Page 11 of The Dragon's Captured Heart
“So the wayIsee it,” he said, “your government wasn’t going to bat an eye about a volunteer or not. Eight people is nothing compared to those saved by a ceasefire.”
Air shot into my lungs as I prepared to unleash on him, but he held up a hand to forestall my explosive outburst.
“Listen. I’m not saying Iagreewith that, remember? Nor am I saying it’s what I would have done if I were sovereign. But if you take a moment to look at it through a neutral lens, you’ll see it’s pretty obvious. Your government sold you out. Although I know seeing it that way might be hard, given your current situation.”
“I don’t believe you,” I said automatically.
But I didn’t argue.
Not because there’s any truth to what he’s saying. There isn’t. But I have bigger fish to fry right now.
Callum waited silently as I processed it all.
“Great,” I said at last. “So, I’m stuck here now, with you, someone who seems just as enthusiastic to have me as I am to be here. What fun.”
“It’s more complicated than that,” Callum said, gesturing for me to get going again.
“Nothing is ever as simple as it seems,” I muttered, still trying to decide what to do next.
There was no way I would just give in and make the best of it. That wasn’t me. I was a soldier. We didn’t give up.
So, what then? Fighting was out of the question. Even if he wasn’t a dragon, I wasn’t overpowering this giant.
I would have to find another way. A means of escape. But to do that meant knowing what I was up against.
Which meant spending time with him, learning his weaknesses. Reluctantly, I followed him. It wasn’t permanent, though.
I wouldn’t be stuck here for a minute longer than absolutely necessary.
Chapter Seven
Callum
The walk back to my quarters within the palace was excruciating. With each step, I worried my dragon would betray me. My temples pounded with the effort of controlling the raging beast.
“Here,” I said, pushing open the door and walking inside.
Manners dictated I should have let her go in first. But common sense screamed that, at that moment, if I watched her walk past, I wouldn’t be able to maintain control of myself.
Keep it together.
The mantra was slowly failing, and the audibleclickas the door closed, leaving us alone, did nothing to help the insatiable lust concentrating far too strongly between my legs.
For her part, Madison—I’d finally remembered to ask for her name—seemed oblivious to my desires and the heat I knew had to be all but pouring off me.
“I hope you don’t expect me to just jump into bed with you,” she said, looking around.
I sighed at the acidity in her tone. “It would be great if you laid off the attitude for a bit.” I pointed down the hallway to our left. “For your information, the first door on the left is a spare room you can have. Assuming it’s up to your standards.”
Madison blinked. “Really?”
The surprise appeared genuine, though I didn’t know her well enough to be certain.
“No, it’s a sex dungeon where I intend to keep you for the rest of your days,” I said sarcastically. “Yes, really. Despite what you might think, you’re not actually my concubine, Madison.”
“Oh.”
My dragon flared once more. There was no way that wasdisappointmentin her voice.
