Page 34 of Dragon Eternal (Dragon Kings 4)
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
Shaw relaxed on the bed next to Nia with his gaze out the open windows facing the front of the estate, giving him a beautiful view of the night sky. She had fallen asleep on her stomach, her wealth of hair spread around her.
He’d lost count of the number of times they had made love. After hours in the bathing chamber, either in the water or lying on the warm tiles, Shaw had to remind himself that she was human and needed to keep up her strength. He had forced himself to give her breaks so she could eat and rest.
The day had passed quickly—too quickly if he were honest. He was loath for it to end. Not only because Nia was an amazing lover, but because he liked being with her. She didn’t badger him for not talking. Though, now that he thought about it, she hadn’t asked him questions either, perhaps because she didn’t want to answer any.
He didn’t know much more than he had before he’d come to her home. Normally, that wouldn’t bother him, but since his entire objective in Stonemore was to gain information, he needed to get more than what he had—which wasn’t much.
Shaw turned his head on the pillow and looked at her. The sheet was down near her waist, giving him a view of her beautiful back. One of her legs was outside the covers. She was well and truly sated.
But his hunger for her had yet to be slaked.
He closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of the house. It was quiet. No one was up. The only sound he heard was a small animal out back. The noise of the lower levels of Stonemore could still be heard, but it was weak enough that it could be ignored.
Shaw lifted his lids and focused his gaze back out the window to the stars. One of the reasons he had wanted to come to Zora was to be able to fly whenever and wherever he wanted. Now, however, he was once more prevented from turning to his true self. It was only while he was in Stonemore, though. He could handle his need to fly until he left.
His thoughts turned to Merrill. He wondered how his friend was getting on. Shaw opened the link and called Merrill’s name.
“How are the upper levels of Stonemore?”
Shaw smiled. “Verra nice, actually. The breeze keeps the stench from the lower tiers away.”
“And the woman?”
“Sleeping, if you must know.”
“That isna what I meant.”
Shaw sighed. “She’s no’ outright refused to tell me anything, but she hasna been an open book, either.”
“I doubt either of you have had much time to talk. I saw that look in your eye earlier this morn.”
“What did you find out?”
“That no’ everyone in the city is as gung-ho about the religion, the priests, or the killing of children as others.”
“Impressive. Who is your source?”
Merrill chuckled. “A sergeant. His station is the upper levels.”
“So, he sees a lot.”
“Aye. Like the woman you’re with.”
Shaw didn’t like the implication. “Meaning?”
“He wasna the only one watching Nia. He knew her name, and by the way everyone around us looked at her, they did, too.”
“She’s well known. What’s wrong with that?”
“I can no’ put my finger on it, brother. Just a feeling that something isna right.”
“I’ve felt that way since we got here.”
Merrill sighed loudly. “I’ve no’ sensed anything watching us. No’ how Cullen described it. No shimmering out of the corner of my eyes. You?”
“Nothing.” Then again, he hadn’t been looking for it. Perhaps his time with Nia hadn’t been the wisest. He wasn’t getting information, and he wasn’t paying attention as he should.
“You’re getting to see how the uppers live. That is information we have no’ had before. Any chance you get to see inside the citadel?”
“I’ll try. Can you find out if a woman can control her own money?”
“Aye. What’s going on?”
