His mouth twitched. “Pray? You do realize you were working on a book that is four hundred years old.”
“Yes, I know. But we receive more orders for it than any other Norveshki book. It is a classic.”
He gave her a pointed look. “Four hundred years old.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Are you telling me my manner of speech is archaic?”
“No.” He grinned. “I’m saying you’re a classic.”
Warmth invaded her cheeks, but she wasn’t sure if she was embarrassed or flattered. “I shall endeavor to update my speech to more modern usage.”
“You don’t need to change, Gwennore. I like you the way you are.”
More heat rushed to her face, and she gulped down more wine. “You needn’t flatter me to ensure my cooperation. I realize you consider my kind the enemy—”
“You’re not from Woodwyn. You’re my sister’s adopted sister. And you’re clever, brave, and beautiful.” When she started to object, he raised a hand. “I know you don’t want to believe it. Brody told me you’ve been encountering prejudice, but you shouldn’t listen to a few ignorant fools who are afraid of you.”
She swallowed hard. “You think they’re afraid?”
He nodded.
“And you’re not?”
“No. You’re one of a kind. That might frighten some, but I find you intriguing. And incredibly beautiful.”
She turned away, her heart thundering in her ears. Good goddesses, how could she spend a month with this man? Was he being honest with her, or was he still trying to manipulate her? He’d promised to protect her, but who would protect her heart?
She glanced up at the sky. Puff, are you still there? If I need to run away, would you take me?
The dragon from before was still there, circling overhead and not answering her.
“Where is Puff?” she asked softly.
The general sighed, then took a drink of wine. “He’s busy at the moment.”
“He said he would never be far away.”
A look of annoyance crossed the general’s face. “I thought we were talking about us. Why are you thinking about the dragon all of a sudden?”
“Why shouldn’t I? He saved my life.” She eased her nerves by concentrating on cutting an apple into slices. “I could be wrong, but I think he likes me.”
With a snort, the general stole one of her apples slices, then bit into it. “Maybe you should date him then.”
“Date?” It was a term she wasn’t familiar with.
“It’s a modern Norveshki word for ‘courtship.’” He tossed the rest of the apple slice into his mouth.
She scoffed. “I couldn’t possibly be courted by a dragon. We’re not even the same species.”
“But you think he likes you,” the general muttered. “And you seem more than a bit obsessed with him.”
“Don’t be silly.” She slapped his hand away when he tried to steal another slice of apple. “I’m merely grateful that he saved my life. And I consider him an important ally in case I find myself in trouble.”
The general arched an eyebrow at her. “I said I would protect you.”
She shrugged. “Puff can do things that you could never do.”
He gritted his teeth. “I can do things that Puff could never do.”
“Can you fly?”
He leaned close. “I can take you places he never can.”
Her skin pebbled with gooseflesh. “There is no need for you to compete with him. I have no intention of dating a dragon. Or anyone else, for that matter.”
The general swept a lock of hair away from her brow and tucked it behind her ear. “The first rule for dating a dragon is that whenever he takes you for a ride, you hold on tight and never let go.”
She swallowed hard. Somehow, she had a strange feeling he was referring to himself. She turned away and gulped down the rest of her wine. Don’t fall for him, don’t fall for him.
He hissed in a breath. “I can’t take it anymore.”
She gave him a wary look. “Excuse me?”
“Gwen, you know how I can communicate with the dragons. Dimitri and Aleksi can, too. There are only a few Norveshki men who can, and we’re all descended from the Three Cursed Clans.”
She blinked. “There are no women with the ability? I mean, other than me?”
“None that I have ever heard of. Now perhaps you will understand how unusual you are.”
“I—I don’t know why I can do it. Mayhap—I mean, perhaps you should tell me more about the curse.”
He waved a dismissive hand. “It’s not real, so there’s no need.”
“But there might be something in the mythology of it that will give us a clue as to how to be rid of it.”
“Forget the damned curse,” he growled. “I’m trying to explain something to you. You’re not going to like it, but I can’t continue like this. It’s not fair to you.”
A sliver of apprehension stole over her. “What is it?”
“Since Dimitri, Aleksi, and I can communicate with the dragons, we can also talk to one another with our minds. But we don’t like the idea of anyone invading our thoughts, so we have learned how to erect mental shields.”
She nodded, recalling the wall she’d encountered when she’d done a reading on him.
“I’m telling you this so you can learn how to build a shield. You don’t have one, Gwen.”
She stiffened. “How—how would you know that?”
He winced. “I’m sorry, but I’ve been hearing your thoughts.”
Chapter Ten
Silas groaned inwardly at the horrified look on Gwennore’s face. Dammit, he hated revealing this to her. But it was better to be honest with her, so she could learn to protect her privacy. And if he had to listen to any more of her struggle against her attraction to him, he couldn’t guarantee he would behave himself.
“You—you’ve been hearing everything?” Her voice rose.
“Shh, not so loud.” He looked at the oarsmen, who were stealing glances.
She slapped a hand over her mouth, then leaned over and moaned. Good goddesses, no! He must have heard me calling him General Gorgeous. And he heard all the times I—dammit, he can hear me now!
“It’s nothing to concerned about,” he whispered. “So I found out early in our relationship that
