Blood Charged (Dragon Blood, Book 3) by Lindsay Buroker Page A

to me. But it’s a big continent, and I don’t know if our destination and his are within a thousand miles of each other.”
    “Your fliers cover ground quickly. If you flew at night and weren’t noticed…” Sardelle shrugged. She shouldn’t push too hard. It would be convenient for her, certainly, if Ridge could pick up the sister while he was there anyway, but she would find a way if he didn’t. It would be interesting to see the world and how much it had changed during her sleep. Granted, her Iskandian complexion would be troublesome for navigating Cofahre, but she could manage.
    “Two problems,” Ridge said. “First, we still wouldn’t have a spot for an extra passenger. Second, I’m not in command of the mission. I’m just… the flying rickshaw service.”
    “No chance the mission commander can be enticed to deviate?”
    “It would take someone a lot prettier than me to entice that man to do anything.” Ridge gave her a farewell kiss and opened the door. “My apologies for leaving you with a mess. I’ll come back and help clean it up tonight.” He waved and jogged down the path to the street, his pace quick enough that Sardelle regretted having delayed him by bringing him back here.
    She didn’t want to spend their last night together cleaning, either. Of course, if she could figure out a way to go with him, it wouldn’t have to be their last night together.
    We’re going on a trip? Jaxi sounded excited.
    I’m not sure. Are you willing to ride strapped to a flier like a machine gun?
    The view would be better than from under the bed. And you can escape these people trying to blow you up and steal me.
    Yes, but I’d rather solve that problem than run from it. Can you describe the people who were here, throwing things around?
    Women in cloaks. Not a uniform, but they were wearing trousers rather than dresses.
    Like the woman who was following me earlier?
    Yes.
    Sardelle wondered if she had time to do a little research before Ridge returned from work.
    It depends. Are we going to clean the house or leave that for him?
    I thought you could clean the house while I went to a library. Sardelle smiled. She didn’t truly intend to leave Jaxi again, not with people hunting for her, but it was fun to tease her from time to time.
    You know, I don’t have to stay out of your thoughts when you and old Ridgewalker are enjoying your athletic embraces. I could comment on your technique.
    Sardelle grimaced. Given that you’ve admitted you passed away before garnering any personal experience in that area, I don’t think it would be fair of you to judge.
    Oh, but I’ve read a lot of books. And had some handlers who were much more libidinous than you. I’ve seen much.
    Why don’t we just clean up this mess as a team, then go to the library together?
    What a marvelous idea.

Chapter 3
    R idge knew he had dawdled too long when he found General Ort—scowling as usual—and the bland-faced Captain Nowon waiting inside the hangar door, along with a third officer, who wore the elite troops silver badge on her uniform. Yes, her. Ridge blinked and looked twice. Women weren’t allowed into the infantry units, and while the elite troops were a somewhat different creature, since some of the operatives were trained for spy missions as well as for fighting prowess, he wouldn’t have thought many—if any—could pass the rigorous physical tests. She was taller than Captain Nowon, though—only an inch shy of Ridge’s own six-foot-one—and had the lean rangy look of an endurance runner. Her nametag read Kaika, and she wore captain’s tabs on the collar of her uniform. Ridge expected a rigid attention stance and a snappy salute when she turned toward him, figuring a woman would have to be the model of military professionalism to be considered for the elite troops, but she gave him a perfunctory salute, followed by a handshake and a sultry smile that seemed out of place on a rawboned face without a speck of makeup