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completing his job? She would fail.
    His beast laughed, taunting him with the fact that she’d
already succeeded at one task. She was here—the woman had gained entrance into
the Drakes’ stronghold.
    Cam leaned closer to her. He still sensed no magic, no hidden
powers, which he knew meant little. His sister-in-law hadn’t possessed any
powers when she’d first come to the Lair, either. But she’d quickly gained
them.
    The one thing he did sense was that she wasn’t here of her own
volition. He’d recognized that same fleeting emotion at Mirabilus, too. He had
the impression that she was being forced against her will. Since she didn’t seem
to possess any darkness in her soul, it was likely that the Learneds held
something over her.
    Ariel leaned back against the chair, her eyes wide. Cam sat up
straighter. Obviously he’d intruded on her space. At the moment, though, he
didn’t care.
    What he was about to do would be dangerous. This might be a
chance to thwart Nathan once and for all. Cam knew that it could cost him and
his family their lives.
    But from the day he’d first discovered his ability to
shape-shift into a dragon, he’d been driven to outwit, and destroy Nathan the
Learned. He wasn’t going to start running from danger now—not with so much at
stake.
    Cam stood up. “I’d like to thank you for coming.”
    Ariel rose. He wondered at the panic briefly crossing her
features, but pushed his questions aside. There would be plenty of time to find
the answers.
    “When would you be able to start?”
    “You’re offering me the job?”
    Her relief caught him off guard. Cam went back to his desk as
an excuse to glance out the window. Harold was no longer in sight. “The salary
you requested is reasonable. Your references checked out. And you have the
experience. So, yes, I’m offering you the position.” He shifted his gaze to her
face. “When can you start?”
    Ariel fought to hide her surprise. Mr. Renalde had told her
she’d get the position. He’d been right. How had he known?
    She realized Mr. Drake was staring at her, waiting for an
answer. “I need to find an apartment—”
    “No need.” He cut her off. “We have a wing specifically for
employees. An apartment can be ready in the morning.”
    Is that what Renalde wanted? For her to be
here 24/7? What did it matter? The man wanted her to get the job and
she had. Why would he care about where she lived? And if he did, she could
always manufacture an excuse for Mr. Drake about how she’d changed her mind and
wanted to move elsewhere.
    She nodded. “That would be wonderful. Thank you, Mr. Drake. I
could start tomorrow if that fits your schedule.”
    “Good.” He extended his hand. “My father was Mr. Drake. I’m
Cameron or Cam.”
    Ariel shook his hand. She nearly melted from the warmth of his
touch. If this was what a handshake did, what would a kiss do? Confused by the
direction of her thoughts, she released his hand.
    He walked with her to the door. “I’ll let Jennie know you’ve
accepted the position. She’ll have a contract and other paperwork for you to
fill out and sign.”
    His words rushed against the side of her face and Ariel’s heart
skipped. She frowned. Something about this man was vaguely familiar. Since it
was unlikely she’d have forgotten someone who could set her senses reeling as
easily as Cameron Drake, she was certain they’d never met.
    She stared up at him as he opened the door and placed a hand on
the small of her back. His sapphire eyes shimmered. The bitter taste of fear
dried her mouth and the vision of a darkened ancient workroom flitted through
her mind.
    Ariel shook the absurd thought from her mind to say, “Thank
you.”
    She headed out to the receptionist wondering if she’d made a
more costly mistake by accepting the position. Failure would have brought
death.
    Would success be worse?

Chapter 3
    S omething wasn’t right, but Ariel reached
for the door of her van and refused to look back at