Read Dragon Blood 1: Pliethin for Free Online Page B

you want me to walk you home you have to get there before daybreak.”
    Amber’s gaze was drawn to the sky. Already it was lightening. The thought of walking home alone made her shudder. The thought of walking the rest of the way home made her aching limbs feel weak. The slight tremble that had been in them ever since her race from the wyvern increased and it took all her willpower not to let her knees buckle.
    Kade swore. “Why didn’t you tell me?” He shimmered and transformed into a dragon.
“Get on.”
    “What?”
    Kade nudged her towards his back with his head. He held his foreleg close to his body and she used it like a step so she could swing her leg over his broad back. There was nowhere to hold on.
    “I’ll fall off.”
    “Hold on with your legs.”
    The trembling in her legs increased as she tightened them. She couldn’t help the soft shriek that escaped as Kade took to the sky. What had taken her ages to cross, took Kade less than a minute. He partially perched on the rail of the balcony, his wings still in motion, and Amber slid off him. Her legs gave way and she expected to hit the floor. At the last second, Kade became human and his arms wrapped around her, dragging her upright.
    She let herself lean against him for a moment. For a few seconds she considered taking up a sport so she’d be in better condition. She mentally laughed at herself. She knew she’d be looking for excuses to get out of attending from the first day. Reluctantly she pulled away from Kade, opening the French doors. She didn’t know if she should be relieved she’d forgotten to lock them or annoyed any creature could have entered her room while she slept.
    When Kade followed her into the bedroom, Amber turned to face him. “You can go. I don’t need a babysitter.”
    “I’ll be back at dark. Leave your doors unlocked for me.” He gestured towards the French doors.
    “Why?”
    “Because wyverns won’t show their face in daylight where people live. They’ve come in contact with your weapons. After dark… then you’ll need protection.”
    “Can’t you get it out of me?”
    “What?”
    “The blood.”
    Kade shook his head. “No. But I won’t leave you alone. I won’t let my mistake cost you your life. From dusk to dawn there’ll be someone with you. And any time you want to go somewhere sparsely populated.”
    “How am I going to explain that? I barely know anyone here and the next second I have you shadowing me. That’ll go down real well with my mum.”
    “We’ll take turns.”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Here or at our place.”
    “Is there a responsible adult there?” Amber laughed sharply when Kade shook his head. “Then I’ve probably got no chance of staying.”
    Kade reached out and took her hand. “I’m sorry I brought this to you.”
    Amber pulled away from him. “You know where the door is.” She walked into her bathroom and closed the door, fighting the urge to cry. Her body ached, her nightmare was real and she wanted to go home. Her home. She thought of her father and Crystal. But even that was changing. Just like everything else.
    Quickly stripping off her clothes, she stood under the shower, leaning against the wall. She desperately tried to stay on her feet as the water streamed over her. It didn’t help one bit. Her body still ached and she missed home more than ever. Turning off the taps, she stepped out of the shower, dried herself and grabbed the short, black robe that hung on the back of the door. Tying the sash, she stepped into her room, freezing. Kade sat at her desk, having turned the chair to face the room.
    “Why are you still here?”
    “You look ready to collapse.”
    “When you leave, I will.”
    “I wanted to make sure you managed to get to your bed okay.”
    “Why? Are you planning on tucking me in?” There was a sharp edge to her voice.
    Kade rose to his feet with a chuckle. “Only if you need me to.”
    Amber glanced between him and her bed. She crossed her