“Well, we’ve got nothing to bargain with,” Dover adds grimly.
The door opens, and Eaton’s gaze shifts past me. “Hey, how skilled are you at seduction?”
I turn as Serena steps into the room, looking slightly keyed up. I’m on my feet to meet her in an instant.
“Out of the question,” I snap at Eaton over my shoulder. Serena gives me a confused look as I drag my hands down her arms.
Sorry,I say to her.Your body is your own to do what you like with, but I draw the line at weaponizing it to get what we need.
She smiles at my protective tone.
“Is he cooperating?” Sorscha asks.
“He’s wearing blood ore cuffs,” Serena mutters. “He doesn’t have much of a choice.”
Mar twists around in her seat. “Did you confront him about his half of the star?”
“I did one better.” She breaks into a feline smile and pulls a dark locket with a black chain from around her neck.
“Is that?—”
“Uh-huh,” she says, dangling it in the air.
Our friends form a huddle around us.
“How did you manage that?” Mar says, inspecting the chain.
Serena shrugs, planting her hands on her hips. “Last night, my locket started burning when I got close to Kylian, like it could sense its other half was near.”
“And he just handed it over?”
“Essentially. With the help of a little mild poison.”
Eaton snorts. “I see our time with the pirates was well spent.”
I marvel at her. Is there nothing she can’t do?
A smirk tugs at the corner of her mouth, and I want her. Right here and now. She meets the heat of my stare, sensing the shift.
Table or floor?She winks at me, and it’s like an arrow to the heart.
Fucking hells.
Both,I reply.And then maybe the wall, so it doesn’t feel left out.
Hmm, that sounds?—
“He had it on him the entire time?” Dover interrupts. “That’s convenient.”
“Nicely done, Dragon Rider.” Eaton gives her an approving nod.
She smiles, tucking the pendant into her pocket. “Well, people. We’ve got a key to repair.”
105
SERENA
You’d think carrying two halves of a star would be as easy as carrying a speck of dust on your jacket.
