Page 73 of Dragon Eternal (Dragon Kings 4)
“I’m no’ the one planning to meet the Divine.”
“Good point,”Shaw replied with a sigh before severing the link.
The sky had gone from black to dark blue to lavender. The clouds were streaked with orange as the sunrise put on a dazzling display. When he looked at the bed again, he saw that Nia’s eyes were open and locked on him.
She sat up and shoved her brunette hair over her shoulder. “What is it?”
“I’m no’ sure. Just a feeling.”
“Should I be worried?”
He dropped his arms and walked to the side of the bed. Shaw looked down at her, wondering if he had missed his last chance to lay beside her. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before letting his fingers caress her jaw. “We should be prepared. And stay that way.”
“It was Amsden’s visit, wasn’t it?”
“You tell me. You were upset from the moment you saw him.”
Her gaze dropped to her hands on the bed. When she looked back at him, he saw resolve in her eyes. “I knew we were being watched. I also knew that someone would eventually come, or we would be summoned to the citadel.”
“But?” he asked when she paused.
“There was something in the way he talked to you. And looked at me.”
Shaw forced himself to remain calm. “You know these people. Tell me everything.”
“That’s just it. I don’t know Amsden very well. He’s seen around the citadel, and everyone knows his power. He’s the Divine’s right hand. I’ve had a few dealings with him, but they’ve been rare. My assignments come from the Divine and are delivered from the citadel.”
“No’ from Amsden?”
She shook her head.
“What kind of dealings did you have with him?” Shaw asked.
Nia shrugged and frowned. “I saw him a lot when I was still at the citadel, but he rarely paid us any heed.”
“He didna…spend time with you or any of the other courtesans?”
“He visited a couple, but never me. He was never outright rude, but he wasn’t exactly agreeable, either.”
Shaw rolled his eyes. “I know the type. He likes the power his position gives him, and he makes sure that others know just what will happen to them if he’s displeased.”
“Exactly. The first time he spoke to me was when they chose me to be a courtesan. He grabbed my chin and looked me over before shoving me away. He was shocked the first time I completed an assignment and returned with the secrets the Divine wanted.”
Shaw’s eyes narrowed. “Secrets?”
“I have all kinds. That’s why the Divine sends me. I’m very good at learning things from my lovers.”
“And you share all of it with him?”
She nodded. “Why do you think I have this estate? Amsden wasn’t happy about it. He was furious, in fact. He told me my face would only be pretty for so long.”
“He’s jealous of the power you wield,” Shaw said with a grin.
“He isn’t interested in me.”
“The hell he isna. He couldna stop looking at you. He wants you, Nia. Badly. It’s why he’s never gone to you. Because if he does, if he gives in, he knows you’ll pull some secret from him. Because he knows he’s that weak when it comes to you.”
She blinked up at him. “I thought he hated me.”
“He does. Because he wants you so badly. He hates anything he can’t control or win with power, and he can do neither with you. Because you’re no’ his.”
“No, I belong to the Divine.”
“For the moment.” Shaw didn’t like hearing those words. And he sure as hell wasn’t going to let them be real for too much longer.
Nia took his hand and smiled. “No matter what happens, I wouldn’t trade these days I’ve had with you for anything.”
“Let me take you from here today. You never have to see any of this again. You never have to belong to anyone again.”
She smiled and squeezed his hand. “I’ve made my decision. Everyone who calls Stonemore home is part of the problem. That includes me. Someone has to do something. An outsider did. Tamlyn risked her life to save those children while the rest of us did nothing. It’s my time to do my part. Don’t take that from me.”
Every fiber of his being wanted to throw her over his shoulder and fly her out of Stonemore to somewhere safe. He would do it in an instant if she asked, but that wasn’t what she wanted of him. As he stared into her honey-colored eyes, he remembered a time when Ross had asked something similar of him.
Shaw had wanted to keep him safe, but he’d wanted to fight alongside everyone else in the clan against the Silvers. If Shaw had refused, Ross might have been safe, but it would’ve crushed his soul. His little brother had been through enough. So, Shaw had let him go. Ross had died that day, but he’d done so a warrior for his clan.
Nia had been forced into slavery after starving on the streets. Her willpower and mental strength had helped her rise to her current station, but she was still a slave. This was her way of breaking those chains. Once again, Shaw found himself in an impossible situation.
He could force Nia away, but she would hate him forever.
