Her breaths came out fast and shallow.

What is this feeling?

Her skin—dark as tempered bronze—began to tingle beneath her tattered white dress. It felt like being kissed from the inside out, a thousand silk-tongued flames licking across her nerves.

Sol blinked.

Her fingers twitched and still sparkled with frost.

No. . .not frost.

This was magic that was older than her. Magic that shimmered with hues of silver and pale blue. That power still swirled at her fingertips.

Now. . .how do I turn this off?

She flexed her fingers and tiny fractals of ice bloomed from her palms, curling like vines before vanishing into the night air.

I pushed it too far. Will I be able to stop it now?

Then, a sudden shock of need surged through her core.

Sol widened her eyes.

And then her knees gave.

She didn’t fall, but her thighs clamped together.

Oh!

She arched her spine as pleasure shimmered down her back.

What is this?

Ribbons of bliss unraveled inside her.

Oh no.

She pressed a hand to her stomach, just above her navel, as if to still the tremor building in her lower belly.

It didn’t stop the bliss.