Page 38 of Naga General's Mate

A knock at the door startled her from her thoughts.

“Mila? You’ve been in there a while. Everything all right?”

Her heart skipped at the sound of his voice. “Fine! Just… washing my hair.”

“Breakfast is ready whenever you are.”

“Be right out.”

She pressed her forehead against the cool tile, trying to steady her racing pulse. This was dangerous—these feelings, these thoughts. She had to focus on rescuing Priscilla and exposing Kurg. Not on how perfectly she fit in Brivul’s arms or how his smile made her forget every horrible thing she’d endured.

But as she stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself in a towel, she couldn’t shake the warmth that bloomed in her at the thought of him waiting for her outside.

Mila picked at her breakfast, watching Brivul stretch his massive frame across the room. The scales on his bare chest caught the morning light streaming in from the window.

“See? Good as new.” He rose to his full height, his muscles rippling beneath his skin.

“Sit down before you tear your stitches.” Her cheeks flushed as he twisted, showing off the defined planes of his chest.

“The stitches are fine. Watch this.”

He dropped into a fighting stance, executing a series of precise movements that made her breath catch. His tail swept in an elegant arc, and she forced herself to look away.

“Impressive. Now eat your breakfast before it gets cold.”

“You don’t sound convinced.” He slithered closer, and her pulse quickened. “Need another demonstration?”

“What I need is for you to stop being ridiculous.” The words came out breathier than she intended.

Brivul leaned over her, reaching for the juice pitcher. His arm brushed her shoulder, sending electricity dancing across her skin. The spicy-sweet scent of him filled her lungs.

“Your face is red.” His voice dropped low, teasing. “Worried about me?”

“I just don’t want to have to drag your body back to bed again.”

The moment the words left her mouth, she realized how they sounded. Brivul’s eyes darkened, and her stomach did a slow flip.

“Back to bed,hmm?”

She shoved her chair back, needing space between them before she did something stupid like trace the scar on his jaw with her fingers. Suddenly, the data chip felt heavy in her pocket, a constant reminder of everything at stake.

“Now that you’re healed, we need to figure out what to do next,” Mila blurted out.

Brivul settled into a more comfortable position. “Well, the evidence you have on the data chip could bring Kurg down permanently.”

“If we can get it to the right people.” She traced the rim of her cup with her finger. “The council would never grant us an audience. Not with both our faces plastered across every security terminal in the city.”

“What about Kurg’s enemies?” Brivul’s eyes gleamed. “Someone who’d love to see him fall?”

The name hit her like a bolt of lightning. “Talis.”

“Another kingpin?”

“Yes, a rival. She and Kurg have been at each other’s throats for years.” Memories of heated arguments and thinly veiledthreats flooded back. “He always said she was trying to steal his territory.”

“Would she help us, though?”

“Maybe. We’d still need to sneak into her estate, but…” Mila’s mind raced with possibilities. Breaking into Talis’s compound would be dangerous but not nearly as impossible as reaching the council. “It could work.”

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