Page 75 of Dragon Eternal (Dragon Kings 4)
CHAPTERTHIRTY
The churning in Nia’s stomach was so bad, she couldn’t look at food. All she could manage to keep down was her lemon ginger tea. Ever since her talk with Shaw, fear had quietly taken up residence in her stomach.
They spent the day in her chamber with the curtains drawn over the windows. The servants likely thought they were making love when they were, in fact, making plans. She had ink and paper, as well as anything else she could find in her room to draw and lay out the parts of the citadel that she knew. Shaw studied them relentlessly.
“They’ll take us to a section you doona know,” he said, drawing her from her thoughts.
She looked at him with a frown. “Why do you say that?”
“In case you turn on them and tell me what you know. And because we’ll be in front of your ruler.”
“You actually think we’ll get to see the Divine?”
Shaw’s fern green eyes lifted to her. “Aye. I suspect they’ll keep you in another room to separate us.”
As if things couldn’t get any worse.
“I can teach you a few things in case anyone attacks you.”
What had she been thinking? To say that she had to stay and fight. She knew nothing about battle, nothing about the warfare that Shaw and Merrill prepared for. She should’ve run when she had the chance.
“Nia.”
She pressed her lips together. “Do you think I’m being irrational?”
“For wanting to fight for your city and its people? Never,” he replied.
“I’m scared.”
“I’d be concerned if you were no’.”
She looked at the ceiling in irritation. “Do you have an answer for everything?”
“Nay,” he said with a chuckle. “Normally, I doona speak.”
Nia looked at him and gave him the best smile she could muster under the circumstances. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me, too, lass.” He walked to her and took her hands in his. “I know I said doona trust anyone, but I need you to trust me. It’s the only way this will work.”
“I do trust you.”
He gave her a lopsided grin. “Good. Now, when they separate us, they’ll take you far from me.”
“Why?”
“For a couple of reasons. They’ll want to make sure you’re still with the Divine, and they’ll ask you questions and probably make you prove what you say. You’ll have to give them something about me.”
Nia shook her head. “That’s the last thing I should do.”
“It’s a way to keep you safe. We have spent a lot of time together, and they’re going to be told that you seem taken with me. They’ll fear I’ve used magic on you, so expect all sorts of queries. That’s why you’re going to tell them that the Kings learned children with magic are being murdered. That’s why we’re here.”
“I think it’s a bad idea.”
“It’ll demonstrate to them that you’ve done your job.”
She wanted to refuse, but she knew that Shaw was right. They would question her relentlessly. She nodded, though it turned her stomach to give the Divine anything about the Dragon Kings. “You said a couple of reasons.”
“Taking you makes it difficult for me to find you if I do anything to the Divine. They’ll threaten you to keep me in check.”
“Only because they’re going to believe you’re in love with me.”
He stared at her for a long, silent moment. “Aye.”
“I’m one person, Shaw. Just one. And I’m no saint. The only way this city gets fixed and those with magic can live free is with the Dragon Kings’ help.”
His eyes turned hard. “Doona finish that thought.”
“I’ve told you before, and I’ll say it again—leave me. It doesn’t matter what happens to me. What matters is you stopping the Divine and returning to your people.”
He bent until he was even with her face. “I’m only going to say this once more. I’m no’ leaving you. I doona care if it starts a war.”
No one had ever put her first in anything. It was a new, glorious feeling, but she didn’t allow herself time to enjoy it. “I’m not worth that.”
“You’re worth that a thousand times over.”
Her eyes burned with tears, and her throat clogged with emotion. What might her life had been like if she’d had someone believe in her so unreservedly all along?
Shaw lifted his hand, his thumb catching one of her tears. “It’s a moot point because I willna allow this to start a war.”
“You might not have a choice. You don’t know what the Divine wants.”
He blew out a breath as he straightened and walked back to the table to look over the drawings. “In my vast experience, those like the Divine want to use, coerce, or force those like me for one reason—power. We’re the dominant ones on my realm. We’re about to find out where we stand on this one.”
“Can the Divine trap you with anything?”
