* * * * *
Several hours later, Leo strode to the battlefield to consult with Jakab. Although he’d met with his friends, he’d learned little. Frustration tensed his muscles, and he had to concentrate on holding his human form.
“Let me out,”his dragon roared.“Now is the time to attack. Take them off guard.”
“We require a plan,” Leo gritted out. He coughed from the surge of dense smoke that poured from his throat. “Quit it. You’re wearing us out when we require every bit of cunning and intelligence to recover our mate. What would she say if she saw this tantrum of yours?”
His dragon paused, and it surprised Leo his other half was listening to him.
“You’re right,”his dragon said, his tone sulky.“I will work with you rather than against. What is our plan?”
“We’ll hear what Jakab has learned first,” Leo said.
“There you are! I’ve searched the castle for you.”
Leo turned to face Telus. “Now you’ve found me.”
“You’re required at the tailor to have your fitting for the celebration ball tomorrow. Your mother is insistent you appear in the correct clothes.”
“No.” Leo turned his back on the butler.
“Your mother informed me if you ignored her orders, I was to send word to the head guard to mete out punishment to the human.”
Leo froze.Telus’s tone told Leo everything. The butler was enjoying relaying this message. Leo shifted to face Telus. “I see. And what other tasks do my parents have for me?”
“I’ve written a list,” Telus said. “Nan will arrive in three hours with her entourage. You will be present with your parents and brothers to help welcome her to Hissing Isle.”
“I thought she was arriving tomorrow.”
“The plan changed.”
“Give me the list.” Leo held out an imperious hand. Telus remained in place, and Leo snatched the papers from the officious dragon. Without another word, he stalked toward the battlefield.
Telus shouted instructions after him, but Leo’s steps never faltered.
“I dislike that dragon. He has always treated us as if we were manure beneath his prissy feet,”his dragon said.“He doesn’t or never used to treat your brothers like that. Why does he disrespect us? We’ve done nothing to upset him.”
“My parents and brothers treat us in the same way. It makes me wonder if one of my parents had an affair. I mean, our appearance doesn’t stand out, but that doesn’t mean we have both parents in common.”
“How will we learn the truth?”
“Some of the old retainers might hold secrets.”
“Will they talk?”
“Don’t know,”Leo said.“Not that it matters. The most important thing is to free Gwenyth and spirit her away from the castle.”
“Priorities,”his dragon replied with approval.“I wish we could speak with her.”
“Me too. Maybe we’ll manage that once we make love to her again.”
“Yessss,”his dragon hissed in approval.“I dream of our bodies joining.”
“So that’s why I keep waking up with a stiff cock,”Leo muttered.
His dragon sniffed.“You want her.”
“More than anything,”Leo agreed.“She is our one. We cannot lose Gwenyth.”
