“Is this her?” he asked Zephyr.
An infinitesimal flicker of alarm crossed Zephyr’s face, quickly quashed. “I’m not sure what you mean, Lord Golden. Perhaps you could explain why you are here?”
Golden ignored this, still scrutinizing Honey. “Yes, you match my nephew’s description. You must be the one. Speak, woman. Explain yourself.”
The dragon shifter’s stare pinner her like a physical weight. Honey had a sudden, desperate urge to cower and confess everything. This man might look human, but she could see the truth behind that coldly handsome face. He was an apex predator, and she was…
Honey.Buck’s voice in her memory, rough with need. The way he’d looked at her, like she was a goddess come to earth. His hands skimming her curves with reverent awe.
She drew on all those memories now, letting them fill her with strength. She lifted her chin, looking the dragon straight in the eye.
“I’m Honey,” she said, and her voice came out firm and confident. “I’m one of Ignatius’s counselors. Or I was. Is there a problem?”
“That remains to be seen.” Golden snapped his fingers at Zephyr. “Fetch my nephew. I must speak with him.”
Zephyr’s jaw tightened, but he dipped his head in a nod. He must have been in telepathic communication with Conleth the whole time, because a moment later the pegasus shifter appeared around the corner of the dining hall, one hand clamped over Ignatius’s shoulder. Honey guessed he’d been trying to keep the boy out of sight.
The moment Ignatius saw his uncle, he twitched free from Conleth’s grip. He drew himself up in a startlingly accurate imitation of Lord Golden’s posture. Honey hadn’t seen that particular cold, aloof expression on his face for quite a while.
“Uncle.” Ignatius inclined his head, as though they were all at some formal gathering. “You got my message. Thank you for coming at such short notice.”
“You are my heir. You are always my first priority.” Golden gestured at Honey. “This is the one?”
“Yes, Uncle.” Ignatius was standing very straight, but Honey could see the tense desperation under the boy’s poise. “But can we discuss this in private?”
“I taught you better than that. Dominance is best established in public, for all to see.” Golden eyed the otherwise empty square with mild irritation, as though annoyed by the lack of a respectful crowd. “You, man in charge. My nephew tells me you fired this woman.”
Zephyr’s eyes flicked to Honey. “Ah… that is something of a simplification.”
“We were forced to let her go.” Conleth’s voice, always urbane, was now smooth enough to ski down. “Under regrettable circumstances. But there is no need for concern. I assure you we have a very suitable replacement arriving soon.”
“I don’twanta replacement!” Ignatius said. “I want Honey. Tell them she has to stay, Uncle.”
Lord Golden doesn’t know.A giddy wave of relief swept over her. Ignatius must have worked out the real reason she was leaving, but he hadn’t told his uncle. This wasn’t yet a complete disaster.
Golden looked at Honey again, the slightest crease appearing in his brow. “I do not see why you are so insistent on this, Ignatius. She may be a moderately powerful alpha, but she is clearly not a dragon. What makes her special?”
“She just is,” Ignatius said stubbornly. “I want her to stay, and a dragon always fights for what he wants. You told me that.”
“I was referring to treasure.” Lord Golden let out a short sigh of irritation. “But I acknowledge the principle. You all heard my heir. The woman stays.”
She could stay. Without fear of discovery now, because Golden didn’t strike her as the sort of man who would ever admit to making a mistake. Having insisted that she stayed, he wouldn’t then turn around and demand that she left, even if he did somehow discover her secret. She could stay out the summer, with the kids, and…
Buck.
And when fall came, nothing would have changed.
“I’m sorry, Lord Golden,” she said. “But I have to go.”
Zephyr cleared his throat. “Honey, if our generous patron insists…”
“No, Zephyr.” She turned to Ignatius. “Thank you for trying, Ig. But I can’t stay. It’s just not possible.”
“I’ll make it possible.” Ignatius swallowed hard. “Uncle, they fired her because—”
“Ignatius, no,” Honey said, simultaneous with Zephyr’s, “Ignatius, you don't understand.”
Ignatius lifted his voice, shouting over all attempts to drown him out. “Because she’s not a shifter!”
