Page 9 of Dragon Unleashed

“Just say it, Cuelebre.”

“Fine. But Lorelei? Keep hold of your power.” He pauses, only continuing when I give him a stiff nod. “Years ago, my father was slighted by the Angel King, marginalized. His hatred of the man was born. With time he realized many others felt the same. The more tyrannical the Angel King became, the more my father’s popularity grew. He wants to spawn an uprising. My father thinks the people will revolt if they have a leader they can believe in.”

I can’t hold back a snort. “And that power-hungry slimeball you call a father is someone people can get behind?”

“Not the Virrey,” Naeve blurts, before covering her mouth with her hand.

“Whatexactlydo you mean ?not the Virrey’?”

“It’s me,” Farrell says. “I’ll be the leader of the rebellion, with my father’s backing. And as my allegiance, you’ll be by my side. All of you. You all hate the things the Angel King does. You hate what he stands for. You want this.”

“Don’t tell me what I want,” I snap. “You kept this a secret, knowing we’d get caught up in it eventually? Letting your father threaten us too. This is all wrong. And you, Naeve, youknew.”

Words fail me.

Naeve picks frantically at the rug, refusing to meet my eyes.

“I wanted to tell you, but the whole rebellion was at stake. I don’t trust the Virrey but I do trust Farrell, after everything he’s done for me…”

Chano thumps the table beside us. “You plan to overthrow the Angel King, and instead of a democracy you’ll, what, set yourself up as the new dictator? Screw that. Screw the old royals, screw the Angel King, and screw you. I willneverhelp put anyone on the throne. Not after what the last monarchy did to demons.”

Chano’s muscles are hard and tense beneath me, and I squirm uncomfortably in his lap. His hands clamp to my hips, holding me in place, and his anger seeps down our bond. It’s twisted up and so bitter I can almost taste it.

I bite my lip and concentrate on blocking his rush of emotion, cutting off our connection. His grip tightens in protest. But I can’t have his anger coloring my thoughts. Not now. What do I feel about all this? WhatshouldI feel? My head’s spinning.

Zephyr’s no longer lounging but sitting bolt upright, his sea-green eyes pleading with me.

“I’ve heard Naeve’s pathetic excuse, what’s yours?” I ignore Naeve’s hurt little gasp. “Why keep it from us? Why side with Farrell? Or did he compel you?”

The others flinch. Zephyr stands quickly, pacing the room.

“Look, Lorelei. I chose Farrell, I willalwayschoose Farrell.”

His words hit me like a smack in the face. “Because of the slave bond?”

Zephyr scowls. “In spite of the bond. I trust Farrell, and his leadership. If he thought it better not to tell you…well, I didn’t have to like it, but I trusted it was the right thing.”

A knot forms in my stomach. They grew up together; of course they’re going to be loyal to each other. I just thought—

“And what,” Chano interrupts my thoughts, “you don’t trust Lorelei?”

“I will always choose him, Lorelei,” Zephyr repeats as if Chano hadn’t spoken. “It doesn’t matter how much I fancy you…” He stops pacing to trail a hand down my arm. He grasps my hand, lacing our fingers together, staring into my face. “I will always choose Farrell.”

Chano explodes off the chair, dragging me up with him.

Zephyr fancies me?

Slowly, the searing anger in my gut builds until I can’t contain it. This time the emotion is all my own. I slam my hands into Zephyr’s chest, shoving him back. I push at him again, and again.

“How dare you?” I snarl.

Zephyr stumbles.

“How dare you try your flirtatious crap on me? You might make any other girl swoon and bend to your will, but you don’t get to do that to me.”

“What?” Zephyr sounds genuinely perplexed, and my anger kicks up a notch.

“You’re trying to placate me, telling me you fancy me. So, what, somehow that makes everything else okay? Makes betraying my trust okay?”

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