“Of c-course,” I said uncertainly.
He nodded, and when he spoke again his voice was low, but intent. “Perhaps it will help if I offer what I ask of you?” he said. “No games, simple truth: I find you fascinating. I want you, and I have the resources to make you a very wealthy woman—I would pay handsomely for both your pleasure and your skill. While we work together, I will be your patron in these circles,” he said tipping his head to the room around us. “But when we mutually agree to part, you will have accumulated wealth that provides you independence, with no moreneedto gather further experience with any man than one you would choose for reasons of your own.”
I was stunned at his frank proposal. After the queen’s training, I’d assumed the men here would only flirt—or as Donavyn feared, if they were tested, perhaps attempt to take what they wanted.
“I am not particularly skilled—” I started, but Hanson frowned and cut me off.
“I thought we weren’t playing games,” he said in a low, dark voice.
I eyed him and raised my chin. “You want a frank conversation?”
“I do.”
“Very well… I have a powerful man at my side who protects and provides for me. He strengthens and trains me, offers me a life I could never achieve on my own, and heisn’ta brute. Why would I risk that?”
Then Hanson smiled as if he’d thrown bait and I’d finally taken it. “Because I can give you a dragon of your own,” he said.
I stiffened in his arms and almost tripped on his toes.A dragon?“Wh-what?!”
“I believe you heard me, Lady Brennan.”
“I’m not a Lady.”
“You would be by the time I was done with you,” he said, smiling smugly over my shoulder.
Something caught his gaze, and he held that small grin, his eyes locked on whatever it was, even when we turned.
“Hanson, please explain. The dragons are part of a herd, but they’re sentient. How could you possibly—”
“I must beg your forgiveness, Lord Hanson, but there is a message from the king.” The pompous voice of one of the king’s men grated. I wanted to turn and shriek at him that he couldn’t interruptnow!But Hanson had already pulled me to a halt right there at the edge of the dance floor, and taken a small piece of paper, flipping it open to scan it quickly, his face grim.
Then he turned to me, his jaw tight, and whatever it was that he’d seen, he didn’t like it. “Please, forgive me, Lady Brennan,” he said tightly. “I must go.”
He took my hand and lifted my fingers, kissing the air above them—while I hurriedly remembered the curtsey. But he’d already let me go and turned, marching from the room, muttering to the man who’d come for him.
Shocked, andpissed off,I instinctively started after him, weaving between the dancing couples, pretending that I’d merely lost my place and was walking from the floor. But I received several disapproving glances.
I didn’t care. I needed to continue that conversation. He liked a brutally honest woman? Well, I would show him one.
Hoping the servant would leave and I’d catch him alone in the hallway, I followed at a safe distance, but before I’d reached the end of the room and passed between the refreshment tables, a tall, heavy,tenseshadow appeared at my shoulder, and a calloused hand cupped my elbow, steering me aside.
‘Are you well? Did he hurt you?’
‘No. No. He just… Donavyn it has to be a lie but—’
‘Why do you look pale? What did he say to you?’Donavyn led me beyond the tables of refreshments, nodding to acknowledge a greeting from an older woman seated nearby, but he didn’t slow his pace, tugging me with him.
‘He propositioned me.’
‘I fucking knew it.’
‘That’s not what made me pale.’I felt him flinch, but he gathered himself as we passed through the doors and back to the grand corridor outside the ballroom. I turned to the left. Ahead of us, Hanson walked briskly up the corridor, the servant still at his side.
I cursed.‘I need to distract him, get him to talk. The bastard knows he just set a hook. He grinned. But we were interrupted and whatever message he got, he dropped me like a hot coal.’
Donavyn grunted, and I felt the wrestling in his chest—his pride on my behalf offended that I’d been left so unceremoniously, battling his relief that a man who’d expressed interest in me hadn’t gone any further in his proposal.
Ahead of us, Hanson turned right up one of the adjoining corridors.
