Cornering Carmen

Cornering Carmen by S. E. Smith

Book: Cornering Carmen by S. E. Smith Read Free Book Online
Authors: S. E. Smith
Tags: Romance
The fire will burn hotter and hotter until he takes her.”
    “What if she doesn’t want to be taken?” Carmen asked in a small voice, looking down at her clasped hands instead of at Morian. “What if she doesn’t want to be claimed?”
    “She has no choice, my daughter,” Morian replied gently. “Once bitten, the dragon’s fire will ignite inside her, transforming her, pulling her own dragon to the surface in answer to her mate’s call. She will not be able to deny either the man or the dragon. Once she has been claimed, she can never leave her mate.”
    Carmen had sat on the couch for hours afterwards thinking. She needed to get away before Creon bit her. That was why she had been trying to escape all week. She needed to put as much distance between them as possible before it was too late.
    The sudden knocking at the door startled Carmen back to the present. She frowned. She hadn’t been expecting anyone. Morian normally knocked once and came in. Whoever was at the door was pounding on it like it was a bass drum.
    Carmen grabbed the small statue she had been using as a weapon to intimidate the guards and strode to the door. Flinging it open, her scowl turned to one of surprise as she looked her visitor over quickly. She glared at the guards who were watching her warily. Reaching out, she grabbed her older sister’s arm and pulled her inside before slamming the door loudly.
    “What did you do? Kill someone?” Ariel asked teasingly . “They have half a platoon guarding you.”
    Carmen rolled her eyes at the exaggeration before turning back toward the living area. “Aren’t you stretching it a little bit? And no, I haven’t killed anyone… yet,” she added under her breath. “Where in the hell have you been? Do you know what is going on?”
    Ariel moved toward the couch before replying. “Did you hear about Abby and Zoran?” She asked a question of her own as she sat down.
    “Yeah, Morian told me. It seems shit happens even on alien worlds,” Carmen said , moving to a cart and pouring a drink. She walked over and handed it to Ariel. “I thought you had dropped off the face of the planet. No one would tell me where you were and I couldn’t find you.”
    Ariel squirmed as Carmen looked at her intently. “I’ve been in the mountains,” Ariel muttered before taking a sip of her drink. “With Mandra,” she added quietly.
    “Mandra, huh? Which one is he?” Carmen asked with a raised eyebrow.
    Flushing, Ariel stared into her drink for a moment before raising troubled eyes to Carmen. “He was one of the guys in the transporter room, the one trying to catch me.”
    “Looks like he did more than try,” Carmen replied drily eyeing the mark on her sister’s neck.
    “Yes, he did,” Ariel responded biting her lip. “I like him, Carmen, a lot. I… I love him.”
    Carmen stared at her big sister with sad eyes. There wasn’t much she could say. She had noticed the mark on Ariel’s neck when she pulled her through the door and recognized that glow in her eyes. She had that same glow a long time ago when Scott was alive. She was happy for Ariel. It would be easier leaving her knowing she would be taken care of and wouldn’t be alone. Everything would be alright. She knew in her heart now she could leave her big sister without feeling guilty.
    “I’m happy for you, sis. If anyone deserves happiness , it’s you,” Carmen said quietly.
    Ariel’s head jerked up. “You’re still going to try to get back home, aren’t you?” She asked in resignation.
    “Yes,” Carmen responded.
    “Then I’m going with you,” Ariel said, reaching down to set her drink on the small table. “It would be best to go while most of the guys are gone.”
    Carmen shook her head sadly. “No, Ariel. You have a life here now. This isn’t your battle, it’s mine. There are some things that I have to do alone. This is one of them. I want… need to know you are safe and happy,” Carmen said , hoping Ariel would

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