crueler, her venomous tongue a little more pointed. The more time that passed, however, the more Adienna began to turn on her. “You are the reason he has not returned,” she’d finally accused. “You are the reason he stays away from me.” Soon the situation had gotten so unstable, Shalin’s father met with the Elders and the decision was made to send Shalin out among the humans sooner rather than later. She’d been studying in Kyffin for five years now and not once had she missed the hallowed stone halls of Devenallt Mountain.
Now, nearly thirty winters later, she had the one dragon she could never stop thinking about, dreaming about, or lusting over standing right in front of her—naked.
Of course, he was also the one dragon who could get her killed.
“Ailean,” she somehow managed to squeak out. “Good morn to you.”
“And to you, Shalin. You look awfully beautiful today.”
The fact he could say that and sound like he meant it was probably why so many females fell under his spell. Yet Shalin couldn’t be fooled. She had mirrors, did she not?
“Thank you. So why are you—”
“Och!” he cut in as he always did. The dragon rarely took a breath, it seemed. “You won’t believe my morning, Shalin. You truly won’t. Mind if I sit?”
“Uh—”
“Good. Thanks.” He dropped down beside her. All that dragon as naked human male. It took every ounce of her strength not to reach out and touch him. Like that solid thigh brushing against her robe-covered leg, to see how it felt under her human hands. She’d never been with a male as human. She’d heard it could be…entertaining.
“So there I am, taking a bath, as she said I could, when suddenly her father comes in.”
“Oh, that must have been—”
“Horrible, right. Because she told me that we were alone in that house. But apparently not. I think she wanted me to Claim her or marry her or whatever they call it.”
“Even though you’re—”
“A dragon, right. She doesn’t know that bit, you see. Best to keep her in the dark about that, don’t you think?”
“Well—”
“Especially for just a night of entertainment. Why she’d want me as a mate, I have no idea. So what are you reading?”
It took her a moment to realize he’d asked her a question he expected her to answer. “Alchemic Formulas from the Nolwenn Witches of Alsandair.”
“Is it interesting?”
“A—”
“I don’t know how you can read so many books. I get bored after a few pages.”
“So,” Shalin found the courage to ask, “you’ve never read the books about yourself?”
Ailean groaned, rested his elbows on his raised knees, and dropped his head in his hands. “Tell me you haven’t read those.”
Read them? She’d devoured them.
“Well—”
“Because I didn’t authorize those to be written.”
The books had begun to show up among humans and dragons nearly ten years before. She’d only just finished reading volume three the previous night and word of volume four being available soon had her nearly breathless. Each volume had two editions. One for humans and one for dragons written in the ancient language of their people. A language the humans of this world could never hope to learn with their much weaker minds, ensuring the fact dragons roamed among them freely remained a well-kept secret.
“The books aren’t true, then?”
Based on his wince, she knew they were as true as they could be. “I never said those things didn’t happen. I just said I never authorized them being written about.” He turned his head and looked at her, those silver eyes hot on her face. “I don’t want you to think I run around telling tales about my relationships, Shalin. I can keep a secret quite well.”
And how tempted she was to take him up on his unspoken offer, but that would be cutting her own throat. She’d officially be an enemy of Adienna then, and she simply wouldn’t risk her life for any male.
“I—”
“Perhaps I could tempt you away from your interesting book with promise of a delicious meal at one of the nearby taverns?”
Shocked, Shalin gripped the book in her lap tightly. He wanted to take her out? In public?
What should she say? I’d love to? How about dinner in my room? Forget that, let’s go for it right here, right now?
Instead what she heard herself stuttering was, “I…I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Both.” She shot to her feet, the book still in her hands. “I have to go.”
He stood and towered over her as no human could. “Don’t go, Shalin. Spend the night with me.”
She should be insulted. He’d just left another female’s bed and now, still naked and wet from the woman’s bath, he’d asked Shalin to warm his bed. But this was Ailean the Whore. He wasn’t doing anything out of character. She actually felt kind of proud he’d asked her at all. Although she knew that to be pathetic. And she’d never admit it out loud.
Shalin focused on the book in her hands. “That’s very kind of you, but…but I…I—”
Big fingers lightly gripped her chin and tilted her face up to his.
“Gods, Shalin. You do so tempt me.”
She nearly melted at his words. Melted right into a big puddle at his feet.
“Ailean, I—”
Shalin stopped talking when she realized guards stood behind him.
“There you are,” one of them said, slapping his hand down on Ailean’s shoulder.
Ailean gave a short snort. “And such a good job finding me, since I’ve been standing here for the last twenty minutes.”
With a snarl, the guard motioned to the others and large steel manacles were locked onto Ailean’s wrists.
“Don’t look so, Shalin.” Ailean grinned. “I have every intention of coming back for you.”
Shalin opened her mouth to say something, but no words would come out. He’d rendered her completely speechless. But since he really didn’t let her get a word in edgewise, this wasn’t exactly an incredible feat. Holding the book close to her chest and pulling the hood of her acolyte robe down over her face, she nodded, turned, and fled.
The city guards handed Ailean the pair of leggings he’d left behind. Ailean pulled them on, the steel manacles on his wrists clanking against the chains as he did so, while the guards asked him questions about his intentions toward the lady. He’d had none except for what they’d done the evening before. But when they demanded to know if he was aware he’d bedded a virgin, Ailean had laughed outright.
At that point, they led him downstairs to the great front doors of the school. As he walked out into the bright morning, he saw Shalin standing on the front steps talking to an aged human male who wore the robes of a master.
Although she nodded and made noises as if she paid attention, Ailean knew Shalin was fully aware of his presence.
“Shalin.”
Shalin stopped talking to her teacher and, with a nod, faced Ailean. “Yes?”
He glanced at the guards who grudgingly allowed him to step closer.
“I am sorry.”
Shalin