Page 55 of Dragon Unleashed

We share a grin before I turn back to Farrell.

“That was a shitshow today.”

He observes me morosely.

“Well, congratulations.” I throw the note toward him, but it barely makes half the distance across the desk before falling with a wet slap. Farrell leans forward, flicking it over. His entire posture stiffens.

“Do not think for one second,princess, that you are capable of usurping me.”

Something in my head flips. This absolute bonehead is still making up his own reality. Flames flicker up and down my arms. I fight my exhaustion, desperately trying to rein in my magic. Zephyr stares between us, hands on his hips. When neither of us utters another word, he prowls forward to read the note. He whistles, long and low.

“Doesn’t sound like she needs to do much to get their loyalty, bro.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. Not helpful.

“She better not do a damn thing,” Farrell says.

I snap my fingers. “I’m right here, boys. You forget, I do not want this. I didn’t want it when I thought I would be forced to stand beside you as your allegiance—”

“As my wife,” Farrell interrupts, and Zephyr whistles again.

I plow on, ignoring both the asshole and the idiot. “And I donotwant it now, as a ?princess.’ I have no such aspirations. Just leave me and my aether the hell alone. Let me live my own life. I do not want to lead your damn rebellion.”

“Make sure it stays that way.”

“Or what?” I snap back.

“Or I’ll make sure Chano knows you’re one of those sneaky royals he hates so much. I’ll make sure he knows exactly how long you’ve been keeping it from him.”

That again. If I don’t tell Chano, he will. Or he’ll hold the threat over me forever. For everything. He can keep his crappy rebellion, but I can’t leave him with constant leverage.

What if Chano’s right? What if our bond is vulnerable and I drop this shit on him? I chew my lip. We need a stronger bond. I can’t lose him. Not to a hatred that doesn’t involve either of us. Not to something that happened a generation ago.

I turn on my heel and leave the room, ignoring the raised voices behind me.

Chano will be ecstatic.

Chapter Twenty-five: Lorelei

“I think you’re right.” The words are barely out of my mouth before Chano narrows his eyes and grabs the sides of my face in his hands.

“Who are you? What have you done with my Lorelei?”

I giggle, shoving at his chest. He lands with his butt half off the library seat, arms flailing. Books and papers scatter as he grabs at the table to right himself. The skinny, dusty librarian tuts from her desk but she doesn’t dare tell Chano off.

“I had another argument with Farrell.”

Chano straightens, his laughter lines erased. “Did he hurt you, chica?”

“No, but I’m worried he could. Or that he could hurt us.”Nothing like dancing around the damn subject.I close the books in front of me. “Between the Cuelebres and yourtios…I know it’s not very romantic but…”

Chano leans in so our noses are touching, our breaths mingling. “Are you trying to say what I think you are? Don’t play with me. Say what you mean, say it straight.”

I give him a lopsided grin. “It’s not remotely romantic to do this out of fear, but I do love you, Chano Maverik. You can romance me later, let’s have the ceremony now.”

Chano takes a deep breath in, then another. Dammit, is he ever going to say anything?

“Yes!” He leaps to his feet and lifts me up under my arms, swinging us in a circle, my feet off the ground. My legs clatter into a pile of books, toppling them, and Chano trips over his chair, falling backward. We land in a heap of limbs and smiles. He presses his lips to mine for a long moment.

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