The Witch Thief (Harlequin Nocturne) Read Free Page B

heard from others, the elves tried everything to destroy your body—every magical tool they could dig up, but did they try a dragon’s fire? I know of nothing that can survive the full force of that.” He pulled in a breath, then released it, a tiny puff of smoke escaping his lips as he did.
Lowering the lantern an inch, he peered through the glass. “Are you willing to talk now?”
* * *
     
Amma swirled around the inside of the lantern like she’d done a thousand times before, searching for a crack, a pinhole, anything that would give her an opportunity to escape. Her body! The dragon had it. How had he gotten it?
She stared at the form laid out on the table—the lantern gave her the ability to see when she chose to use it. Not a hair seemed out of place. There was no dust or grime, nothing to indicate her body had been treated with disregard, much less abuse.
Unable to form another cognizant thought, she pummeled her spirit against the glass.
Joarr jerked, then stared into the lantern. His blue gaze froze her in place. He dangled the lantern over her body’s closed eyes and murmured against the glass. “Help me find the chalice and I will return you to your body.”
Her spirit stilled, but her thoughts began to move as swiftly as a cat’s tail when its owner had spied a fat dove. If she helped Joarr recover his property, she would in essence be saving him from whatever veiled threat the older dragon had tossed out before leaving. She hadn’t understood the significance of what Rike had said, but it had been obvious Joarr had. He had paled considerably as his visitor stormed out the door.
And Amma had no desire to help Joarr. She was no fool. She knew he was angry at her for stealing his chalice and that was before the other dragon’s threats. Now? Now she could only imagine he wanted her to return to her body so he could roast it with her inside.
Still, the chance to be herself again, to truly feel and experience the world overwhelmed all else.
Her decision made, she gathered herself together and stared at Joarr. He pulled back. She didn’t know what he saw when he looked into the lantern, but she could tell by the startled look in his blue eyes that now he could see her or some representation of her, and he knew she was ready to deal.
“Release me into my body and I will help you,” she murmured, hoping the words flowed, that Joarr could understand her.
He smiled. “Tell me who you gave the chalice to and I will release you.”
Amma pulled back into herself, hiding again. Dragons were known for their craftiness. If she gave Joarr too much information there would be no reason for him to keep his word.
“A dwarf,” she said, testing him.
He sighed. “That isn’t even a fraction of an answer.” He picked up her lifeless hand and held it to his lips. At first Amma thought he intended to kiss it; then she saw the flicker of fire escape his lips.
“Stop,” she yelled, before realizing the word had even formed. Annoyed that she had slipped and shown her concern, she immediately pulled back into herself again. She had no idea if her body could survive a dragon’s fire. As he’d said, little could.
“What?” He angled his head. “I only thought a fraction of an answer deserved similar payment…a fraction of your body.” He laid her pinkie flat on his palm. “One finger perhaps? Frozen, it should snap off easily.”
Amma ground nonexistent teeth. She’d forgotten he had the dual powers of fire and ice. It made him an even grander adversary.
Joarr stroked the limp digit. “No? Do you have a counteroffer?”
Amma fixated on that pinkie, how it would feel to feel again. If she was in her body, the dragon wouldn’t toy with her like this. She would use her magic, blow him to bits before he had a chance to so much as breathe on her…
“Half,” she yelled.
“Half a body?” Joarr eyed her lifeless form with exaggerated disbelief. “That will be much messier.”
“No, you lout. I tell you half of what