“She is not our prisoner. That is not the way to win her.”
The tension bled from his dragon.“You have a plan?”
“The same one we came up with before. We woo her. At least there is honesty between us now. Lies aren’t a solid foundation for a relationship.”
His dragon released a derisive hoot.“You’ve been listening to humans. We require quality dragon time. Immediately!”
“Soon,” Leo muttered, offended by his inner beast. “You experience the magnetic pull toward her. When we make love, magic will fill the air. I wish to savor every moment. We willnotforce ourselves on Gwenyth. We will—”
“If you continue this chatter, you’ll scare her away,”his dragon snapped.“I’ll never forgive you.”
Leo refrained from comment, but Gwenyth enticed his dragon and seduced his human side. They’d work together to win the fair maiden, which was as it should be. The two parts desiring the same outcome.
“How will we court her?”
“We will begin by cooking her a tasty meal,” Leo said.
“I could eat,”his dragon said.“What of the parental summons?”
“We must go.” Leo scowled. “This is my fault. Instead of seeking my family’s respect, I should’ve made my independence clear. They never see me as anything other than a tool.”
“You were wise not to tell them you’re the creator of the Marquess brand.”
“My family has no inkling of our wealth or our network of friends. To them, I am still a weakling. A child.”
“You have a plan.”
Leo snatched one last lingering glance at the woman who’d given him the impetus and the reason for the coming family confrontation. Gwenyth’s musical laughter floated on the air as she played with the pup.
His dragon issued a lengthy sigh, echoing his awe and admiration.“She’s beautiful.”
“After dinner, we will ask Gwenyth if she’d enjoy a walk.”
“We start our wooing?”
“We’ll make her a special ring. The one I started a few days ago will be perfect.”
“For our marriage,”his dragon said with such eagerness, Leo’s lips twitched.
“Gwenyth may say no.”
“We must point out marriage to us will offer her protection.”
“As long as none of my family nor those in their circle get close enough to hurt Gwenyth.”
“Let them try,”his dragon snapped.
“They will,” Leo said, certainty in his gut. The sudden betrothal arrangements raised his suspicions. He was missing facts of which his family was aware. “Our castle network might yield results. We should’ve consulted our contacts before leaving the castle.”
“We wouldn’t have met Gwenyth,”his dragon pointed out.
Leo strode indoors, his mind full of the tasks he needed to complete. Unfortunately, he’d have to delay his trip to Perfume Isle. Once he reached the castle, he’d send a message via a trusted friend. That would have to suffice until he could speak to his friends in person.
“We’re not going to have sex with her.”
His dragon’s accusation focused Leo on the present. “That bit about wooing Gwenyth instead of forcing her—that applies until Gwenyth signals us otherwise.”
“But—”
