Page 44 of Ash

She hesitated, and then offered, “Dani.”

“Well, Dani. I look forward to discussing what you might know about Rindek. Even the smallest detail might help. But for now, rest and eat. If you wish to take a shower, your clothes will arrive shortly.”

Still clutching the sword, she sidled away from the door. Her movements were clumsy—her beast legs weren’t designed to walk upright. Tyrez moved so she could regain the bedroom doorway.

She glanced at the curtained bed. “Is that where you sleep?”

“For the duration of your stay, I will use the couch.” His gaze moved to where it lay against the far wall. “If you haven’t broken it.”

“I’m sure it’s fine,” she groused as she managed to stumble to the bedroom door. “It’s a good place for yoou.”

And with that, she slammed the door behind her.

Tyrez stared after her and then shook his head. What a woman. Dani was fierce enough to give a Dragona a run for her money. He hoped the information they got from her was worth the sore neck he was likely to get by sleeping on the sharding couch. The stuff in his bedroom was ancient, and built by Dragons. He’d given the original living room furniture to Razir. Now, as he straightened the couch, he regretted his predilection for human furniture. No way it was made to accommodate a seven-foot sleeping Dragon shifter. Maybe he could get his old couch back from his brother.

Thoughts of Razir brought his recent conversation to mind. He was going to have his work cut out for him with his father when the Emperor discovered Dani was here. But this would all be worth it if she could lead them to Rindek, and the captive Oracle.

He sighed and bent to pick up the knives.

13

The Dragon’s shower was an impressive thing.

Easily large enough to house a rhino. Or, she guessed, a small Dragon. Fortunately, there was a selection of nozzles, two of which had been placed for human forms. Seven-foot human forms, but if she stood back from the wall, it worked.

Dani turned the temperature up until it threatened to burn her, but the water felt so damned good. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d showered with true heat. The soap smelled a little odd, a spicy fragrance more suited to a male, but she wasn’t complaining.

When she shut the shower off, she heard loud voices.

These Dragons argued a lot. She wrapped herself in a towel, but when she left the bathroom, a black robe lay on the bed.

It was huge on her, trailing to the ground with excess fabric everywhere. She wrapped it around her and moved to the ledge, hoping to overhear.

It immediately became obvious that, like before, she was the argument’s focus.

“She should be moved to a cell. You cannot have her staying in your apartment.” The voice had a rasping undertone. Age?

“Seriously, Thadus.” A female voice. A female Dragon? “There is no reason why she cannot stay here. The girl has been through a terrible ordeal. You are overreacting.”

“I saw the reports on the battle in the forest. If anything, I amunderreacting.”

“She did bury me under a ton of dirt.” A younger voice. The same one as before?

“She was under the Archmage’s control at that time. That is over.” There was no mistaking the deep rumble that caused her toes to curl and her heart to pound.

“Archmage?” More than one voice at once.

“She has confirmed that Rindek calls himself an Archmage.”

Silence. Then, the other young voice spat, “Shards.”

“You have no guarantee as to her allegiance.” The older voice again. “Perhaps she’s still the Archmage’s agent, put here to bring the palace down around our ears.”

Okay. She wasn’t going to stand here and put up with that. She skittered onto the bedroom ledge and eased herself around the partial barrier wall between it and the living room.

They must have heard her coming, because all conversation ceased. Certainly, the two huge men standing just inside the ledge were ready for her. They both had long, glowing swords in their hands and raised them, their faces set and grim.

“Put those down,” Tyrez ordered.

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