Chapter 34 A Dragon’s Fire
~ brEN ~
Hanson’s breath fluttered one of the tendrils of hair that had fallen from my twist. It tickled my neck and raised goosebumps of unease.
He didn’t know that, though. He tipped his head, his eyes trailing down my jaw, to my neck and his eyes darkened as he saw the effect he had on me, and assumed it was arousal.
Without a word he lifted his hand, turning it so that his palm was away from my face…
then trailed the backs of his fingers down my neck.
I trembled, fighting the natural recoil and keeping my eyes on his chest—a tired mouse in sight of a cat, measuring whether to flee or surrender.
When his knuckles reached the high neckline of the dress I stiffened, preparing to pull away, and he hesitated.
His eyes dragged back to mine. Neither of us spoke for a time.
“Brennan,” he finally croaked and the blaze of heat in his gaze sickened me. I flinched.
With a whispered curse, I pressed back into the tree fronds, breaking eye contact, my senses shrieking alarm while I stammered excuses.
“I need more time, Hanson. Time to… to smooth the road. To ensure my own security—”
“I don’t have it,” he said tightly.
I went still, praying he’d think I was torn and my trembling was borne of desire instead of fear. Swallowing hard, I made myself meet his eyes again—his eyes that had grown dark with want and that uniquely masculine drive for dominance.
“What is… the last possible moment. Give me… tell me precisely—”
“From this evening? Three nights, two days. On the morning of the third day, events will… overtake me. Barring an alternative, I will be committed.”
I cursed, but nodded slowly, eyes on the floor, pretending to mentally scan, plan, scheme.
“Give me two nights. Tonight, and tomorrow.”
He leaned in, his chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. “Until what? I need to hear you say it. Without shrouding your intent. Give me your word, Brennan. What will you give me after those two nights have passed?”
I locked eyes with him and set my jaw. “Give me two nights to get what I can from this fucker and then I will take you and Benji to the dragons and we will… negotiate. If he cannot persuade the dragons, or we cannot meet on terms, I will return here and no one need be the wiser.”
His expression didn’t change, but I would have sworn he smiled with his eyes. “Negotiations would be much more comfortable at my estate,” he said breathlessly.
I shook my head. “Unless the dragons accept me and Benji, unless we can truly deliver, I won’t be visiting your estate.
It is the dragons first, Hanson. Unless…
Unless one of them bonds me, or they listen to Benji, there is nothing you offer for which it is worth giving up my existing… arrangement.”
His eyes narrowed at the implication that I viewed him as second choice to Donavyn.
“Better the devil you know,” I whispered, to soothe his pride.
His lips went thin, but then he smiled. “Very well. Two nights. Unless we have embarked together the following morning, I will assume our paths diverge.”
I nodded once, jerkily, and licked my lips. “Thank you.”
Hanson took my signal and stepped back, opening an arm towards the ballroom, but his gaze was hungry, and he left me little room to brush past without knocking a potted tree onto a matron’s head.
I turned in the wide dress, squeezing past him, brushing through the fronds.
But he caught my elbow and I froze as he leaned into my ear.
“I accept that you have not yet experienced my ability to please you. But rest assured, Brennan: You will never endure this kind of childish display from me.” I looked up, uncertain, to find him staring into the hall.
Following his gaze, I discovered Donavyn, having just ushered a young lady back to her seat.
But he glared in our direction, his expression a bonfire of jealousy and disdain.
I cleared my throat and tore out of that gaze, my body thrilling. “I… I hope not,” I said quickly, then tugged my elbow from Hanson’s grip and strode towards the door.
Knowing the Lord still watched—I could feel his eyes on my back—when I was almost to the door, I paused to turn my head and meet eyes with Donavyn across the room, praying my expression was truly as blank and tight as I intended.
Let anyone watching see me hesitate. Consider.
My mate’s gaze crackled with need and hunger and sheer rage. A shiver rippled down my spine.
‘You play murderous jealousy very well,’ I sent as I turned with my nose in the air, weaving between the last servants and swaying nobles between me and the door.
‘He touched you. This is not play,’ he sent on a growl.
‘Donavyn, we’re making progress. You can’t touch him.’
‘He doesn’t know that. Let him sweat.’
I wasn’t sure Hanson was capable of sweating.
