Page 10 of Song of the Dragon Rider
He shook his head, his expression confident. “No one will get hurt.”
I slowly nodded as I evaluated the full scope of the plan. “A new painting is due tonight. I guess this will be the last bit of money I’ll be able to collect with Arya’s paintings.”
“It’s best this way, Cat. You don’t want to be involved in this,” he reasoned, his voice softening, attempting to reassure me, perhaps, or to convince himself.
“Unfortunately I’m already involved.” I sighed and leaned back against the cushioned seat, then grabbed a pastry and stuffed it in my mouth in a very unladylike manner. The flaky crust of the pastry scattered crumbs across the pristine tablecloth as I chewed it aggressively, my frustration manifesting in my lack of dining decorum.
Damien watched with a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes despite the seriousness of our earlier conversation. “Cat, even when you’re trying to be difficult, you manage to make it seem charming,” he commented, his voice carrying a light, teasing tone. He picked up a pastry and mimicked my actionswith a deliberate casualness that somehow seemed perfectly polished.
I rolled my eyes, not buying into his attempt to lighten the mood. “Charming? You have a strange definition of charm, Damien.”
He chuckled and leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table as he regarded me with a playful smirk. “Perhaps, but it’s one of the many mysteries you seem to enjoy unraveling about me.”
I paused with the pastry halfway to my mouth, caught off guard by his flirtatious demeanor. “Don’t flatter yourself too much, dude. Unraveling you isn’t at the top of my list.”
“Ah, but I’m on the list,” Damien quipped, not missing a beat. “That’s a start.”
The air between us filled with tension and inexplicable ease that seemed to seep in with every playful exchange. I took another bite of my pastry, this time more slowly, allowing myself to actually taste the sweet, buttery flavor.
Damien watched me, his gaze lingering a moment too long on my lips, which gave the simple act of eating a strangely intimate quality.
I licked my lips and cleared my throat. “So when are you going to burn it all down?” I asked, shifting in my seat and brushing away the pastry flakes that clung to my lips.
“Before next Saturday,” Damien responded, his tone business-like as he contemplated the logistics. “I’m working out a plan with my uncle.”
Feeling a sudden surge of determination, I leaned forward and brushed the rest of the crumbs from my face. “I want in,” I declared, meeting his gaze squarely.
“What?” One eyebrow arched in surprise.
“You heard me,” I insisted. “I want to help.”
Damien chuckled, a sound that rumbled deep from his chest. “Cat, my uncle and I are dragons. We breathe fire. This is an easy job for us. Why would we possibly need your help?” He slowly shook his head. “No, we’ll work better and faster without you.”
I smirked as an idea sparked in my mind. “What if we pull a heist?”
“A what?” His frown deepened, confusion evident on his face.
“A robbery, a theft, a stick-up,” I elaborated, enjoying the challenge of pitching the concept in as many ways as possible. “Let’s steal their money andthenburn it all to the ground.”
Damien’s eyes widened as he processed my proposal, his gaze evaluating me anew, as if he’d seen a side of me he hadn’t anticipated. “That’s positively… criminal,” he finally said, the words laden with disapproval and a hint of intrigue.
I shrugged nonchalantly. “Thatcoinis criminal. Finders keepers. You’re a prince without any royal benefits, which I’m sure means you’re short on cash. What better way to fund your needs?”
His expression hardened, the muscles in his jaw working as if grinding down his frustration. “There are things you do not know, Cat. That coin… is not for me to take.”
“Then whose is it?” I pressed, my curiosity piqued.
“Crown Prince Thorne,” he tersely replied, his voice low.
One eyebrow lifted in surprise. “Your older brother?”
He nodded. “I’ve been investigating the vampires for him. If I steal the coin, I have to give it to him. I can’t keep it.”
I sighed heavily and leaned back in my chair, the cool wood pressing against my spine. Frustration bubbled up and I nearly shouted, “Gosh, you’re so righteous when you want to be! Why can’t you be like that with me and let me go home to my world?”
“They are two very different situations, Cat, and you know it,” he growled. “We can save the coin from the fire if you want, but you can’t keep it.”
I sighed. I wasn’t money hungry, but if I was going to be stuck in this world, I might as well find a way to make it worth my while. I’d already discovered a hoard of cash Arya had made off her forged paintings, but I wantedmore. I couldn’t spend all her money while I was here. God, was I going to have to get a job? It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, but I could only imagine what Lord Zacharia would have to say about his youngest daughter entering the workforce. He probably wouldn’t allow such a travesty to occur, if for no other reason than to save face.
