Page 34 of The Dragon Sacrifice

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Stenton watched his brother waltz back from his encounter with Seela. Langdon looked as if he were practically floating on air. Serious, boring Langdon was whistling. Had he mated with her? Stenton swore that if either brother bedded the beautiful Seela before him, he’d hang up his hat and never chase another woman again.

He whipped around the corner, catching Langdon off guard. “Awfully happy, aren’t we?”

“Stenton.” Langdon’s gaze assessed him as the satisfied smile fell off his face. “What are you doing here?”

Stenton studied his nails like he had nothing better to do. “Oh, you know, just pondering our imminent deaths. That is, unless you were able to seduce the sweet Seela? Did she unlock your secrets, Lang?”

Langdon blushed before dismissing the idea. “No, no, no. Nothing like that.”

“Then what was it like?”

Langdon’s smile could not stay off his face. “A gentleman never kisses and tells.”

“Her cries of passion did enough telling for the both of you,” Stenton said.

“Oh, that.” Another blush from Langdon.

“That. So?”

Langdon shook his head. “We didn’t go all the way. But she was quite satisfied, I assure you.”

“That’s great. But, hey, listen. All our lives depend on us seeing if Seela’s honey pot can undo our curse, so I would’ve thought you might have at least tried to—”

“It’s not like that,” Langdon said. “She is a virgin.”

They had suspected, but now they knew for sure. “I see.” Stenton rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “That does change things.”

“It does,” Langdon agreed.

“And yet, we are running out of time.”

Langdon stared forlornly down the dim cave hallway.

“If we were to tell her—”

Langdon cut him off. “No. That would be too much pressure.”

Stenton raised an eyebrow. “And yet, she will die, too, if the horde breaches our door.”

“It hasn’t come to that.” Langdon took a step back, eyeing his brother seriously. “We are not going to tell her.”

“Fine. But let me have my chance. What is the sweet Seela doing now?”

“Studying in the library.” Langdon paused, adding, “And recovering.”

“You sly dog,” Stenton added dryly. “All right. Then tonight, it’ll be my turn with her.”

Langdon’s hand reached out, gripping Stenton’s shirt and shoving him against the wall. Stenton often forgot how big his older brother was, how powerful. He did not forget now, pressed against the rock as he was.

“Let go of me,” Stenton growled.

“You listen to me,” Langdon said through his teeth. “If you do anything to hurt her—”

Stenton held his hands up. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“You better not.”

Stenton narrowed his eyes. “What kind of man do you take me for?”

Langdon let go of Stenton’s shirt. “Just… be careful.”

“Brother,” Stenton said, straightening his shirt, “I’m always careful.”

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