Page 35 of Dragon Eternal (Dragon Kings 4)
Shaw crossed his ankles. “Maybe nothing, but Nia told me that she doesna have access to her money. She also alluded to the fact that she could lose her estate at any time.”
“That should be easy enough to find out. I’ve seen several female shop owners, so I doona think they couldna control their funds.”
“That’s what I was thinking. A woman runs the pub I’m renting a room in. She doesna seem the type to allow anyone but herself to manage her money.”
Merrill grunted. “Which means there is more than Nia is telling you.”
“The first night we met, she told me that everyone had secrets. I’m keeping a big one. So are you. Who am I to push for her to reveal hers?”
“I doubt her secrets have anything to do with us. Besides Tomar, the soldier, I’m flirting with a woman and playing a card game with a group of men. Everyone is friendly enough, but no one wants to talk about the Divine, the religion, or how children with magic are being murdered.”
Shaw knew he should be out there with Merrill, but he also knew that Nia would have different knowledge than the people Merrill was dealing with. “I doona have to remind you to be careful.”
“The worst these people could do would be to send the soldier priests after us. I’d almost like to see that.”
They shared a chuckle. “For a city to claim they’re the greatest ever, they have no defenses against anyone with magic. They doona even know if anyone with magic enters. It would be easy for those with magic to take Stonemore.”
“Then why have they no’?”
“Fear has kept them running, but that fear willna always be there. They will fight back, and my money is on sooner rather than later.”
The thought of Nia getting caught in the middle of a war made a knot of worry form in Shaw’s gut. “I’ll find out more tomorrow. Con, Brandr, and Eurwen are going to want an update.”
“I’ll pass on the information to the others. Press her, brother. She has answers that could get us back to Cairnkeep quickly.”
“I will.”
Shaw severed the link and clasped his hands behind his head. His lust had steered him to Nia. There was no reason he couldn’t continue to slake his need, but when dawn broke, he would start asking questions.
Now would be a perfect time for him to investigate the house, or at the very least, the top floor, which was Nia’s. Shaw had never liked lying, and he didn’t like sneaking around, either. Then again, someone or something had attacked and killed dragons. It didn’t matter if he knew the dragons or not, they were kin. And that was all that mattered.
Shaw sat and softly swung his legs over the side of the bed. The frame creaked slightly when his weight shifted and he stood, but Nia didn’t stir. He walked to her wardrobe and used his magic to quiet any creaking hinges as he opened the doors. After rifling through the clothing and putting everything back exactly as it had been, he shut the doors. He hadn’t expected to find anything in the wardrobe, but he was disappointed, nonetheless.
Nia’s minimalist decorating style made it easy for him to know where to look. It also made his job harder since there were few places for things to be hidden. His lips flattened when he saw the only other place to look in the chamber was the small table beside the bed and its narrow drawer.
Once more Shaw used his magic to silence any sound so as not to wake Nia. When he looked in the drawer, he found it empty. He shut it and rose, more annoyed than ever. Maybe there wasn’t anything to find on the estate.
He faced the closed door of the bedroom and made his way to it. His enhanced hearing told him that the servants were still abed. He wrapped his fingers around the knob and turned at the same time he used his magic. The door swung open soundlessly. He slipped through and pulled it to him without closing it fully.
Shaw strode to the door that led to her office. Just like her bedchamber, the office area had minimal furniture. Besides the desk, there were two decorative tables, each holding a vase of roses. There was the chair behind the desk, and another filling an empty corner. Several rugs in various sizes and colors gave an eclectic look to the room that fit with the rest of the house while also setting this room apart. Nia’s bedchamber was comfortable and soothing. This room was vibrant and energetic.
The desk was neat and orderly, just like everything else in the house. He sank into the chair and looked about the desk, trying to put himself in Nia’s shoes. She favored her right hand, which meant that the more important things would be on that side.
The desk had two drawers on either one. The top ones were only a few inches deep. The bottom ones were significantly deeper. He went through each one, careful to put things back into place. And, once again, he came up empty-handed.
He was about to give up when he recalled the certainty with which Nia had said that everyone had secrets. She wasn’t foolish enough to keep anything around that would connect her to a secret. At least, he didn’t think she would. Then again, he didn’t know her.
He knew her body. But that was different.
Just as she didn’t know him.
He’d been fine with that before. Now, he wondered why she hadn’t pushed to know more about him. He needed to be prepared because he intended to get answers, and she would likely ask the same ones that he posed.
Shaw rose to his feet, but he didn’t leave. Something held him here. He frowned as his gaze slowly moved around the spacious room. He stopped at the desk again and surveyed it closely as he walked all around it.
He squatted and leaned on one hand to look underneath the desk. If she had a hiding nook, this was likely where it would be. Close enough that she could get to it, but not invading her room, which was the place she relaxed.
It took him looking twice before he saw it. His lips flattened as he stared at the hidden panel. A part of him wanted to walk away, to forget what he had found, but he couldn’t. He drew in a steadying breath, then reached up with his free hand and began pressing on the wood until it slid open.
Slowly, he withdrew a rolled piece of paper from the slot and then lowered his butt to the floor. He held the note for several moments just staring at it. An uneasy feeling spread through him as he unrolled it. Then, he began to read.
My dearest Nia,
I know I said that you had a month off, but something has come up. Something, I daresay, that will interest you. two Dragon Kings are in Stonemore. Merrill and Shaw. There is no mistaking them. They aren’t dressed as one of us. Search them out. Pick one—your choice. Use all your skills to seduce him until he is in love with you.
Then, bring him to me.
