“Oh, and don’t tell her about the curse or our past. I fear both could taint her opinion.”
As it should. Hell, the things I knew made me hate both of us, but especially myself. I pushed the thought away. “Then what shall we talk about? The weather?” For someone looking for love, my brother planned to keep a lot of secrets. Big ones at that. Even I recognized this was no way to win a lady’s affection.
Serafina’s voice rang out before Alaric could respond. “You summoned me, Your Beastlyness?”
At her appearance, his snarling visage spread into a terrifying attempt at a smile, the effect far from what he intended.
As Serafina took in the broad façade of his razor-sharp teeth, she paled, forcing a strained smile of her own.
It was almost painful to watch.
I waved a hand to catch Alaric’s attention, pointed to mymouth, and gave a subtle shake of my head. Understanding flickered in his eyes, and he made an effort to tuck his teeth behind his lips—though the result was still more menacing than friendly.
“Good morning, Serafina,”Alaric said, his purring tone a neck-snapping change from moments before.“I simply desired to see if you were well.”
“I am well. May I go now?”
“Sit. Eat.”Alaric nudged his head toward the table.
She stiffened. “Is that a command from my master?”
Alaric exhaled a puff of smoke. A sign his patience waned. I pressed my lips together, holding back laughter.
“Consider it a request from a concerned friend,”Alaric said.
Serafina cast a narrow-eyed glare at me, and I wiggled my fingers at her in a mockery of a greeting. Pert nose jutting in the air, she faced the dragon. “I believe I’ve lost my appetite.”
“Witch,” I muttered under my breath.
“Bastard,” she mumbled back.
Alaric’s tail flicked in irritation, but he kept his composure—barely.“Very well then,”he grated between clenched teeth.“I was most concerned to hear you were exploring the hidden passageways last night.”
Serafina’s gaze whipped to me, betrayal blazing in her eyes, and I couldn’t help the broad grin that split my face.
“Those tunnels are dangerous,”the dragon continued, voice a warning rumble.“Several have collapsed due to neglect. I want your word that you will not enter them again.”
“No,” she said flatly, not even pretending to give his words consideration.
“No?”Alaric snarled with barely contained rage.
I resisted the urge to belt out a laugh at my brother’s attempt to temper his anger. I hoped he failed. Then maybe we could get the hell out of here and on with some plan that may actually help him.
Serafina struck a defensive pose, blind to how close Alaric was to snapping. “I’ll make no promise that prevents me from leaving this place and finding my missing friend.”
The dragon cleared his throat again, mustering up a level tone.“Before you dare to deny me, it’s important you understand your position here, Serafina. Just as Thorne does.”
“Excuse me?” I balked as Alaric shifted his wing. The movement caused him to wince, and he turned his nose to his flank, lapping at his injury.
“Ack!” Serafina threw out her arms. “What do you think you’re doing? Don’t lick it!”
Before Alaric could utter a word of protest, she marched across the tile. With firm hands, she tugged on the wing the dragon had tucked into his side to protect his vulnerable wound.
When he wouldn’t release it, she stomped her booted foot. “Stop being a baby and let me see.”
The sudden change that had come over her was astonishing. From defiant captive to demanding caregiver, she slid perfectly into the authoritative role. As if she couldn’t help herself. Maybe she really was a healer. Either that or completely insane. Probably the latter.
Alaric glared back, and for a moment I held my breath, certain I was about to watch the girl go up in smoke. My muscles tensed. To do what I wasn’t sure.
