Page 99 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

He leaned in, his chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. “Until what? I need to hear you say it. Without shrouding your intent. Give me your word, Brennan. What will you give me after those two nights have passed?”

I locked eyes with him and set my jaw. “Give me two nights to get what I can from this fucker and then I will take you and Benji to the dragons and we will… negotiate. If he cannot persuade the dragons, or we cannot meet on terms, I will return here and no one need be the wiser.”

His expression didn’t change, but I would have sworn he smiled with his eyes. “Negotiations would be much more comfortable at my estate,” he said breathlessly.

I shook my head. “Unless the dragons accept me and Benji, unless we can truly deliver, I won’t be visiting your estate. It is the dragons first, Hanson. Unless… Unless one of them bonds me, or they listen to Benji, there is nothing you offer for which it is worth giving up my existing… arrangement.”

His eyes narrowed at the implication that I viewed him as second choice to Donavyn.

“Better the devil you know,” I whispered, to soothe his pride.

His lips went thin, but then he smiled. “Very well. Two nights. Unless we have embarked together the following morning, I will assume our paths diverge.”

I nodded once, jerkily, and licked my lips. “Thank you.”

Hanson took my signal and stepped back, opening an arm towards the ballroom, but his gaze was hungry, and he left me little room to brush past without knocking a potted tree onto a matron’s head. I turned in the wide dress, squeezing past him, brushing through the fronds. But he caught my elbow and I froze as he leaned into my ear.

“I accept that you have not yet experienced my ability to please you. But rest assured, Brennan: You will never endure this kind of childish display from me.” I looked up, uncertain, to find him staring into the hall. Following his gaze, I discovered Donavyn, having just ushered a young lady back to her seat. But he glared in our direction, his expression a bonfire of jealousy and disdain.

I cleared my throat and tore out of that gaze, my body thrilling. “I… I hope not,” I said quickly, then tugged my elbow from Hanson’s grip and strode towards the door.

Knowing the Lord still watched—I could feel his eyes on my back—when I was almost to the door, I paused to turn my head and meet eyes with Donavyn across the room, praying my expression was truly as blank and tight as I intended.

Let anyone watching see me hesitate. Consider.

My mate’s gaze crackled with need and hunger and sheer rage. A shiver rippled down my spine.

‘You play murderous jealousy very well,’ I sent as I turned with my nose in the air, weaving between the last servants and swaying nobles between me and the door.

‘He touched you. This is not play,’ he sent on a growl.

‘Donavyn, we’re making progress. You can’t touch him.’

‘He doesn’t know that. Let him sweat.’

I wasn’t sure Hanson was capable of sweating. The man's confidence seemed impenetrable. But I sent a rush of love through the bond as I left the great hall, and my mate behind. And fought a tiny prickle of jealousy myself. Because it had always been the plan that Donavyn would stay tonight and show himself distracted by other women.

He wouldn’t leave the hall for hours. Meanwhile, I would wait. Alone.

With a great deal to think about that I’d rather not.

~ DONAVYN ~

Grace was truly as graceful and kind as Bren insisted. I had to admit that I was inclined to agree with my mate that the woman didn’t seem to have a conniving bone in her body. She did have a fascination with the dragons, and an easily wounded heart. I’d spoken to her a great deal this night, and found her refreshing in these vapid circles, though she eyed the byplay between Bren and I with wary eyes.

When I asked her to dance for the third time—after Bren had left—she hesitated, then thanked me and took my hand with a strangely resolute expression on her face.

I waltzed with her for two circles of the floor before she found the courage to say what was on her mind.

“Sir, I appreciate your attention this evening, as it means I haven’t sat among the women for the entire event—which is my usual place. But in good conscience, I cannot allow you to believe that I would entertain any… further attentions from you. Or… or that I hold any desire to offend my new friend. I like Lady Brennan a great deal. And while I know that lovers often tiff, it seems she has been hurt tonight. And I fear it is by you, sir,” she ended, nodding her chin once, though her cheeks pinked and she watched me warily, afraid of my response.

I didn’t meet her eyes, kept my gaze scanning the room around us, but I also sighed and let her feel the tension release in me.

“Lady Grace… you have received my attention this evening because you are a pleasant companion, nothing more. You have nothing to fear from me… though I do wonder if you wish to continue this conversation on the balcony? I find myself rather wary of listening ears,” I muttered.

Her pale blue gaze brightened and her smile bloomed. “Will you tell me more about the dragons?”

I almost laughed. “Certainly.”