Page 8 of Dragon Unleashed

“I have leverage, over each of you. Farrell might not want to threaten his allegiance, but I have no such compunction.” The Virrey stalks toward Naeve, looming over her. “Naeve, darling, disobey me and I will have your father jailed for harboring a Denier.” Naeve’s hand flies to her mouth and she stutters a protest. “Silence. Don’t refute it.”

Naeve lets out a hiccuping gasp. She clasps and unclasps her hands, her eyes growing shiny with unshed tears. Zephyr steps toward her, gently rubbing her shoulder, glaring at the Virrey.

“Ah, Zephyr,youwant to defy me? When your sisters depend on the stipend I send? Think about it.”

Zephyr’s beautiful face bunches up in a scowl. “You promised. As long as I remain at Farrell’s side, they get that money.”

“Did I?” The Virrey strokes his chin. “Hmm. I am forgetful in my old age.”

“Screw you, old man.” Zephyr runs his hand through his hair so many times he looks like a scarecrow.

The Virrey smiles and my heart sinks.

“Or perhaps, as punishment, I slave bond Lorelei the way I did you. You could be the one responsible for her lifetime of servitude. Would that threat keep you more in line?”

The Virrey cackles at Zephyr’s ashen face. Zephyr skims his fingers over the hidden slave mark at the nape of his neck, and he shoots me a desperate look.

“I thought so.” The Virrey peers down his nose at him before stepping toward Chano. “Maverik, it’s so very simple with you.You will behave or your Aeternum will suffer. Lorelei is my ward. I can do what I want. Hear me, boy?”

Chano gives a curt nod while he holds the Virrey’s stare. Seemingly satisfied, the Virrey moves toward me, halting mere inches away.

“Lorelei, child, you’re mine.” A tight band constricts my chest. I did this to myself. I didn’tknowwardships were transferable. He walks away, done with me.

He owns my ass; Why would he need another threat?

“Farrell, son, you know what’s at stake here. I have guests to entertain. Explain what role your allegiance will play in our future. They don’t need specifics, just the bare bones.”

Chapter Four: Lorelei

Farrell flops into a giant red leather chair at the side of the fireplace, tips his head back, and stares at the ceiling.

“Start talking,” I say, my voice a low growl.

“About what?” Farrell’s eyes skip to Chano and dread pools in my gut.

“Your father didn’t guess Chano was our fifth, did he? You told him. You told him!”

Naeve sinks onto the rug in front of the fire, absently picking at the fine threads. “It’s not true, Farrell, is it?”

Farrell thumps his fist on the arm of his chair. “I had to give him something.”

Chano looms over Farrell. “You had no right to make that decision alone. You aren’t our leader, you arrogantputa.”

“He was pushing. And he mustn’t learn how strong Lorelei is getting. I thought…” Farrell stares unfocused into the flames. “I thought he might do something drastic to rein her in. HeknewI was hiding something. Whatever I told him, it had to be big enough to throw him off.”

He stares accusingly at me.

“And how long do you really think we could have kept it a secret in school? It was hard enough last year. No, I had to.”

Chano’s eyes narrow and he leans down, right in Farrell’s space. “You didn’t even warn me. You’re meant to have my back and instead you exposed it.” He throws himself down in the chair opposite Farrell and gathers me into his lap. “How can I trust you with Lorelei? You betrayed me, you could do the same to her.”

Chano buries his nose in the crook of my neck. He takes a deep breath in, sending shivers over my skin.

His next words come out calmer, more measured. “It’s done. I won’t forget it. Won’t forgive it. But there’s more, isn’t there? Your father said—”

“This is a shitshow,” mutters Zephyr, pulling off his dinner jacket and slouching on the arm of Farrell’s chair. His elegant suit is a rumpled mess.

Farrell readjusts his cuff links. “I didn’t want to tell you like this.”

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