"Dragon - 02 - Dragon's Heir" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dafoe Sierra)

УItТs just that youТre not in love with either of them.Ф Lara looked up at her,
surprised. Reaching out, Melgara stroked the soft chestnut mass of her daughterТs hair.
УOh, Elara. If you want, IТll bid every male dragon in Djarera to Wind Castle for you to
choose from. But if neither Rand nor Darrek can capture your heart, I canТt imagine who
will.Ф

The defiant glint was back in LaraТs eyes. УBut why do I have to marry now?Ф

Melgara dropped her hand to her side. УBecause whoever you mate with will
become heir to this kingdom until your children are grown. And,Ф she continued,
holding up her hand to forestall LaraТs interruption, Уyou donТt have forever to choose.Ф

Something in her tone caught LaraТs attention. УWhy not?Ф

Melgara bit her lip, lightly. This wasnТt easy to talk about. УBecause unlike
humans, dragons go into season. Into heat. Do you understand?Ф

LaraТs eyes widened. Then she shrugged. УSo put me in a kennel for two weeks.Ф

УItТs not that easy.Ф Standing, Melgara turned away. Her voice was low, tense.
УKhef, we call it, the mating frenzy. And it does not pass. It grows stronger, and
stronger, until you would shatter the walls of any prison I could devise. With us, sex in
human form is a pleasure, a diversion. The drive to procreate is something else
altogether.Ф

She turned back, fixing her daughter with a piercing look. УYou are grown, Elara.
And soon you will begin to feel the urge to mate as a dragon -- if you havenТt already.Ф
She peered closely at her daughter, and Lara blushed. УI see.Ф

Shadows were creeping slowly through the long hall. Moving to a wall-sconce,
Melgara blew gently on the unlit torch. Flames sprang up, casting flickering light over
her face. As she spoke, her thoughts turned inward, back toward a memory of such
incandescent passion that not even the passage of a quarter of a century could pale it.

УIt will get worse. Eventually the need will become irresistible, until you would
rut in the mud with any toothless, drunken, wing-broken imbecile, if thatТs what was


available.Ф Turning to face her daughter squarely, she let the crudity of her words sink
home.

When Lara blanched, Melgara felt tears prickle at the corners of her eyes. When
had she gotten soЕ so heartless? But as much as she sympathized with LaraТs plight, she
wasnТt about to let her daughter put the entire kingdom in jeopardy. Melgara kept her
voice cold and steady. УNor is that all.Ф

УWhat else?Ф Lara asked faintly.

УWhen you enter khef, every unattached male within a hundred miles will fight
tooth and claw to have you if youТre still unclaimed. Is it your wish to watch Rand and