Kiss of Fire by Deborah Cooke Page A

the most reasonable choice of what to do next.

Chapter 4
    S ara was with him until he mentioned destined mates.
    Quinn saw the change in her expression, saw skepticism replace any desire to believe. It was further than he’d expected to get on his first try, although, as always, he would have liked to have achieved more.
    How could he protect her unless she accepted their linked future? Quinn bit back his frustration and focused on hanging the door knocker, giving her a bit of time to come to terms with all he’d said.
    A bit of time was pretty much all they had.
    â€œDid the guy who claimed to be leader of the Pyr say what his name was?” he asked as he marked the position for the door knocker.
    â€œErik Sorensson,” Sara replied. “Why?
    Quinn turned to stare at her. “Are you sure?”
    â€œYes. Do you know him?”
    â€œYes.” Quinn drilled a hole for the screw, his annoyance rising. It figured. Erik Sorensson. There was no shaking that guy and no matter how much he took from Quinn, he always turned up looking for more.
    â€œWhat did he look like?”
    â€œI thought you knew him.”
    â€œWe’ve only met in dragon form.”
    Sara blinked, but didn’t question that further. “Tall, slim, and trim. Good-looking. Black hair with gray at the temples. Black leather jacket, despite the weather. A bit intense, really.” Sara frowned. “I think he was in your booth this morning.”
    Quinn’s blood ran cold. It was no wonder he hadn’t recognized Erik, as they hadn’t ever met in human form—and the times their paths had crossed hadn’t endured long enough for Quinn to have a good sample of Erik’s scent.
    Until today.
    Was Erik leading the true Pyr , or the Slayers ? Quinn was inclined to believe the latter, given his own experiences with Erik. He had a very bad feeling about Erik speaking to Sara, but didn’t want to frighten her further.
    Quinn secured the mermaid to the door, then glanced up to find Sara immersed in one of the books Erik had chosen for her. What exactly had the so-called leader of the Pyr suggested that she read? Quinn put the tools away and cleaned up the bit of sawdust, and Sara kept reading.
    â€œIs his recommended read any good?” he asked.
    Sara glanced up and shrugged. “I don’t like it much.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œIt’s nasty.” She flipped to the front cover, then back. “This Sigmund Guthrie guy was obsessed with killing dragons and making sure they stayed dead. There are all these rituals and mystical mumbo jumbo.” She smiled and wrinkled her nose in a way that made her look young and cute. “I’d think that dead was dead, but that shows what I know.”
    â€œThere’s probably some key truth buried in the mumbo jumbo. It’s an old way of ensuring that ways of power stay secret.”
    â€œReally?” She considered this and surveyed the shelves. “I read one book that talked about healers disguising the one active ingredient in their potions by including lots of other stuff.”
    â€œEye of newt and toe of frog.”
    â€œOr is it hair of dog?”
    â€œIt might not matter, if that’s the disguise.” Quinn was relieved when she smiled.
    â€œIt makes sense in a way. Like protecting your technical secrets to keep anyone else from profiting from them.” She glanced at the cover of the book again, then drummed her fingers on it. “Why do you think he wanted me to read this?”
    Quinn leaned on the door frame. He had an idea but he didn’t like it much. “Well, according to the prophecy, you’re supposed to be the Seer.”
    Sara laughed. Quinn was entranced by the sight. Her eyes sparkled, like sunlight on the surface of the sea, and kept dancing when she sobered. “I am so not a seer. It was a family joke that I was the only one who didn’t have an intuitive bone in my