Page 64 of The Dragon and the Dove

He tugged her close and bent his lips to her ear. ‘Careful, kitten. You’re on thin ice.’

Truth.

She pushed him away, but his hands shot up, pinning them to his chest. ‘Lark made a bargain with the prince. In exchange for his alliance, Nadia and I are never to be touched by his power.’

She snorted. A serpent’s deal, indeed. ‘You should have come as a sheep, Caruso.’

‘You shouldn’t have come at all.’ He toyed with a loose curl. ‘But at least you have the pleasure of seeing me. Happy?’

She looked up at him from beneath the dark veil of her lashes. ‘Are you?’

‘Never better.’

‘Lie,’ she whispered.

‘What?’

Lie.

She lifted her fingers to the silver scars along the side of his head. ‘You used to be fearless, Caruso,’ she said, lightly tracing them. ‘It’s what I liked most about you.’

His throat knotted. ‘I’m still fearless.’

‘No, you’re not.’

His eyes darkened.

‘You hate him and you won’t admit it. You don’t want to be here any more than I do but you’re too cowardly to walk away. To face the mistake you made.’

Bold words. The kind of swing you take only once. But to hell with caution. She was already in the enemy’s den and his wolf had rumbled her disguise. If Caruso was going to kill her, then she would die with the truth on her lips.

Only the heat in his eyes didn’t seem threatening now. It was dangerous in a different way.

He hummed. ‘Saint of Truth.’

Her brows shot up. ‘I guess you’re smarter than I thought.’

‘Of course Saint Oriel would grant you a gift guaranteed to get you in trouble.’

‘Nothing I’m not used to.’

‘Good. Because war is coming.’

‘War is already here.’ Tilting her chin, she leaned close, until her words feathered his lips. ‘Can’t you feel it?’

‘I feel something.’

She flushed.

Another pair of Rose-bearers came their way.

‘Dance, kitten,’ he said, his hands sliding to the small of her back.

She gripped his lapels. ‘I hate when you call me that.’

‘No you don’t,’ he said, spinning her.

She let him do it, surprised at his deftness.