Blood Charged (Dragon Blood, Book 3) Read Free

subterranean fortress where she had trained and where so many Referatu had lived and worked when the stronghold was destroyed. But people didn’t move to the mountain until they were identified as gifted. She had grown up in—
    Problem , Jaxi chimed in her mind.
    Someone coming? Sardelle looked toward the door and listened for footsteps.
    Someone is peeking through the windows here.
    At Ridge’s house?
    Unless you left me under a bed in someone else’s house, yes.
    Is it Lieutenant Colonel Ostraker’s grandmother again? Sardelle referred to their usual snoop, a woman who liked to do favors for Ridge and who wasn’t above peeping into his windows while trimming the hedges.
    No. Two women in green cloaks with the hoods pulled low. They’re skulking around in the backyard. With more alacrity than the ninety-year-old woman next door.
    Maybe leaving Jaxi at the house had been a mistake after all. She could keep herself from being stolen, in a deadly manner if she wished, but it would be condemning if a magical sword were found at Ridge’s house. Not just to Sardelle, but to Ridge, as well. She didn’t have a lot left to lose, but he could lose his career, his reputation, and all of his comrades if it came out that he was sleeping with a sorceress. Knowingly sleeping with a sorceress. Not for the first time, she wondered if it was selfish of her to stay here, to risk everything he had worked for over the years because she cared for him—maybe even loved him—and enjoyed being around him.
    One just took out lock picks and is heading for the back door. I’ll see if I can keep them from noticing me. In case the dust ball camouflage fails.
    There are no dust balls , Sardelle thought reflexively, but she was more worried about the intruders. Should she run home to deal with them? When this might be her last chance to access these archives? What would she do even if she arrived and the intruders were still there? Confront them?
    Fine, but I do find this collection of beer steins from around the continent somewhat alarming in its thoroughness.
    At least Jaxi didn’t sound that worried about the intruders. Meanwhile, Sardelle was once again reconsidering her decision to come to the city with Ridge instead of staying in his cabin by that nice little lake. Just because she couldn’t do any research there or get on with her life in any way…
    I thought it was your unwillingness to give up the long nights of bed bouncing with your soul snozzle that prompted the move.
    Not… entirely.
    They’ve opened the back door.
    Sardelle tried to remember if she had engaged her booby traps that morning after Ridge had left. She thought she had, but after several days without trouble, she might have grown lax.
    Are they—
    A creak on the steps outside her door interrupted her thoughts. Sardelle swept out with her senses. Yes, someone was walking down the stairs. The archivist. Sardelle lowered the lantern to the tiniest of flames. She didn’t think the light was bright enough to be seen beneath the door crack, but no need to take chances.
    The doorknob rattled. She hoped the woman would assume nobody was inside since Sardelle had relocked it, but she doubtlessly had the key. If she decided to come in and check…
    The steps creaked again. Sardelle let out a slow breath. The woman was going away.
    What’s your status, Jaxi? She grabbed the most promising registers and stuffed them into her satchel. She was going to have to borrow them, whether that was permissible or not. She would find a way to return them later.
    You know that large copper soup pot?
    Yes…
    It fell on the head of one of the intruders.
    That’s impressive considering the pot rack is over the stove and not the walkway through the kitchen.
    Yes, isn’t it?
    Sardelle started for the door but paused next to a bin of large rolled scrolls, each one at least three feet wide. She hadn’t investigated those yesterday and wondered if they might be graphical representations of