Protected by Emeralds (A Dance with Destiny Book 5) Read Free Page A

blinked, trying to focus on her angelic back-up . “Uriel? Where are you?”
    Someone pinched her toe. She looked down to find the handsome Archangel sitting on the floor near her feet.
    “What are you doing down there, Brother?”
    “Waiting for your ministering angel to leave this forsaken hovel long enough for me to wing you out of here.”
    “What in the world are you talking about? …Crazy old Arch,” she mumbled.
    “Focus, Naga,” Uriel demanded. “Try to sort out the past three days. Can you do it?”
    “Three days? But… why?”
    He sighed. “Yes. Three days have you burned with fever. This human, he doesn’t realize your body is trying to heal itself. He stays by your side, wiping you down with cold water. He hasn’t even so much as left the room to piss.”
    “What? To… piss ?”
    “Yes, I know, right?” Uriel threw his hands up. “He just whizzes out the window, there, and then sits back down by your cot. It’s not like I can just pick you up before his eyes and lift you into the air.” He rubbed his temples as he shook his head. “Imagine the stories. They would probably start a whole new religion around it— Floating Maidens and Invisible Spirits .”
    He waved his hands in the air as he said it. She giggled.
    “We cannot make waves such as those, Naga. And that is exactly why you simply cannot change to Vashti and fly yourself home. So… here we sit. Waiting for a brave soul to give up on you or heal you, whichever he thinks he can manage.”
    “Uriel?”
    “Yes, Naga.”
    “Why couldn’t I understand them? Why were their words simply as gibberish to me?”
    “Because you weren’t concentrating, Little Fire. You let your emotions rule you. First anger, then fear. You were thrown by the wrapper , Naga. The same wrapper you swore you could look beyond. You simply weren’t on your game this time, oh Mother of Dragons ,” he said in a mocking, high-pitched voice.
    “It’s because you were here, pushing my buttons and throwing me off my game .” She tried to rise up on her elbows but the man gently eased her back down.
    “You best be thankful I was here, little sister. Or that poor soul tending you now…” Uriel nodded his head in the direction of her savior. “…he would be as dead as the others you bore witness to.”
    She turned then and looked upon the man, looked upon the exact face of the only man she’d ever truly hated.
    “…Musashi.” The whisper fell out of her mouth unbidden.
    She tried to scoot away from him, but he held her fast.
    “Calm yourself, Angel,” Uriel said. “Look into his eyes. You will find no hint of the rare lavender you love so well. That color isn’t very common upon this layer. Do it. Look into his eyes and concentrate on his words. Use the power you have, Kagi Naga.”
    She tried. Slowly, his words became coherent and his mind was opened to her.
    “Please, Madam. You will only hurt yourself if you struggle so,” he was saying.
    She felt the kindness of his soul and read the words within his head.
    “I thirst,” she whispered.
    His dark eyes went wide when he heard her speak in his tongue. “Ahh… sure, sure.”
    He helped her to sit, and then placed a cup in her trembling hands, guiding it to her lips.
    She took a long sip, and then sighed. “Ahh, that is so good. Domo arigato.”
    He laughed softly. “Douitashimashite.”
    “Aww, how sweet,” Uriel said, rolling his eyes. “Now, tell him you feel just fine and get up and walk out of here. My wings are cramped, and this floor is cold.”
    She giggled. Fine, you big baby. Give me but a moment. I should be just a little more polite than that. Don’t you think?
    Uriel pinched her toe again.
    “What is your name?”
    Jenevier turned back to the speaking man. “My name is Naga, Kagi Naga.”
    He chuckled. “So, your father called you a Fire Dragon?” He gently touched one of her pink curls. “I would have named you Sakura. You look as if you fell from the trees. A little