The Dragonslayer

By Christine Rains

On the rooftop of neighboring building, dragonslayer Xanthus Ehrensvard fires at his target, Governor Whittaker. How he missed the shot, he doesn't know, but fleeing the scene, he picks up an unwanted passenger. Gorgeous reporter Lois King saw Xan's face, and she believes it's the story to make her career. Except he can't let her walk away knowing what he looks like. Xan has to show her the Governor is a bigger threat to the world than he is.

Xan knows dragons never went extinct. They evolved with human society, taking on mortal forms, and slithered their way into positions of great influence and power, just like the Governor. But it's no easy chore proving to someone that dragons still exist, and even more so, they're disguised as famous people. Xan must convince Lois or find another way to silence her. An option, as he gets to know her, he likes less and less.

After all, dragonslayers are no longer celebrated heroes but outlaws. Just as the dragons wish it. But this outlaw must make a plan to slay the dragon or risk its retribution.

Volume 3 of The 13th Floor series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christine Rains
• Release date: Feb 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301806751

Christine Rains

Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. When she's not playing games with her son, she's playing games with her friends. She has four degrees which do not help at all with motherhood but make her a great Jeopardy player. Christine is the author of the 13th Floor series and her newest urban fantasy novel, Of Blood and Sorrow. She has several novellas and short stories published. She is a member of S.C.I.F.I. and Untethered Realms. Her writing covers all genres of dark fiction, but she loves to lose herself in paranormal romance most of all.

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1303 – THE DRAGONSLAYER

By Christine Rains

1303 – THE DRAGONSLAYER

By Christine Rains

Copyright 2013

Cover design by Christine Rains Copyright 2013

Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

OTHER BOOKS BY CHRISTINE RAINS

Fearless

L’il Gal Al and the Zombies of Amarillo

1301 – The Marquis

1302 – The Alpha

DEDICATION

For Brandon,

May you always find the strength to slay your dragons.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

About the Author

CHAPTER 1

Xan missed the shot.

Screams rang out as chaos erupted on the neighboring building’s terrace. Men and women in the finest designer suits pushed each other to the floor to get to safety. They flipped tables and sprang over chairs. Cameras flashed as reporters snapped photos of the assassination attempt.

Attempt. Xan had been a boy the last time he’d missed a target.

Governor Randall Whittaker stood statue still. His bodyguards who had tried to pull him down and away placed themselves in front of him, but Xan could still see the Governor’s face through his scope: hard and cheek twitching where a thin red line marred him.

An inch off. Even from a distance of three blocks, Xan shouldn’t have been off that much.

The Governor’s gaze locked onto Xan. His target’s eyes narrowed as he bared his teeth.

Xan pushed his rifle away, but remained crouched on the rooftop. The bastard had seen him.

He’d remained too long at the site. Unscrewing the scope on his long arm, he grabbed his black briefcase and jammed it in. He ran to the door with the case under one arm, dismantling the rifle. The door was left propped open with a soda can he’d set there. He pushed it outwards with his foot and sprinted down eight flights of stairs.

His weapon was in pieces and tucked away in a hidden compartment of his briefcase before Xan reached the third floor. Straightening his tie, he exited the stairwell and walked down the hall between the offices. Just another lawyer working late and heading home for the night.

In the elevator, Xan took in a deep breath and let it out with a slow hiss. He’d missed. How was that even possible? The Governor couldn’t have known he was there. Xan had gone early in the day, scouted the place, and gotten his free souvenir at the door. A silly copper coin with Whittaker’s face and slogan. It’d taken nearly a year of planning to find the right moment. This moment. And he’d failed.

The Governor would expect another attempt now. He’d be waiting. And how far could the old bastard see? If he’d seen Xan’s face, there would be little chance Xan would get within a ten-mile radius of him again.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft whoosh. A bright flash of light caused spots to dance in front of his eyes.

Xan zipped out, snatching the source of the light.

Hey, buster! Get your hands off my camera!

The woman, trying to wrangle the camera from his grasp, was tall and all legs. Muscled calves led to dimpled knees and slender thighs. The blue skirt was too short, but at least her heels were a sensible height.

Let go! The cops will be here any second.

Xan’s gaze raked up to her face. Long with high cheekbones, fierce brown eyes, and hair that swooped over her forehead. Gorgeous and angry.

No time to admire her. He needed to be as far away from the city as possible.

You haven’t had time to call the police. To draw attention away from other personal details, he clipped his voice with a slight Texan accent. I only wish to delete the picture you took, not destroy your property.

I can take pictures of whatever I want. She snapped back, still unable to free her camera.

No, you can’t. It’s a violation of my privacy.

Freedom of the press. She removed a lanyard with a badge attached from within her jacket. A media pass for the Governor’s charity event. Lois King. He raised a brow, and she tucked her badge away. Make one comment on my name and I’ll kick you in the shin. Now give me my camera!

Miss King, he said with an edge to his words. Freedom of the press is all well and good in public places and where they are invited. This is a private building. I didn’t ask you here. And I’m certain no one else is working tonight. How did you manage to get past security in the lobby?

Never you mind. Lois flushed and continued to tug at her camera. Let go, you brute. You’re going to break it.

I’m not going to break it. Xan yanked it out of her hands and swiftly tapped the buttons to find and delete his photo. As I said, I only wanted to delete my picture. There. You may have your camera. Exit the way you came in and have a good night.

He turned away from her. Lovely legs she may have, but she was a parasite. The press drained the life from people.

There was a snap and flash. Xan gritted his teeth.

Please tell me you didn’t take another picture, Miss King. He stopped, glancing over his shoulder out of the corner of his eye at her. I’m in a bit of a rush. I need to beat the traffic. And the loop he programmed into the building’s security cameras so they’d never know he was there. Something more newsworthy is happening at the Hilton up the street. Shouldn’t you be there?

If you’re referring to the Governor’s fundraiser, then yes, I was there, but there will be several boring photos of the rich rubbing elbows with the powerful. I’d left early when I heard about the assassination attempt on my, uh, radio. So I thought about which building might give an assassin a clear shot. Lois straightened up and slung her camera around her neck. Why am I explaining myself to you? You’re just some stuffy egotis—

Lois went silent. As a predator himself, Xan