Page 20 of Fated for his Flame

“You heard that?”

“Most of it,” I said. “Thank you, by the way, for defending me.”

A surge of guilt rose in my stomach, sinking its teeth in and beginning to gnaw away at me. Not that I would do anything about it. As defensive—and sexy—as Silas was, I had to remember I was there on a mission. Everything his father had said about me was true. But I couldn’t admit it.

“I suppose he’s not quiet, is he?” Silas said, calmly accepting I’d overheard the entire thing.

I just smiled back at him. It was easier than pointing out neither of them were soft-spoken. In fact, it was quite easy to see they were father and son. Right then, though, that was the last thing Silas would want to hear.

“So, what does it all mean? What proposal was he referring to?” I asked, pausing at the edge of the landing area while Silas moved to its center. I was beginning to understand some parts of their culture.

He shifted before replying.

I stepped back, the abrupt change still catching me by surprise with its speed. It felt like it should take time, but in reality, it was over in an eyeblink. I wondered if I would ever get used to that.

“My father sits on the ruling Council for all dragons,” Silas explained, his voice deeper but less gravelly and more melodic when in his dragon form. It wasn’t quite his voice, but it was definitely still him. “I’d hoped to get him to push forward a proposal regarding the territory we now control on your east coast.”

He extended one wing toward me as he talked but fell silent while I climbed up it, still a little unsteady on the slightly stretchy membrane. When I was firmly seated behind his neck, he resumed speaking.

“Right now, we guard the borders, but that’s about it,” he said.

“I’d heard something to that extent,” I said, recalling the briefing I’d been given before departing. “That it’s rule of arms. Some dragons carving out sections for their own, while in other areas, human ‘warlords’ are setting up shop. It’s not pretty.”

“No, it’s not,” he agreed. “We can do better. What I wanted was for him to advance a proposal before the sovereign that would see the creation of a dragon governor for these territories. Someone who could rule and decide how things are to be done. With his current pull and allies, we should be able to get someone from our family installed in that position. Doing so would give us tremendous power, securing our future for a long, long time.”

Never once did he talk about the humans. He wasn’t doing it for them. It was a play for power. But it would help them. Bringing stability would be good for all.

“Why was he backing it in the first place?” I asked, curious about the motivation there. “It doesn’t seem like he suddenly started hating humans because of me.”

“I may have led him to be under the impression I would finally cave and accept a proper dragon woman as a mate,” he said, looking away. “Not quite possible now with you around.”

“So, does that mean it’s no longer possible?”

Silas set his jaw. “My father is just one man, and the proposal had a lot of support from his allies because they would benefit from the stability it would grant by keeping us as the strongest of the families. Today was … a changing point, I think, but it’s too early to see how in terms of his sway. But in the meantime, I intend to teach you how to be a ‘proper’ dragon lady.”

“Why?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“So, when we visit the others, they’ll see there’s potential merit in having humans who don’t hate us. Which we can get if we rule them properly.”

I didn’t love the idea of being his show human, but it would certainly expose me to a lot more of life on the Isles. Not to mention, lead to meeting many of the influential dragon leaders. Who knew what they might slip with me around.

“Maybe we can get enough support,” he added, stretching his wings wide and leaping into the air. “I’m sure others will see the strength in you as I do. Then we can get it passed.”

His determination was palpable. He wanted this badly. But why was he so intent on doing it all himself?’

“You want the governorship for yourself,” I said, understanding dawning.

“Yes,” he said without reservation. “It’ll give me a power base. Then, when I take over the house from my father, Caleb will take over for me. It will secure our family’s position for the foreseeable future.”

I nodded, my brain playing through the scenarios. I leaned forward against his neck as he increased speed, trying to focus on the politics in play and not the ground rushing away from us below. It was hard.

“And if we don’t get the support you need?” I asked, not having enough knowledge of dragon politics to know how that would play out long-term.

“Then there’s a good chance my father will manufacture evidence that points to you being here on some sort of agenda or mission just as he said.”

“Will that lead him to get rid of me?” I asked, not having to fake my nervousness.

“Likely,” Silas grunted. “But we’ll be careful. You’ll stay with me at all times. Just in case.”

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