Page 4 of Dragon Unleashed

The entire ballroom is silent; not even the waiting staff move.

“All you have to do, Maverik, is kneel before me, before Farrell. Accept us as your leaders.”

Chano clenches his fists.

Silas and the silver fox step up quickly, one on either side of me, each grabbing an arm tightly enough to bruise.

The Virrey leans in close to Chano, talking so quietly only those on the stage can hear. “I won’t hesitate to use your bond to Lorelei to punish you. If she gets hurt in the process…” He shrugs, looking almost excited by the prospect. “Well, then I’ll heal her and do it again, and again, until you learn respect. Now, kneel.”

I shove at Silas with my air magic, catching him by surprise, before wrenching free of the other henchman. In three quick steps my hand is on Chano’s chest, my face peering up into his.

“You don’t need to do this.”

Chano drops his face to my hair and heaves a deep breath, calming himself. We stand like that for only a few seconds, then he’s pulling away. He holds my gaze as he sinks to his knees in front of me. I shake my head frantically.

“I told you before, chica, you’re my weakness. I will do anything to keep you safe.” He bows his head and whispers, “I kneel foryou. Play their game. Just for now.”

The Virrey shoulders me out of the way and lays his hand on Chano’s head, a nasty smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.He turns to Farrell expectantly. There’s a hesitation on Farrell’s face. The Virrey hasn’t won, not yet. But if Farrell carries this through, Chano will never forgive him. I’ll never forgive him.

It will wreck our allegiance.

Placing my palm on Farrell’s forearm I send my magic into him, soothing our bond, sending him power. We’re strong together. He has to see that, feel it. He doesn’t have to do this. He can defy his father.

Farrell’s beast flickers to the surface and for a second he stares back at me with slits for pupils. But the next moment his beast vanishes, and he pushes past me with heavy steps.

Farrell mirrors the Virrey’s stance, his hand coming to rest on Chano’s head.

Who does he think he is? Acting like royalty. Magic roils inside me, desperate to escape, to make them pay.

“Rise, Chano Maverik, having accepted your place. Rise as part of our future.”

Black spots dance across my vision and my horns prickle the inside of my skull, begging for an escape.They shouldn’t have made him kneel.

As he rises Chano moves toward me, grasping my hand in his, shaking his head. But the repressed fury in his eyes tells me everything I need to know. There’s no way back from this.

Farrell grabs Naeve and Zephyr before jerking his chin for us to follow suit. On autopilot, I keep hold of Chano as he reaches for Naeve. We step forward and, following Farrell’s lead, raise our linked hands.

Our wrists are bared to the crowd, and they see our five-pointed allegiance marks for the first time. Cheering erupts again, a wall of white noise. I stare blankly out over the excited group.

Farrell’s father didn’t even have to threaten him.

Speech over, Zephyr hooks my arm in his and steers us down the stairs and into a quiet corner of the ballroom. Chano pads softly behind. My breathing is coming in little pants and I’m holding on by the barest thread.I will tear Farrell apart for this.

Zephyr’s normally languid expression is pinched. He swipes two glasses from a passing waiter, pressing one into my hands.

“Drink, Lorelei. Breathe.” He pats my arm.

Throwing back my head, I down the fizzy golden liquid in one. Laced with fae liquor, it burns all the way down. My fingers grip the glass, turning white, until the delicate stem cracks.

“Keep that asshole the hell away from me,” I say, clutching the broken glass in my hand. A thin trickle of blood drips to the floor.

For a second Zephyr looks confused. “The Virrey?”

“No,idiota,” Chano replies, “your scheming, double-crossing dictator of a friend. Your master.” Chano’s deep tones vibrate through my chest as his arms come around me from behind, and he tugs me into him. He takes the shards from my fingers and sets them on the tray of a passing waiter. I lean back, letting his heat comfort me.

Zephyr runs a hand though his long hair. “There’s a reason for all this. There has to be. Farrell wouldn’t—”

“Don’t. Do not cover for him, Z. He’s gone too far,” I say.

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