Page 46 of Dragon Eternal (Dragon Kings 4)
“Does it have anything to do with the men following you?”
Her nostrils flared. “Yes.”
“I can take care of them. I’ll make sure they doona follow you anymore.”
“More will just take their place.” Her lips were pinched, and her hands clenched at her sides.
“Who is having you followed?”
“It doesn’t matter. Leave it alone, Shaw.”
That’s exactly what he wouldn’t do. “Who is it?”
“Stop,” she said softly, her anger and fear gone, replaced by acceptance.
“I’ll go ask the men, then. They’ll tell me.”
She reached for him when he acted as if he were going to turn away. “Don’t you dare.”
He caught her gaze and held it. “What are you afraid of?”
“Everything.”
Finally. Some truth. “Who controls you? Who holds your money? Who tells you what to do? Who lends you the estate? Who is doing this to you?”
She threw up her hands and covered her ears as she bent over. “The Divine!”
Even though Shaw had read the letter, hearing it from her lips was like a kick to the bollocks. He released a breath. Nia’s entire body shook. He touched her, but she jerked away and dropped her hands as she straightened and glared at him. Tears trailed down her face, and he hated himself for forcing the words from her.
Her chest heaved as those beautiful eyes narrowed dangerously. “You don’t look surprised. Because…oh, my gods, you knew.” She stumbled back, her face contorting with betrayal. “How could you?”
“I could ask the same of you. You were the one sent to seduce me and make me fall in love so you could bring me to your ruler.”
Her gaze darted toward the city. “How long have you known?”
“It doesna matter.”
“It does to me.”
“Since last night.”
She closed her eyes as her face tightened. When she looked at him, there was fury there. “You found the missive.”
“Aye.” He wasn’t going to lie.
“You could’ve left the city. Why did you stay? Just to force me to admit to this?” she demanded indignantly.
Shaw crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m here for information. That’s all.”
“I’m supposed to believe that?”
“The one thing I’ve no’ done is lie to you. I can no’ say the same about you.”
She flipped her long hair over her shoulder. “I didn’t lie, either.”
“You just left out the part about seducing me.”
“Just as you left out the part about being a Dragon King.”
She had him there. “Touché.”
“What?” she asked in confusion.
“It means that you’re right.” He dropped his arms. “I can help you, Nia. If you’ll let me. You want your freedom. It’s right here. I can take you anywhere you want to go.”
She swallowed and glanced at the ground. “Why would you make me that offer? You don’t know me.”
“Everyone on this realm fears Dragon Kings, but you doona. Why?”
“You say that as if you aren’t from here.”
What was the point of keeping it from her? “I’m no’.”
Her lips parted in shock as she put a hand to her chest. “Well. I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Why weren’t you scared of me?” he pressed.
She licked her lips and lowered her arm. “The Divine has never dangled freedom in front of me before. I was intent on doing whatever I needed to get it. If that meant taking a Dragon King to my bed, then I’d do it. Then, I met you. You weren’t at all what I thought you would be.” She paused, her brow furrowed. “You were kind. Are kind. And the attraction, it took me by surprise. I was overwhelmed by it.”
“Let me help you,” he urged.
Nia drew in a steadying breath. “If we leave, the Divine will hunt me down.”
“No’ if you go over the border with the dragons.”
“What information do you need?”
“Anything. Everything. We want to stop the children with magic from being murdered, and I think it all begins and ends with the Divine.”
A shiver went through her. She wrapped her arms around her middle. “The Divine has utter control of everything in the city. Everything.”
“Those with magic have every right to live. Just as anyone does. No one has the authority to take another’s life simply because they’re different.”
“The Divine would disagree.” Nia walked to him and put a hand on his chest. “Get Merrill and leave Stonemore. Nothing will change this city.”
“I’m no’ going anywhere without you.”
