Page 12 of Dragon Rogue

“Oh, there is,” Eamerson looked up from the tablet. “It’s accessible through the back of the library and comprises three descending levels.”

“Library?” Stenlen and Marli asked in unison.

The word made Marli’s heart thump.

Library.

A secret indulgence that she allowed herself any time she left Aeleftheria. Whatever town or city she landed in, she visited their collection if there was time.

Eamerson’s lips twitched. “Yes, Stenlen. I will provide you the directions and what volumes to ask the archivist for while I record the notes to this meeting.”

“I’ll go along. You’ll need help to carry the books.” Marli spun toward him. She nearly laughed at Stenlen’s perplexed expression. She snorted. “Never been to a library, have you?”

He shook his head.

Figures.

“Great, while you’re at it, you can give Marli a tour of the place and show her where her room is while she’s here.” Jori said as her new guide turned toward the door. “And Sten, keep her out of trouble. In fact, stay away from the common areas, the guys—”

“I’ll protect her.”

“I can take care of myself.”

They answered Jori’s concerns at once.

Which, as a guardian and information collector, she could…

Protect me?

She cast Stenlen a sideways glance.

But maybe in the heart of male dragon territory, she might not be so cavalier about her abilities.

And maybe her impulsiveness might have just put her in a tricky situation. After all, she had just threatened him with her dragon claws.

… but a library—and an archive. A dragon archive.

Who could resist that?

Chapter 7

Stenlen glanced at the crisp card with the clean script that Eamerson handed him. The directions led to a section of the mountain he’d never bothered with.

He glanced at the dragoness walking alongside him.

Spine straight, head up.

Her eyes had sparkled at the mention of a library.

Who knew?

One moment she had her metallic purple claws to his throat—which fascinated him on so many levels—and the next she eagerly volunteered to descend into the mountain’s bowels for some dusty books. With him.

He punched the ‘down’ button for the elevator, observing her from the corner of his eye.

She stood, feet at shoulder width, like any soldier at ease, fingers loosely linked together, with their purple nails.

The doors swished open and he stepped forward at the same time she did.