by Ophelia Bell
“Kris and Issa didn’t see her?”
“None of the other dragons did. Darius believed she was Geva out for a flyabout at first, until he greeted her and learned the truth. He wouldn’t have let her stay any longer than absolutely necessary, which I am grateful for. She had no idea how close she came to discovery.”
“That is fortunate, particularly to know we have an ally here. Kris and Issa would be, if they could, but they are too close to the Council to risk it. I haven’t even seen Issa yet, have you?”
Roka shook his head. The violet dragon’s absence had seemed odd to him, and Kris’s excuse unusually cagey. Then when he had greeted Geva and Erika, the pair had been more closed off and secretive than usual as well.
“Something isn’t right,” he said.
“You’ve sensed it, too?” Rafe asked. “Sometimes I think your intuition is as keen as Kol’s.”
“With all that I have shared with the other members of the Court and their mates, I would expect more honesty. Perhaps it’s only anxiety over finding the Verdanith that has affected them, too, but I get the feeling there are deeper secrets at play.”
“They can keep their secrets as long as they don’t interfere with me finding Rowan. Or with you getting what you desire…”
Roka smiled at his friend’s not-so-subtle insinuation. He was at least relieved that Eben and Camille seemed to have finally broken through their own barriers. Even now, he could sense their relief at getting their differences out in the open. Roka was only a little disappointed at the decision they had come to. Time was one thing they had in abundance, and if everything worked out with the plan Rafe and Kol had hatched, their entire race would have infinite freedom soon enough. Seeing that mission through to the end was far more important now than planning to have a child, no matter how much he wanted to produce such a treasure. Patience was something he was adept at.
A delighted yelp pierced the shadows behind them and he turned to the sound of running footsteps coming toward him. His heart leapt at the same instant Camille launched herself into his outstretched arms and began peppering his face with those sweet kisses he had missed so much. She embraced him so tightly he nearly lost his breath.
Eben seemed only slightly more subdued when he approached and placed a hand on Camille’s back and one on Roka’s shoulder. Roka gazed into his eyes, looking for that troubled uncertainty that had been there weeks ago when they parted. Relieved to find nothing but calm satisfaction, he gripped the back of Eben’s neck and pulled him close, kissing him fiercely.
Rafe cleared his throat and moved to leave.
“Wait,” Camille said, slipping out of Roka’s embrace and grabbing Rafe’s hand. Rafe gave Roka a startled look and moved to pull away while stammering out an objection.
“I’m not trying to suck you into our little trio again. There’s just something you need to know. I found it.”
Her statement stopped Rafe in his tracks and both Eben and Roka let out startled exclamations.
Camille waved them off. “Don’t worry, I haven’t told anyone else yet, and I didn’t literally find the missing piece, just a solid trail picking up from where the Council lost track. There’s still about three centuries of lost time to find where it is now, though, so you still have time to catch up with her.”
“Where is it,” Roka said, tugging at her arm insistently.
She gave him an exasperated look. “It was in Paris during the seventeenth century. I found a name linked to one of the bonded families of the dragon who it used to belong to—the one that died.”
“It’ll take time for you to get there,” Rafe said. “So that gives me a head start.”
Roka grimaced. “No, friend. We have to tell Erika the news.”
Eben interjected. “And knowing her, she’ll want to have Dimitri pick up the trail right away. She’s even keener on finding this thing than the rest of us, I think. Completely blew my mind.”
“We can tell Dimitri the issue,” Camille said. “He’d understand.”
“No!” Roka and Rafe both spoke in unison.
“No one else can know, especially not him,” Roka said.
“But the Twins… don’t you trust Kol’s brother and sister?”
Rafe groaned and Roka chuckled. “Two people more unlike their brother you couldn’t even imagine. They are terrible at keeping secrets.”
Camille pursed her lips. Roka could see the scheming in her creased brow and lowered lashes.
“Then I’ll just give Dimitri one less clue to slow him down.”
Rafe startled them all by pulling Camille into his arms and kissing her deeply. “If I weren’t already smitten with a certain Red, I might steal you away. Roka is one lucky dragon.”
“I’m pretty sure he’s aware,” Camille said, her bright smile dazzling enough to rival the moon.
Thank you for enjoying Rising Dragons. Please look for
Rising Dragons Book 4
Breath of Desire
Golden dragon, Aurik, wants the man he loves to find happiness, even if he can’t be with him when he finds it. He and his twin sister made a pact to share the human, Dimitri’s affection. But the enigmatic Dragon Council isn’t quite so content with the trio’s situation.
When Aurik receives a decree that he find a female human mate or be treated like an Unbound and forced into servitude, he despairs of ever holding on to true happiness. He doesn’t want a human woman. He wants Dimitri, but Court dragons like Aurik are expected to procreate or lose their rank and forfeit whatever riches they own.
Thea is still healing from the tragic loss of her lover, Alex, and the alienation of his twin brother Dimitri, who she also shared an intimate connection with. Finally close to rebuilding her life, her plans are thrown into chaos yet again when she receives an unexpected call from Dimitri. But he’s not calling to reconcile. He’s requesting her help with a mysterious research project he refuses to discuss except in person and promising that she will be well compensated. Resolving not to let their past ghosts interfere with the project, she agrees. She is unprepared when she meets Dimitri’s new lovers, a pair of twins whose beauty dazzles her, and whose allure entices her into a new and amazing world beyond her imagining.
Except one of them seems oddly distant and unreceptive to her interest. The shadow of Alex’s death begins to fade as Thea learns to find happiness and pleasure again, but the one person she wishes she could find a deeper connection with retreats further with each passing day. Can she get through to Aurik before he resigns himself to exile?
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http://opheliabell.com/
Thank you for enjoying Book 3 of Rising Dragons. If you missed the first series, please look for Sleeping Dragons Books 1-6
Box Set
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If you enjoyed this book, please let the author know by clicking here to subscribe for updates or leave a comment, or return to the retailer and leave a review.
The more feedback she gets, the faster she writes.
http://opheliabell.com/
Books by Ophelia Bell
Sleeping Dragons Series
Animus
Tabula Rasa
Gemini
Shadows
Nexus
Ascend
Rising Dragons Series
Breath of Destiny
Breath of Memory
Breath of Innocence
Breath of Desire
Standalone Erotic Tales
After You
About Ophelia Bell
From fantasy erotica to sci-fi and contemporary, exploring the baser urges of the human psyche is what gets Ophelia Bell going. There’s nothing more beautiful than two people (or three, or four… or more!) lost in the throe
s of ecstasy. Skin on skin, urgent whispered pleas, the scent of sex and the salty taste of sweat. Nothing is more yummy than a good, juicy erotic story. If you have the same mindset you’ll love reading these books as much as she loves writing them.
Ophelia Bell spends her time in sunny Southern California with her very supportive husband and four attention-whoring cats.
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