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asking a lot. In fact, despite Kellan being the one who kept the history of the dragons, Con had allowed him to sleep away almost thirteen centuries.
    “I’m no’ the Dragon King I used to be,” Kellan told him. “I’m no longer as patient or forgiving. I doona know how to be merciful or lenient anymore. If that’s what you want with Denae, then I highly suggest you ask another.”
    There was a beat of silence before Con said, “I want you, Kellan. I wouldna have asked if I didna think you were up to the task.”
    Kellan clasped his hands behind his back. “I have to warn you, I have a particular distaste for Denae. Gaining her trust willna be easy since she’ll know how I abhor her.”
    “I think you’ll manage.”
    It was the smile in Con’s words that had Kellan turning to his friend. At the wide grin on Con’s lips, Kellan groaned. “What?”
    “Do you think I didna see how you didna like touching her?”
    “Aye, because I doona like her.”
    Con nodded, the smile still in place. “How long has it been since you’ve relieved your body?”
    “You know the answer to that,” Kellan bit out. “I’ll remedy that as soon as I can.”
    “I saw Denae watching you.”
    “She was watching everyone. Her position is precarious, and she knows it.”
    Con leaned back in his chair. “Would it be so bad to get close to Denae?”
    “Aye.”
    “Hmm. So you’re no’ attracted to her?”
    Kellan walked to the door as he said, “Nay.”
    “No’ even a little?”
    “No’ even a drop,” he stated as he walked from Con’s office.
    It wasn’t until Kellan was in the hallway that he considered exactly what Con was asking him to do. Get close to Denae. How was Kellan going to pull that off when he could barely stand to be in the vicinity of the female?
    “For the dragons,” Kellan murmured.
    Just as Con had sacrificed so much, and the other Dragon Kings had hidden in order to preserve who they were, Kellan could do no less.
    Con would do anything, say anything to guarantee Dreagan and the Dragon Kings lived on. Kellan would set aside his hatred to gain Denae’s secrets.
    But if he learned she had betrayed him and the other Kings in any way, he would kill her.

 
    CHAPTER FIVE
     
    Denae gripped the sink in an effort to combat the pain of getting out of the bed and making her way to the bathroom. When the pain was under control, she lifted the pale yellow tee to examine her wound.
    A large strip of gauze covered it. She peeled back the gauze and stared dumbfounded at the wound in the mirror.
    “Is something wrong?”
    At the sound of the deep, sensual voice, Denae spun around, forgetting her wound in her surprise. The pain struck instantly and caused her to gasp and try to grab for anything to stay upright.
    She found herself in Kellan’s arms as he held her gently but securely. Denae gripped his strong arms while she absorbed the heat radiating off him. She looked up and was snagged in his celadon gaze, his lashes so thick and black they would have looked feminine on anyone else.
    Her body responded instantly to his touch. Her blood pounded through her while a slow, steady heat settled between her legs. Denae couldn’t explain the irresistible and seductive attraction she felt for Kellan. It was there, as if it had always been and was just waiting for her to meet him.
    As beautiful as his eye were, there were no emotions there. It was like a bucket of ice water thrown on her. Denae pushed away from him, trying to ignore the rigid muscles of his chest beneath her palms as she did.
    “You can leave now,” she said as she faced the mirror once more.
    “You’re pale.”
    Denae gripped the sink again. “Yep. That tends to happen when a person is wounded and loses a lot of blood.”
    “You should be feeling better.”
    She lifted her gaze to look at him through the mirror. His words, combined with the way her wound looked as if it was a week old instead of just a few hours, made her scowl at him. “What