Page 15 of Claimed By the Sinful Dragon
“You’ve branded her? Tattooed her?”
“We both know the answer to that.”
“Yeah, and so does everyone else.” He blew out a breath like I was trying his patience, which was rich. “Look, your shifters runaround unmarked, ungoverned, and I’m willing to bet they even have access to technology.”
“Some,” I grudgingly admitted.
“And you can’t imagine, for one minute, how that might look like benevolence?”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah. Handle your shit, Rook. Or have someone handle it for you. But get it done before Uther decides you’ve gone native. I’d hate to lose you just when you’re warming up to me.”
“Asshole.”
“Look.” He hesitated. “There is one— Forget it. Bad idea.”
“That’s never stopped you before.”
He blew out an irritated breath, which was usually my line. Probably meant he was serious about whatever shit idea was about to fall out of his mouth.
“I’m going to regret this. Uther’s due at the Dragon Border Alliance summit, but my informants tell me he’s…otherwise engaged.”
“Tormenting whatever unfortunate he’s laid his claws on, you mean?”
“Imean,” he said carefully, “that he needs someone to go in his stead. Someone with enough of a reputation that the other faction leaders won’t execute him for having the gall to speak in their presence.”
“And that’s of interest to me, why?”
“Are you really this socially inept, or are you just doing it to fuck with me?” Gaheris demanded. “If you want to proveyour loyalty, there are worse ways than volunteering to be his mouthpiece. Go to the meeting. Keep the peace. Listen to the other faction leaders waxing lyrical about the wonderful new world they’ve built.”
Every part of that sounded like my idea of hell. “Me? At the Dreary Bastards Association?”
“I’m regretting suggesting it already.”
“You’re right. That’s a shit idea.”
“Yeah. Let me know when you have a better one.”
“Fuck.”
I hung up the phone again, and drummed my fingers on the desk, mulling over my options. I didn’t want to go to war with Uther, not if I could avoid it. Might be preferable to going to a fucking summit, though.
We could defeat him in single combat.
Sure. Because hedefinitelywould choose single combat over his army of loyal followers.
It would be dishonorable to send someone in his stead.
And that surprises you because?
I shook my head. Fact was, Uther hadn’t gotten where he was by playing nice or worrying about his honor. And I didn’t think he’d hesitate to send a dozen dragons my way if he felt the need.
But I wasn’t about to go tearing the pack apart just to prove a point. For food, maybe. But not to prove a point.
I got to my feet with a sigh and rolled out my shoulders. Things moved slowly in the dragon world. I had time. And right now I had a new Tribute who’d probably sliced herself to piecesbreaking my decent china. I’d best go check she hadn’t managed to bleed out. She seemed the sort.
The dining room was empty when I reached it, and I scented the air, but couldn’t detect any freshly spilled blood. Mind, the lingering scent of that ‘soup’ could mask pretty much anything, up to and including a napalm attack. Better to be sure.
