Page 82 of Dragon Eternal (Dragon Kings 4)
Shaw held out his arm to Nia. She glanced at him as she tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. He felt her tremble slightly, but she kept her head high and her back straight. He walked them up the steps to the large wooden door. Shaw glanced behind him to see the gate they had ridden through with a battlement and several soldiers standing at attention. He had missed that because he had been focused on Nia. It would be an obstacle she would have to get through, but he knew she could do it.
Her fingers tightened on his arm, drawing his attention. He looked ahead to see two soldiers stationed at the door, watching them. When they approached, one of the guards opened the door. As Shaw passed, he noted the dual swords each wore.
Inside the citadel was more splendor. The sandstone floors had an intricate design of geometric shapes and swirls that he found appealing. A tapestry easily forty feet wide and twenty feet tall hung on the wall ahead of them, depicting the mountain and Stonemore with roses climbing and weaving along the border.
“Ah, you’ve arrived,” Amsden said as he approached from the left.
Shaw bowed his head. “I’m honored the Divine would allow my visit on such short notice.”
“The Divine never refuses Nia.” Amsden’s smile was a little too cocky, too confident. “Follow me.”
If they attacked, the steward was the first one Shaw would kill. “I have to admit, I’m shocked I’m here. I’m no one.” Shaw wanted to push to see how much information—and lies— he could get.
Amsden glanced over his shoulder as he kept walking. “I informed the Divine of your travels. We’re very curious about where you’ve visited.”
“Do you no’ send explorers out?”
The steward laughed. “We do, but not to the distance we believe you’ve traveled. We want to know as many details as you can give us.”
So, they wanted information on dragon land, Earth, or both. Surely, the humans knew they couldn’t win in a battle with the Kings. And if they couldn’t win here, then they surely wouldn’t get to Earth. Shaw couldn’t imagine what their endgame was. Power, surely, but to what end?
Amsden walked them through long corridors with high ceilings and magnificent arches. The attention to detail on the floors, columns, and ceilings was beautiful. If this meeting was happening for any other reason, Shaw might have taken his time to look everything over. But all he wanted to do was get in front of the Divine and find out what he wanted.
The steward stopped before a set of doors. He turned to face them with his hands behind his back and a smirk on his face. “Nia, my dear, I’m afraid your presence has been requested elsewhere. I’m sure it won’t take long, and then you’ll be brought back to us.”
Even though Shaw had predicted this, it still made his chest tight. He held Nia fast when she would’ve pulled away. Every fiber of his being screamed not to let her go from his side. All the words he’d been unable to say earlier spun in his head in a frenzy. He didn’t know what was happening. Or why.
“Nay,” he stated.
Amsden raised a brown brow. “Excuse me?”
Shaw was as surprised as the steward by his outburst. He quickly gathered himself. “I’m quite…taken…with her. I’d like her to remain by my side. I’m sure you understand.”
Amsden held his gaze for a long time before drawing in a long breath. “She is quite the catch.”
“Exactly. I can no’ believe no one has claimed her before now, but I’m no’ willing to let her go.”
“I’m afraid she cannot get out of the request. I assure you, she won’t be long,” Amsden replied coolly.
Shaw wanted to punch him. The violence that he wanted to enact on the man surprised even him.
“You wouldn’t want to pass up this opportunity,” Nia said, a smile on her face as she looked at him. “I’ll return as quickly as I can.”
Shaw met her gaze and saw the tightness of her mouth. She was subtly telling him to go without her. He knew it was what he had to do, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.
She winked and blew him a kiss. “I’ll see you soon.”
Then she pulled her hand from his arm and walked to a waiting soldier he hadn’t seen arrive. Shaw fought not to yank her back, to take her into his arms and fly far from the horrible city. The sinking feeling inside him grew the farther she walked from him, as if he somehow knew that he would never see her again. That thought made him want to throw back his head and roar. He was the dominant one here. He was the one who could—and should—call the shots.
Nia paused and turned to look at him over her shoulder. Then, the smile she gave him was genuine. She was ready for whatever came. It was time that he remembered why he was here.
Shaw drew in a shaky breath and pulled himself together. The violence demanded to be released, but he held himself in check. For now. Then he faced Amsden. The steward had watched all of that with interest. Thankfully, it would help confirm the act of him being in love with Nia. Love.
Fuck.
No. It couldn’t be. Fate wouldn’t do that to him. He’d done everything to keep himself from being attached. He was just worried about her. Nia was risking everything. Aye, that was it. He was concerned. So, what if he’d come to care for her a little? Their forced proximity and fake relationship would lend itself to some feelings, but he knew better than to fall in love.
“You really do have feelings for her,” Amsden said.
Shaw smiled as he recalled his role. “How could I no’? Look at her. She’s beautiful with a body I can no’ get enough of.”
“She is stunning.” Amsden’s gaze landed on Nia’s retreating back, the longing there for anyone to see.
Which made Shaw want to rip the steward’s head off and use it as a ball to kick around. “I’m happy she’s been so selective. Otherwise, she might have been someone else’s.”
The steward jerked his gaze to Shaw’s. He cleared his throat at having been caught staring. “Does that mean you plan to remain in Stonemore?”
“Depends on many factors,” Shaw said with a smile.
Amsden shifted as if suddenly nervous. “Right, then.”
Shaw inwardly smiled as the steward turned around and opened the door. Shaw took one last look at Nia to try and see where they were taking her, but she was already gone. He clenched his jaw and walked through the doorway into another corridor.
“What do you think of our city?” Amsden asked.
“It has its pros and cons.”
“We’ve built an empire that few on the realm can compete with.”
