Page 5 of Dragon Unleashed

He nods, a tiny line marring his flawless brow, before stepping forward and enveloping me in a hug. After a moment I slip my hands behind his back and nestle my head against his shoulder. His light vanilla scent calms my racing pulse. Chano’s arms stay firmly around me, and wedged between them both, I feel safe for the first time tonight.

A cough, far too close, rips the moment apart. The Virrey grasps my elbow, tugging me out from between the boys, ignoring my protests. He drapes an arm over my shoulder and marches us toward a huddle of elegant guests. Out the cornerof my eye I catch Naeve’s flapping her hands, as she extricates herself from her conversation and plows after us.

“I need you to mingle, little Lorelei.”

In the middle of the group we’re heading toward stands Farrell, engaging smile on his face, hands moving as he talks.

Oh hell no.

My feet grind to a halt, but the Virrey propels me on, using his magic to force me forward. My skin crawls at the invasion of his foreign magic, and I have to concentrate on pushing my own power down.

“Lorelei Bal, meet Lady Keres Tenebrae. She will be taking the position of associate dean at Fates Academy this year.”

A tall slim woman in a floor-length black silk dress turns to me, inclining her head slightly. As her eyes meet mine, I can’t help my audible intake of breath. Her irises…one is light blue and the other such a dark brown it’s almost black. The contrast, along with her unwavering gaze, is truly unsettling.

Naeve, arriving at my side, elbows me. She pulls my hand and forces me into a weird half curtsy beside her perfect one. The effect is as graceful as a newborn hippogriff, and I stumble in my fancy heels.

“Lady Tenebrae, delighted to meet you again,” Naeve says, gripping my arm tightly and hauling me back up.

The so-called lady doesn’t acknowledge Naeve. Instead, she inclines her head at me before turning back to the Virrey. Naeve flinches, and my hackles rise. She snubbed Naeve. And Naevecaresabout that crap. This woman is already on my shit list.

“Lorelei, I was just discussing with Lady Tenebrae how the academy will play down your allegiance growing to five. We don’t need the attention,” the Virrey says.

“We agreed on something to keep the gossips happily occupied.” The lady’s voice is a husky baritone, not at all what I was expecting from the thin woman in front of me.

“Indeed,” the Virrey says, gesturing for Farrell to step closer. “To that end, I’ve granted Farrell permission to pursue you.”

I am already glaring at Farrell when the words sink in.You what?

“Well, it’s obvious this thing you have with the Maverik…” The Virrey flaps his hand dismissively in Chano’s direction.

“He’s my Aeternum,” I protest.

We’ve bonded. Only to the first stage, granted, but already I can sense his emotions when we’re in the same room. Like rage, right now.

“Yes, yes. But an Aeternum pair throws off the natural balance of an allegiance. Farrell bedding you might even redress that. After all, balanceiscrucial. Plus, it will give the school something else to talk about—a Maverik and a Cuelebre drawn together over the same girl…” The Virrey stares off into the distance. “And it will give people time to get used to the idea of us all being on the same side. Because we are, aren’t we?”

His forced grin is terrifying, but the unvoiced threat is doing nothing to dampen my anger.

“You are insane.” My voice carries beyond our immediate circle, drawing stares. I drop it to a hiss. “You think I’d be interested after Farrell choseyouover his own allegiance? Over me?”

“Blood is thicker and all that. Only natural for you to be angry, I suppose, but you’ll get over it. He has my permission to pursue you, for now.” The Virrey turns from me, as if the conversation is over.

“You think that I wouldeverentertain the idea that Farrell and I…”

I can’t contain the searing heat inside me, and dammit, I don’t want to. How dare this man? My horns rip out of the top of my head, upsetting the intricate braiding in my hair, and two little fangs descend over my lip.

Lady Tenebrae cocks her head to the side, her eyes lighting up. She moves toward me, fingers outstretched for my face. Farrell steps smartly between us, knocking her hand away and grabbing my arm. He swings me to face him.

The last person I want touching me is this asshole.

“Control yourself, Lorelei,” he barks. The tendrils of his magic wrap around me, merging with my own, forming our allegiance bond. But instead of helping, lending me his power, he pulls. My magic is ripped out, drawn toward him like a giant elastic band, stretched taut. He’s draining me.

I jerk my arm free and push back, forcibly yanking our magic apart. It tears and wrenches, nausea rising in my throat. How dare he? My magic coils around my core, twisting, building, spilling over into the room.

Flames lick down my arms, sending sparks into the air above us. Someone shouts my name, but the voice is distorted, as if my head’s underwater. I flick my wrist at Farrell and lift him into the air. He spins slowly in a circle, mouth opening and shutting, screaming obscenities. Asshole.

With a twitch of my finger, I set Farrell’s clothes alight. Just the clothes. I twirl him around and around in a whirlpool of dark aether that allows no one to get close. Nowhe’sthe one on display. Let all these people whisper abouthim. Let him see how it feels. Control myself? This is control.

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