Page 72 of Fated for his Flame

“Yes. The photographs of you meeting with the CIA agent. You played your part here well. Nobody suspected a thing.”

“That is the role of a spy,” I drawled.

“So, you admit you’re a spy?”

I thought about the language of her question.

“I admit I was sent here to spy on you,” I said.

“An interesting choice of words,” the sovereign said, her green eyes flickering with an intelligence I found myself admiring. She was fast.

“If you say so.” I considered spilling the beans, telling her everything, but what would that get me? Nothing. No, they would have to ask the question first. To prove they could.

Then I would tell them. But not before.

Not that I didn’t want to. I longed to just open, to make everything better. I wanted to see Silas again. To feel his arms around me. I stared at the ceiling, willing myself to not cry.

I’m stronger than this.

It had hurt. The instantaneous way in which he’d flipped his opinion of me. Revealing just how deep the prejudices ran. I’d thought he was different.

But I was wrong, and it sucked so much. An empty feeling, where his presence should be.

“Do you have anything else you wish to say?” the leader of all dragons asked, coming closer, arms crossed. Even in the dim light of the cell, her platinum-blonde hair seemed to shimmer and glow.

That wasn’t fair either.

“Not to that question,” I said. “I’ve already made Silas’ life difficult enough. I’m not about to make it worse if that’s what you’re hoping for.”

She tilted her head, staring down at me. “All I hope for is peace and happiness among my people.”

“Well, now you have it,” I said dryly. “You’ve exposed me, and you can all unite in your hatred. Congrats. Yay.”

“You don’t seem to care about your situation.”

“I guess we’re both just making assumptions then, aren’t we?” I shot back.

The sovereign gave me a hard stare. “Spit it out.”

I shook my head. “Ask the right question.”

“And what would that be?”

“I can’t tell you. You have to ask it on your own.”

“If you don’t say anything, the Council will likely vote to kill you.”

“Well, then at least Silas’ life will be better off, not having to deal with me hanging over his head for much longer.”

The sovereign frowned. “I’m not so sure I believe that.”

I fixed her with a thoughtful gaze. She was so close. Could she see through her own prejudices? Because if the ruler of all dragons couldn’t, then there was no point. I would never be welcome among them. Never be trusted.

“You do want him back, don’t you?”

“I care for him if that’s what you’re asking. That was not a lie.”

She nodded slowly. “I believe you.”

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