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My eyes flicked away, but I forced my gaze back. Thinking about a woman was a bad excuse for not focusing on my job. Worse still if it created problems between Dex and me.
Of course, Dex was astute enough to notice my discomfort. He looked amused.
"She has that effect on people, doesn't she?" He laced his fingers and rested his elbows on his desk.
"Keeper—" I started.
"It must be serious if you're resorting to formality." Dex sat back. "I have no claim on her. Not yet."
"But you want to?" I asked.
Dex shrugged with one shoulder, but I saw the look in his eyes. He wanted her as badly as I did. "Possibly. But for now, she can do what she wants. So can you."
My face heated. I couldn't remember that happening since I was a kid. "There are some lines . . ."
"There is no line," Dex assured me. "There is no commitment, no competition."
"A child of hers would be powerful," I said, my voice rough. My throat was dry. I coughed to clear it. "She might not appreciate being talked about like this."
Dex gave a short laugh. "I suspect she wouldn't." He stopped and looked thoughtful. "Do paranormals usually breed others with their power?" He cocked his head. "Is that where yours comes from?"
"If my parents had powers, I have no knowledge of it." Both were long dead, so I couldn't ask. "Viva mentioned her mother. I don't think she shares her daughter's power."
I watched Dex carefully, but stayed out of his thoughts. An heir with power might prove a threat to the Alpha, or an asset. A choice like that wouldn't—couldn't be made lightly.
"You know about Zophia?" I asked, if only to change the subject.
"I heard from Calista that rumour has them spending time together." Dex shrugged, apparently unconcerned. "I could no more restrict either of them than cage a sand dragon."
"A sand dragon is less powerful, and potentially less dangerous than Viva. Trying to restrain her might be difficult," I said. Unless she consented.
"Perhaps she's the garden dragon I asked Hades for," Dex remarked. He looked away, toward the window.
I shrugged one shoulder. "Maybe."
Dex turned back, his expression unchanged. "Guard her, Bain, keep her safe. Something tells me we may need her in the days to come."
I gave him a questioning look, to which he responded by pushing a sheet of paper across his desk.
"Bad shit, if that is to be believed."
“The source is—" I picked up the sheet and scanned it.
"Reliable, but second-hand," Dex replied. "If even half of that is true, we may have to plan for trouble."
"Rumours like this arise every year or two," I pointed out.
"Not like this. Read to the bottom."
I frowned and read more carefully this time. "If the Alpha gets wind of this—"
"All the more reason we need to put it down as soon as possible." Dex rose and moved to look out the window. His thoughts were tumultuous, troubled. "What do you think of all of this?" he asked over his shoulder. "Some might suggest the Alpha doesn't have the strength, or following to hold the Vault."
"Talk like that is treason," I replied warily.
Dex turned back, a wry smile on his face. "If I was going to execute you, I would have done it by now."
"Perhaps, but there's still the Alpha. He might have us both executed."
