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compartment in the sole of his boot, “I do have some coin left.”
    Riki leaned over to look at the footwear more closely. “That’s ingenious!”
    Nico bowed slightly. “Thank you. I thought so too. Lucan’s men took my purse and all other items of
    value, but I always try to have a stash available for emergencies such as this.”

    “You do this kind of thing often, then?” Her teasing smile enchanted him.
    Nico shrugged. “Often enough. It’s one of the hazards of being a spy.”
    He watched her reaction closely. He’d never told a woman the truth of his profession before, but this

    woman was different. Her reaction mattered to him. It nearly sickened him to think she might be horrified by the idea, but he needn’t have worried.
    Her beautiful eyes lit with sparks of interest and a kind of daring intrigue mirroring the way he felt about the work he performed in service to his land and people.
    “I knew there was something special about you.”
    Her casual acceptance seeped into his heart and warmed his soul.
    “You’re the special one, milady. I’m but a humble soldier in service to my king.” “You work for the king of Draconia?” Nico nodded as he pocketed just a few of the spare coins in his shoe, leaving the rest hidden. “He’s my brother.” “Your brother? So does that make you a prince?” She paused.
    “Good gods! You’re Prince Nicolas.” He bowed his head, laughing at her stunned reaction. “The very same.” “Lucan is a fool. He had no idea who you were.” “All the better for me. If he’d known—“
    “If he’d known,” she cut him off, her voice somber, “you’d already be dead.
    He hates the royal family of Draconia. He’s insanely jealous of you all and wants every last one of you dead. He rants about it, even when he’s alone.
    It’s an obsession of his.”
    “I feared as much. We’ve learned only recently about his machinations even before he was crowned, and all evidence points to the fact that he’s been working for years to destroy every royal line in Draconia. Including yours.”
    “Me?” She laughed nervously. “I’m not royal.”
    “I beg to differ. Rightfully, you are Princess Arikia of the House of Kent.”
    “You must be joking!”
    He smiled at her, enjoying her soft manner, even when outraged. “Afraid not. Your mother was the only survivor when her entire family was murdered. I believe that was done at Lucan’s command, though I may never be able to prove it. As far as we’ve been able to determine, a maidservant took your mother, who was just a baby at the time, and ran off the very night of the massacre. She raised your mother, renaming her and keeping her as her own, so she never knew of her birthright, but yet she had an affinity for dragons that led her—even as a toddler—to the dragoness, Kelzy.”
    “So you’re saying my mother is like you? Half-dragon?”
    “As you are. All the members of the various royal lines carry the dragon as part of their soul. All the descendants of Draneth are half dragon, and therefore royal. Your line descends from Kent, third son of Draneth, so like it or not, you’re a princess of Draconia.” She didn’t look convinced.
    “I suppose we’re cousins, then?” She seemed to be thinking out loud.
    Nico moved close to her, sweeping one arm around her waist and pulling her lithe form up against his chest. He liked the little gasp she emitted at his sudden move. He liked even more that she didn’t make the slightest attempt to pull away.
    “Only if we’re kissing cousins, my lovely Arikia.” He placed a sweet kiss on her lips, hesitating only a moment before taking it deeper, claiming her mouth with his own.
    She tasted of violets and springtime…and the need for possession. He would give anything to make her his own, for all time, but he couldn’t rush her. Nico knew he had to do this right. This was, perhaps, the most important seduction of his life and he would be damned sure to give her the