“May I remind you,” he purred, “and I quote ‘I’m not above using your dashing good looks and charm to get us the intel we need.’ Those were your exact words, if I remember correctly.”
“Did it work?”
He pulled something from his pocket, then held up his hand. Xenia’s heart leapt as a chain unfurled below his fingers. “I am capable of achieving greatness.”
She crowed a victorious laugh that dissolved when she noted the material the key was made from. Tin, not brass. “Is that the right key?”
“I had one of the stablehands make a copy for me, then ‘found’ the real one on the floor at Elodie’s feet during dinner. She was so grateful, she nearly mounted me at the table.”
“Gross,” Xenia sneered, then reached for the key.
He curled his fist around it. “I’m not sure if I should give you this.”
“Why not?” An indignant squeak.
He leaned forward, brows furrowed over storm-cloud eyes. “Because I don’t trust that you won’t go dashing to Elodie’s room this very second to open that box.”
“Come on. I’m notthatstupid.”
“I wouldnevercall you stupid. Recklessly impulsive. Maybe delusionally optimistic. But never stupid.”
She crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. “I’m not sure either of those are better.”
“Elodie has fittings all next week for her wedding dress,” Cael said, the words slicing past Xenia’s ribs. “She’ll be in downtown Diachre every day. You can go then. Butonlythen. Don’t try anything beforehand.”
“Iwon’t,” she said, reaching out her hand.
He tossed her the key, and she slipped it into the pocket of her cardigan before returning to the biscuits. “So how many poems did it take before she was distracted enough for you to grab it?”
Cael lowered his voice to the octave that inflamed her blood. “She was putty in my hands from line one.”
Xenia huffed. “Well, how fortunate for you to learn you have a skill to tame your future wife.”
Cael snickered, not taking the bait. “Recklessly impulsive. Delusionally optimistic. And a complete and utter fool.” Xenia recaptured his gaze and the look on his face was the softest she’d ever seen it. “Especially if you think for one minute that I would choose to share myskillswith anyone other than you.”
Her jealousy melted away, leaving something warm and frothy in its wake. At least until the reality of their situation frosted over it.
“But that’s the problem,” she whispered. “You may nothavea choice. And after what I learned today...”
Cael pushed a hand through his strands, spreading his legs as he slumped in his chair. “Do I want to know?”
Xenia shook her head, rolling her lips together. “I found the piece of information we were looking for. The other thing, besides the flute, that your father used to summon the dragon. And how he’s been controlling her since.”
“What?”
“He’s the only person in Ethyrios who knows the dragon’s true name.”
Cael rocked backagainst his chair, his limbs going numb. “Theonlyperson in all of Ethyrios?”
“Well, it depends on what you consider Ethyrios.”
“What does that mean?”
“There is someone else who knows it. But he’s been locked away in Tartarus ever since your father pried the dragon’s name from him and used her to slaughter his people.”
The information clicked together in Cael’s mind. “Aedelmar Burkhardt, the leader of the Cynn Drakan.”
Xenia offered him a wan smile. “Gladsomeone’sbeen paying attention.”
