I swallowed hard. “Remember what?”
“Remember that I never take what isn’t mine.” Then he leaned forward and his breath fluttered in my hair when he whispered, “But when the prey offers itself?” He lifted a finger to run the tip along the shell of my ear, so gently I barely felt it.“ThatI will take with every ounce of skill available to me. And in my experience, once a frightened horse has drawn close and learned how safe it is in my hands… it rarely wishes to be anywhere else.”
He straightened to stare down at me from a height that almost matched Donavyn’s.
“You’re safe, Brennan. I gave my word.” Then, with a final heated look, he slipped aside leaving the door unattended, and marching towards the other room where Chardin had disappeared, clapping his hands. “Gowns! At least four, please. My Lady Brennan will need choices. Prepare the appropriate undergarments for each, and have them ready…”
Two hours later, I stood in front of a large mirror, turning every which way to see the incredible gown.
The design wasn’t much different from the rose gown the queen had arranged for me, though the square neckline plunged lower and the sleeves were little more than drapes of a sheer, featherlight silver that fluttered when I moved.
The dress itself was a pale blue, trimmed in silver and cream. It hugged every curve of my body to my hips, then flared dramatically and fell to the floor in great swathes of fabric thatspilled over each other, down the back of the skirt to slide on the floor for a couple of feet behind me.
I shook my head. “It’s stunning.”
“You’restunning,” Hanson said quietly.
I met his eyes in the mirror and the hair on my nape stood up, but when I averted my eyes, I tried to pretend I was conflicted.
“A man of true power can provide this, and more. Whatever you need, Bren. Even without warning. Your General is strong, and trustworthy, I have no doubt. But so am I. And I can have anything you could ever need or want available in a moment’s notice. That is the joy of wealth.”
“Anything?” I looked at him in the mirror again and let my tongue slip out to quickly trace my lower lip.
“Anything,” he said, and he meant it.
I glanced at Chardin, who stood with her hands clasped, admiring the dress on me. He caught my unease, and snapped a low command to her to leave, which she did with alacrity.
Then we were alone. I swallowed. “Why?” I asked, without preamble. But he took my meaning.
“I told you. I wantyou,and I want your skill.”
I inhaled sharply and turned around to face him. “You prefer to tempt? Entice? Tempt me: Tell me how you can possibly get me a dragon of my own in a land where the stables are empty and there’s no Primarch present.”
“I can’t tell you—but I can show you the dragons to prove I do not lie.”
“Dragons? Plural?”
He smiled. “Many, many plural.”
I hesitated. What was going on here?
I tried to reach Donavyn, but he was too far away. I could feel him, simmering, but couldn’t reach him with words.
I looked down at the gown and made a decision. “Take me.”
It was the first time I saw him hesitate. He tilted his head and folded his arms. “I can’t take you. I needyouto takeme.”
I frowned. “Take you where?”
“On your dragon.”
“What? Why?”
“Because they are too far away to reach quickly any other way. I keep my estate remote from the city on purpose. But if you want to meet my dragons and return in time for the ball—which I’m certain you do—flight would be our only option.”
I frowned. “If you can’t reach them without a dragon, how do you know you can—”
“Trust me, Bren. I’m not lying to you. You take me on that dragon that you ride. You’ll be in complete control. I’m sure she won’t let me direct her.”