The man's confidence seemed impenetrable.
But I sent a rush of love through the bond as I left the great hall, and my mate behind.
And fought a tiny prickle of jealousy myself.
Because it had always been the plan that Donavyn would stay tonight and show himself distracted by other women.
He wouldn’t leave the hall for hours. Meanwhile, I would wait. Alone.
With a great deal to think about that I’d rather not.
~ DONAVYN ~
Grace was truly as graceful and kind as Bren insisted.
I had to admit that I was inclined to agree with my mate that the woman didn’t seem to have a conniving bone in her body.
She did have a fascination with the dragons, and an easily wounded heart.
I’d spoken to her a great deal this night, and found her refreshing in these vapid circles, though she eyed the byplay between Bren and I with wary eyes.
When I asked her to dance for the third time—after Bren had left—she hesitated, then thanked me and took my hand with a strangely resolute expression on her face.
I waltzed with her for two circles of the floor before she found the courage to say what was on her mind.
“Sir, I appreciate your attention this evening, as it means I haven’t sat among the women for the entire event—which is my usual place.
But in good conscience, I cannot allow you to believe that I would entertain any…
further attentions from you. Or… or that I hold any desire to offend my new friend.
I like Lady Brennan a great deal. And while I know that lovers often tiff, it seems she has been hurt tonight.
And I fear it is by you, sir,” she ended, nodding her chin once, though her cheeks pinked and she watched me warily, afraid of my response.
I didn’t meet her eyes, kept my gaze scanning the room around us, but I also sighed and let her feel the tension release in me.
“Lady Grace… you have received my attention this evening because you are a pleasant companion, nothing more. You have nothing to fear from me… though I do wonder if you wish to continue this conversation on the balcony? I find myself rather wary of listening ears,” I muttered.
Her pale blue gaze brightened and her smile bloomed. “Will you tell me more about the dragons?”
I almost laughed. “Certainly.”
“Then yes, sir. Please. Lead the way.”
When the music faded to a close, I bowed over Grace’s hand, then led her towards the tall door next to the windows, out to the balcony, knowing many eyes would follow us into the shadows, and conjecture with their neighbors about the General’s interest in younger ladies.
It was the only part of my bond with Bren that grated.
I despised the men who were precisely that predatory, and had never desired any imbalance with a partner.
But there was no denying, Bren was made for me.
If those around us saw something sordid it in, it was a small taste of the gossip Bren would receive when we were revealed.
It made my teeth grind, but I would endure it, stand for her, and treat her as she should be treated, no matter what those voices said.
I pushed the dark thoughts away as we stepped out of the ballroom.
The cool air outside was a genuine relief after the cloying heat inside, and I found I was in no hurry to return.
Thankfully, Grace truly was fascinated by the dragons and asked question after question, which helped me pass the time I needed to be seen to be apart from Bren.
We needed Hanson to believe a rift had opened between us.
But I was exhausted and sick of this shallow, self-indulgent crowd.
Frustrated that we’d made no progress on the dragons, and now we were running out of time.
It had been years since I’d sat at a tavern and impressed a young woman with tales of Kgosi, but Grace’s interest seemed more childish than flirtatious. Her questions zeroed in on the bond, how a dragon chose a human, and why. And how the dragonfuries thought and communicated with us.
She was fascinated to learn they were moral beings with a faith that exceeded even ours.
“It makes sense, I suppose. If they live longer and see more of the… the unspoken. But still… fascinating…”
I found myself leaning on the balustrade and indulging all her questions. It was a relief to speak to anyone who didn’t offer questions with a knowing look, or sly tone. For a time, I got lost in the simple pleasure of a frank discussion.
But the longer we spoke, the more thoughtful Grace became, until I found myself quiet while she stood next to me, resting her hands on the balustrade and staring wistfully out over the moonlit gardens. “May I… speak candidly, General?” she asked quietly.
I could feel her bracing for a confession, and worried that in her innocence, I may have accidentally encouraged her to emotions I hadn’t intended. Of course, I needed the nobles to believe that’s precisely what I was doing—and intentionally. But it felt… wrong.
“I, uh—”
“I wish there were more women like Bren in this world.”
I swallowed the careful words I’d been about to say. “I agree,” I said sincerely.