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"Oh." I hadn't considered that. A life of devotion might be better than no life at all. "Do I have time to pack, or will my things be sent later?"
My question took him by surprise, but he recovered as quickly as ever. "You're not going to stay. Unless you want to. I merely need your presence for a transaction."
"If you think I'm going to kill for you—"
He held up a hand. "No, not at all. The priests are stirring up dissent; there’s talk of overthrowing the Alpha. You're coming as an indication the Council and the Vault are solid allies, with the Alpha's knowledge and blessing. It's been a hundred years since we all got along so well." He smirked slightly at the irony.
"I see." That was not what I expected. "I don't have to do anything?"
"Just look pret—loyal," he said. "And for the record, I can kill for myself. I don't need a woman to do it for me."
"I'm sure you can," I said. I was surprised he hadn't said witch. "Does this mean you're not going to kill me?"
"Not today," he replied easily. "Not if you can be of use to Dex. And not before any talk of rebellion is suppressed."
I nodded slowly. "People would use my execution as a reason to assume the Vault is in upheaval. And if it is, why not hold a coup?"
"I see you've come to some conclusion, but I can't tell what." Bain sounded uneasy.
"I was wondering if the Covener hoped you would execute me. In a fit of outrage, he might strike back. Tear up the artefact. Declare war on shifterkind." I cocked my head at Bain. "I guess you should keep me alive then."
His mouth turned up slightly. "It would seem so. You're a pawn after all."
I bristled at the words, although he wasn't wrong. Whatever game the Council was playing, I was in the middle of it. Bride, lover, excuse for war, where had they intended me to fit? Maybe any of those would satisfy their plans.
"All the more reason my loyalty should be to the Vault," I said. At least to Dex. Anywhere but the Council. It occurred to me I was being used by Dex at least as much as I was being used by the Council.
Who the fuck did I dare to trust?
* * *
"Can you ride?"Bain led me through the maze of corridors, down to the garage.
"Ride what?" I asked. I gave him a sly smile when he raised an eyebrow at me. "Motorbikes? Horses?"You?
"Dragons," he replied.
For a split second, I thought he was serious.
What? Dragon shifters were a thing. For all I knew, they gave rides all over the Vault.
"Cool," I said, as though he hadn't caught me off guard. "I hope they come with a saddle."
Bain snorted. "A dragon would sooner eat you than let you ride it."
I suspected he meant the shifter kind as well.
"Ouch," I said. "You know how to hurt a girl."
He gave me a long look. "You have no idea."
Ohhhh, shit. Now I wanted to find out.
I eyed him sideways. "Promises, promises."
"I don't make promises I can't keep," he said, slightly too fast.
"I'm sure," I said. "Neither do I."
