Page 53 of Dragon Prince of New York

The men stay where they are, flanking the woman, who steps forward. She’s more relaxed than they are, but there’s a hard edge to her that’s only slightly softened by her long red hair, light sundress, and bare feet. She’s wearing a smile, but her gaze is cunning. It’s clear she’s the one who holds the power in the room.

“She knows nothing,” Kyro says, giving me a little shove forward. I stumble, but manage not to fall.

“What do you mean?” The woman narrows her eyes, and I squint right back. She doesn’t look like a dragon. How would I tell though? How many dragons have I met without knowing it? The thought is chilling.

“She’s not part of the horde,” Kyro continues. “Doesn’t know anything about it.”

Horde? A crowd, a group, a swarm, a… cult? They can’t mean… No. They can’t meanCyrus. He had his dick inside me just an hour ago—if he’s a dragon, I’d know.

Wouldn’t I?

The queen tilts her head. “So they won’t come for her?”

Her words stab at something deep inside me, but they don’t hurt the way they normally would. The place is raw, but surprisingly less tender than normal. Despite the spinning in my head and the shaking in my bones, I know Cyrus will come. For the first time since being snatched out of the penthouse, I take a full breath. He’ll come.

I know he’ll come.

If he can, that is. A new worry hollows out my chest. He’s currently in a cell somewhere for a stupid law Idon’t understand. He probably doesn’t even know I’m missing.

“If she’s not part of the horde and has no power, then we have no need for her.” She waves a hand dismissively. “Dispose of her.”

I don’t know exactly what she means by dispose, but my brain immediately conjures images of being thrown in the river to rot. “Wait!”

Pushing away the anxiety, I take a tiny step forward. This is no time to fall apart. I can fall apart about dragons and everything else later. Right now, I need to convince this woman I’m worth keeping alive.

“He’s right. I don’t know anything about… a horde. I didn’t know dragons existed until about five minutes ago, but Cyrus told me today that I’m his… mate. And he announced it to a group of people I can only assume might be this horde you’re talking about.”

“Can we verify that?” The woman says to one of the stoic men at her side. He reaches into his pocket, pulls out a phone, and steps to the side to type. I wonder if he’s texting Violeta to confirm or if he has some other contact.

The woman walks a circle around me, looking me over. “How is it you’re the queen’s sister and the prince’s mate, yet you know nothing of the horde?”

Jess is aqueen?I half-laugh, feeling a little of the mania creeping back in. “Yeah, trust me, they’re gonna get an earful from me the second you decide we’re gonna be friends and let me go.”

Her lips twitch in a way that gives me hope. My sister used to say I could win over the staunchest bully. Not with my sweetness, but with my ridiculous confidence. I need that confidence now.

“Why would I decide to be your friend?” she asks.

I lift one shoulder and lower it. “I like that outcome better than the other ones I can imagine.”

“Hm.” The queen, whose name I still don’t know, rubs her chin. “No one from the Gold Horde has ever been friends with anyone from the Silver Horde.”

“Guess it’s a good thing I’m not part of the horde, then.” I take a chance and walk over to the table, sitting down in a chair. With my hands still behind my back, it’s difficult, but I try to act casual, like we’re just sitting down to share a meal.

My heart is pounding like a manic drum, but my posture is relaxed. I really hope she’s buying it. I know I can be a bit abrasive sometimes, but something tells me this woman might actually appreciate that, so I lean into it.

I look over my shoulder with a forced, sardonicsmirk. “So,friend, sit down. Tell me what you want and why the fuck you kidnapped me.”

Chapter 30

Cyrus

Midas directs me toland before we cross the river into the Silver Horde’s territory. The short flight gave me time to cool down, but my heart still pumps wildly, and I can’t stop shaking.

The dragons with us, drop under the freeway and we all land, forming a small contingent hidden from human eyes.

“They’re most likely holding her at their headquarters,” Midas says. “It’s not a big building, but it’s heavily guarded. So we go in strong and draw them out.”

“Wait.” Anxious tension pulls my muscles taut and makes my chest ache. “I don’t think that’s the right play.”

---