Page 27 of Rune Assassin

The pair disappeared upstairs and Tegan turned to me. “I doubt the assassin will try again tonight with Clara’s magic at the watch, so what do you say to watching the vampires dive?”

I looked up at Tegan. “Do you think it’s safe for us to go out there? The assassin might not be happy about you interrupting his work.”

Tegan grinned as he offered me his arm. “Then they’ll have to get in the line to attack me.”

I snorted and accepted his arm. “Morrigan and her entourage are at the head?”

“Undoubtedly, and we’ll have to be sure to keep them that distance from us,” he mused as he led me to our little vacation away from the protection racket.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

The crisp nightair tickled my nose as we ventured out the front door and onto the main road that abutted the villa. Stars twinkled overhead and dark distorted shadows stretched out from everything as though reaching for us. The area was even quieter than earlier and I unconsciously pressed against Tegan’s arm.

“You don’t have to worry about anything,” he assured me.

“What about what Conrad told us?” I reminded him.

He chuckled. “Vampires can overtake a human but I’m not quite that.”

His words made me look him over. “That’s right, you’re just half dragon, aren’t you?”

“On my father’s side,” he teased.

“So can any dragon mate with any human?” I wondered.

His glowing eyes twinkled in the faint starlight. “Were you wondering on behalf of yourself?”

I shrugged. “Let’s just say I’m asking for a friend. So?”

Tegan stared ahead with that mischievous smile. “Dragons have never had any trouble mating with normal humans.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “Normal humans? What are the exceptions?”

“Vampires and werewolves.”

I furrowed my brow as I thought over his reply. “I can see the problem with vampires, but werewolves?”

He shrugged. “The species have never reproduced. Perhaps they’re too far apart or maybe there’s some magic that keeps them from being unable to have kids.”

I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. “This world is as complicated as mine.”

He lifted a teasing eyebrow. “Did you also have problems with supernatural creatures?”

I laughed and shook my head. “No, but relationships are always complicated. I think it’s a universal thing. Speaking of relationships-” I gave him a look over that made him lean away from me, “-what’s the deal with you and Cordelia? How much does she know about you?”

He grinned. “Not nearly as much as you.”

I blushed at the implication but his sweet talking wouldn’t deter me. “How much?”

Tegan sighed as we continued down the road toward a faint glow in the distance. “We were lovers once. Briefly.”

“And before my time?” I added with a mischievous smile.

He grinned. “Several years ago but I remember it like it was yesterday.”

I dug my elbow into his arm. “Try to develop amnesia for most of it.”

Tegan chuckled. “It’s hard to forget a woman like Cordelia. She’s both beautiful and dangerous, and there’s no worse combination for a rich and handsome man like myself.”

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