Page 25 of Sugar & Dragon Act I: Temptation

…and he would still be a friend of Dago Midais, who had nightmarish reactions written in his genes…

…then one day the residents of Ilion might have a problem.

“How did you meet him?” Hera asked.

Dago’s gaze returned to her. He shrugged. “Just like humans usually meet morpheuses. He appeared out of nowhere and asked if I would play with him.”

“And what did you play?”

“Chess.”

Hera tried not to look too indignant but failed. “You forced an untamed dream to play a logic puzzle? You knew he would lose!”

“I didn’tforce, onlysuggest. He wanted to try, so we played.”

She narrowed her eyes. “And you just played, without any bet?” When Dago didn’t answer, she glared at him. “Don’t tell me that’s why he’s guarding your castle now.”

He grinned. “I’m not telling.” Seeing her exasperation, he spread his hands. “I don’t like wasting time, Galenos, you know that. Besides, he had nowhere to go. It’sfairthat he works for his living, don’t you think?”

Hera clenched her jaw, but she didn’t stop glaring. Only Dago Midais could be impertinent enough to plead honesty in the same discussion that exposed his fraud.

“Since we’re talking about not wasting time…” His gaze moved over the storm of her curls, her bare shoulders, and her breasts, the round shape of which was clearly visible under the fabric of her thin chemise. “You intend to spend the whole day in bed?”

The erotic overtones were so obvious that Hera couldn’t help but think about last night’s kiss, which had so intoxicated her with its passion that she let this goblin carry her in his arms like a love-struck filly.

Dago smiled wickedly, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. He probably did. Judging by the temperature of her cheeks, he didn’t have to try too hard.

“I’m going to take a shower,” he said. “You can join me if you want.”

He didn’t wait for her answer. He left, and she choked on her unspoken emotions.

Hard candy, what was with her? Midais’s displays never impressed her, just as his words never stimulated her to such extreme reactions. Why did she lose her temper so easily in his presence now?

That had to end.

Determined, Hera got up, changed her clothes, and, after making sure that the bathroom on the first floor was free, made her morning toilette. When she entered the corridor again, the castle walls changed color from white to blue, which baffled her a little, but she didn’t let herself be swooned. Having understood why elements such as doors, window frames, and furniture were black—black matchedeverycolor—she entered the kitchen with a perfectly neutral expression. She examined the situation. The long counter, which was the centerpiece of the room, and on which enchanted knives were peeling and cutting vegetables and fruits. The cindercounter by the window, on which water was boiling in an angry red kettle. And Dago, who was dressed in a knee-length tunic but without a belt or jewelry, and who was taking a fresh loaf of bread from the stone oven with a wooden peel.

“When did you manage to bake bread?” she asked, forgetting her poise. “Dorian said you slept as long as I did.”

“I have bread supplies in the froster. I put the bread in the oven before I took a shower.”

“Why didn’t you suggest we use kitchen magic yesterday? Cooking would’ve taken us less time.”

“Is that so?” He tilted the peel, allowing the bread to slide onto the counter. “Our brains needed a break. Today we’ll do mainly physical exercises, so a little magic in the morning won’t hurt.”

His eyes clearly suggested that his words had a double meaning, but Hera pretended not to see it. Convincing herself that it was a fighting stance and not a defensive one, she crossed her arms over her chest. “You have an answer for everything?”

He feigned surprise. “And you don’t?”

It was the perfect moment for a pointed reply, and under normal circumstances, Hera would have said one without much thought, but now the retort was lost somewhere in the tangle of thoughts that wrapped around her mind like vines around an old fence. Undernormalcircumstances, Dago Midais used irony to sting her. Behind his every word and gesture was pure, honest malice. Hera was used to it, and it didn’t affect her much. Now, however… Now the man wasnotmean.

He wasflirtingwith her.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. “The nuts and dried fruit are there.” He pointed to the cupboard standing against the wall. “Take out the ones you like. They’ll come in handy when you get hungry after swimming.”

That again. Seemingly neutral words, but his gaze intense. Subtlety and suggestiveness in one gesture.

Hera started toward the cupboard wordlessly. She didn’t know what else she could do, just as she didn’t understand why goosebumps formed on her skin. She wondered where yesterday’s calm had gone, until she realized that she hadn’t been calm at all yesterday. Yes, the day passed peacefully, butshewas on tenterhooks, watching Dago who… had done nothing.

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