Page 130 of Ensnared

Who is this? Hyperion’s gaze shifts, focusing on me. You do not look like I expected. I was told humans were small, ugly, and easily breakable. He crouches, turning his head to the left, and then to the right, studying me from all angles. I actually think you’re kind of cute.

Mine. Azar blows flame at his brother, a long, steady stream of it.

I crouch down low against his neck, ready for the fight. Heat doesn’t bother me like it once did, but I’m not entirely immune to its effects, either.

Only, instead of rearing back or striking back, Hyperion laughs. You haven’t changed a bit.

Azar snorts. Neither have you. Coveting from the very second you arrive.

Now Hyperion’s really laughing, almost doubled over. I’ve never seen a dragon laugh quite so much. It makes me like him quite a bit more than I was prepared to, based on Azar’s initial trepidation.

“Looks like things are alright?” I whisper.

You asked about Father’s orders, Hyperion says. But don’t worry. It’s nothing major. Asteria came with me, and Father insists you marry her and mate within the next month. He wants to see whether proximity to the heart has fixed the problem.

Azar just nods.

Not that you need to hear this, but it’s the usual threat if you refuse. He’ll call you home, strip you, and name a new heir.

Asteria.

Mate.

Marry.

The words are coming so fast that I’m having trouble keeping up. “You have to—in a month. Mate?”

Your cute little human is having trouble, Hyperion says. Maybe they really are as delicate as they say.

The silver dragon practically floats down, landing next to Hyperion and tilting her exceptionally beautiful head. Where’s Ocharta? Mother wanted me to pass along a message.

Oh, no. “Who’s Ocharta to you?” I know I should keep my mouth shut, but I can’t help myself.

Asteria’s slender head shifts toward me. Without missing a beat, she answers. She’s my older sister, and she’s awful, isn’t she?

I want to hate her. I’m primed to hate her with every iota of my entire body, but how can I hate someone who’s so beautiful, and who’s so honest? “She really is,” I say. “She ensnared my mother, or I’d already have killed her.”

Hyperion’s head rocks back and he absolutely roars. If I thought he was laughing hard before, I was wrong. It takes him a full minute to calm down enough to talk.

I love this human. He’s talking to Azar, but he’s looking at me like I’m a rare, first edition copy of The Canterbury Tales or something. What do you want for her? I’ll give it to you.

Azar’s nostrils flare.

Oh, calm down. No need to roast me again. I get the message. You’re not ready to share. He winks at me. Yet.

Ever. Azar still seems unconcerned, other than about his brother’s obviously intentional ribbing.

Find a tower you like, Azar says. Since you just arrived, we’ll delay our departure by a day or two, but we’re about to move on a recent lead. In two days’ time, we’re leaving Houston and going to an island called Iceland. We believe the heart may be hidden there in a mountain full of flame.

Without waiting for any questions or providing any further explanation, Azar launches into the sky, flying straight back to the Chase Tower.

“That could have been worse,” I say.

Much, much worse.

I breathe a sigh of relief. “And how about that weird stuff about the marriage and the mating?”

Azar shrugs. “Hardly unexpected.”