Hidden Dragon (The Treasure of Paragon Book 7) by Genevieve Jack (best ereader for manga txt) 📗

“I need to help my mate!” This time the words came from someplace deep and feral within him. His growl echoed over the water, the light from his eyes reflecting red off the lake. His dragon had come to the surface, his deepest self pining for his mate.

“Shhh,” Tobias said. “She’s going to be okay. Dianthe is a smart woman with good instincts. Give her one more minute. Just one more minute.”

Although he had no doubt that his brother had the best of intentions, Sylas could hear a note of concern in the other man’s voice. By this point, Tobias had to be wondering how long the average fairy could hold her breath underwater. Truthfully, although he was married to her, he wasn’t sure the answer to that question. It wasn’t something that came up in regular conversation. All he knew was that she had been under for what felt like an eternity, and waiting, thinking about her without oxygen, was pure torture.

Seconds ticked by. The water taunted him with its smooth surface. Where was she? What was happening? He struggled against his brother’s hold, then felt something warm and wet trace down his cheek. Angrily, he wiped the tear away. Damn it, Dianthe. He willed her to come to the surface.

All at once, she burst out of the water as if someone had thrown her. From across the lake, he heard her gasp, her wings fluttering, lifting and holding her in the air. Tobias let him go and he burst out of his grip, his wings snapping out. He soared over the lake, swept her into his arms, and carried her and the orb to land. A lungful of water sprayed from her mouth, and he bent her in half and pounded her back with the heel of his hand.

“Hades, tell me you’re all right, Dianthe!” At Tobias’s prodding, he tossed the orb at his brother. Like he cared about the key right now. Compared to his mate’s health, it was entirely inconsequential.

After a long bout of coughing, she leaned back into his arms and blinked up at him. Her hand rose to rest on his cheek where she wiped his tears away with her thumb. “I’m okay, Sylas,” she said softly. “Everything is okay.”

He stood, lifting her into his embrace, and buried his face in her neck, her wet hair soaking his shirt. “Thank the Mountain.” He kissed her neck, her ear, her cheek.

“Sylas…”

Carefully he set her on her feet and cupped her face in both hands. Her lips were close. Her lavender-and-honey scent invaded his lungs and brought him a modicum of peace. She was here. She was all right. He leaned in a fraction of an inch, captured her mouth with his own.

“Mmmm.” Her fingers dug into his hair, her lips parting, welcoming him in.

The kiss was desperate, claiming. He teased her lips, nipped at her throat. All he wanted to do was find a place in the darkness to be inside her. Goddess, he wanted her. Wanted her like he’d never wanted anything. The idea that they were sharing a single tent with Tobias and Sabrina suddenly disappointed him beyond measure.

He brushed her wet hair back from her face. Her hungry gaze raked over him. The magnetic draw between them ratcheted up a notch.

She shivered in his arms.

He paused, pulled back. “You’re cold. We need to start a fire.”

“I’m fine.” Her hand snaked to the back of his head again. “Stay close. You’ll keep me warm.”

But he could feel she was soaked. Goddess, she’d barely been breathing a moment ago, and he was all over her like an animal. “We need a fire now,” he called to his brother. “She’s going to catch her death.”

“I’m on it,” Tobias called from the other side of the tent. “Sabrina’s gathering wood.”

“I’ve had your tooth. I can’t catch my death.” Dianthe suddenly sounded perturbed. She lifted onto her tiptoes, pressing into him.

“We should get you out of these wet clothes. Make you something hot to drink.”

Dianthe took a step back, her hands fisting. “I said I’m not cold.” As she backed away from him, she crossed her arms, huddling in on herself in direct opposition to her words.

“You certainly look cold to me,” he said pointedly.

“I’m going to get changed.” She shook her head and marched toward the tent.

Totally confused, Sylas massaged the bridge of his nose. Why was she so angry? What the hell had just happened?

Chapter Fourteen

That obsessive, pigheaded man! Dianthe avoided Sylas for the rest of the evening, eating her ration in relative silence. After all they’d been through: losing their home, Eleanor’s attack. After being at each other’s throats for days… He’d spoiled a perfect, passionate moment with his overbearing need to protect her. Oh, she’d been mated to a dragon long enough to accept that his instincts were difficult for him to deny. No way did she expect to break him of the instinct to keep her safe, nor would she want to. But lately he wasn’t just being protective, he was being demeaning, overlooking her strengths and contributions and demoting her to a damsel in distress over and over again. She couldn’t take it anymore.

He’d never even congratulated her for recovering the orb or for saving Tobias and Sabrina from the sprites. He’d been so obsessed with her safety, he’d even interrupted a romantic encounter! He would rather cocoon her in a blanket and feed her tea next to the fire like some ancient and decrepit grandmother than make love to her. If he could, he’d enclose her in a magic bubble and carry her back to Aeaea where she’d float like a balloon at his side for all eternity.

Ugh, it made her furious. She’d more than proved herself a powerful ally to the rebellion, and all she wanted was for him to acknowledge that. She wanted his trust and his respect. She wanted to be treated how she treated him, like an equal.

The moment she’d finished