As though the leads were deliberatemisdirection.His fingers curled as though he could reach through the phone and wave his claws in people’s faces until they gave him the answers he needed.
Or just loom at them, shadowy wings forming at his shoulders, until the threat of duskfire got him what he wanted.
He closed his eyes briefly.That’s why I can’t be the one to teach Tomás about his flame.Other dragonfires could be used non-destructively. Apollo’s power seemed deliberately designed to protect the people in his town-hoard, and even regular flame could be used to heat houses, not burn them down.
The duskfire could only destroy.
The sun was dipping towards the horizon by the time Maya emerged from the library. She looked remarkably unscathed, but he didn’t let that fool him.
“How did it go?” he asked, pretending he hadn’t been lurking down the hallway, waiting for the click of the doorknob.
“Surprisingly well.” Her lips quirked into a smile.
He wasn’t going to let that fool him, either. “I apologize. In retrospect, I should have prepared you more.”
“I can handle myself, Corin.”
“I’m glad she was helpful, even with the interrogation.”
“Well, I was interrogating her pretty hard in return, so it’s only fair.” She looked at him hard, her eyes narrowed. “How much did you hear?”
He hesitated, and she sighed.
“That much?”
“More than I am comfortable with.”
The corner of her mouth twitched down, and she looked away.
Shit.
“Maya, I—”
“It was useful. Talking to your mom. I’m still terrified, but it’s—it’s like being terrified of a driving test you’ve spent months studying and practicing for. I know what might be coming. I just have to get through it. For the next, oh, twenty years or so.”
She took a deep breath.
“But there’s one thing we haven’t talked about. And we really need to. Don’t we?” She hesitated. “You need to tell me yes, here, before I lose my nerve.”
He obeyed at once. “Yes.”
His gorgeous mate stared up at him, bracing herself as though she was about to throw herself into battle.
“I don’t know who Tomás’s father is,” she said baldly.
“I know.”
“Youknow?” She wrapped her arms around herself. “Of course. You overheard.”
“I should have figured it out long ago.”
Maya didn’t reply. Her thumb, tapping on her forefinger, did all the talking for her.
“You were afraid to tell me,” he said in an undertone. “I wish I had been the sort of man you didn’t feel the need to keep that secret from.”
“Really?” She shot him a doubting look. “That’s all you have to say? I—you were upset with me when you saw me clamber out a window without proper safety equipment, butthisyou can understand?”
“Maya, I—”
