‘‘Much lost?’’ I frowned. ‘‘I don’t see what would be lost, except Fiat. Now you have him as a member of the weyr, with the potential to make serious trouble for you.’’

‘‘You’ve met Chuan Ren,’’ he said with a little quirk of his eyebrows. ‘‘Do you believe she will allow Fiat to remain in control of her beloved sept?’’

A light dawned in the dim recesses of my brain. ‘‘Oh, I think I understand the devious way your mind words.’’

‘‘Intricate, little bird. My mind is intricate, not devious.’’

I leaned over and nipped his bottom lip, stomping down hard on the dragon shard as it demanded I do much, much more. ‘‘It was meant as a compliment, I assure you. So you expect that if Chuan Ren returns to our world, she will take care of the problem of Fiat, leaving you blameless?’’

He was silent for a moment, his fingers stroking mine in a gentle rhythm. ‘‘Why is it I can no longer read your thoughts, I wonder?’’

‘‘I didn’t know you couldn’t.’’

His silver eyes considered me gravely. ‘‘I’ve only just become aware of the fact.’’

‘‘Does that have something to do with Fiat?’’ I asked, confused by the juxtaposition of subjects.

‘‘In a way, perhaps it does. It is for your sake that I did not present the truth about Fiat at the sárkány. You are about to ask me why—I can sense that without reading your mind,’’ he said with a brief dimpling of his cheeks. ‘‘Fiat in ostensible control of the red dragons, while not an ideal situation, offers, at least, some control in the form of weyr laws. Having been once removed from the weyr, he will be certain to follow the rules to the letter.’’

I shook my head. ‘‘As far as I see it, he violated the laws by simply hacking off Bao’s head rather than challenging her as he should have.’’

His fingers curled around mine, and I allowed myself a moment to enjoy the sensation. I have always been a fairly tactile person, and holding Gabriel’s hand seemed an intimate act, our fingers entwined much as our souls were. ‘‘That would be true if Bao was legally the wyvern of the red dragons, but with Chuan Ren alive, it’s doubtful the control was passed over in a proper manner.’’

‘‘So you’re saying that Fiat, who wasn’t technically the wyvern of the blue dragons despite claiming he was, took over for Bao, who likewise had moved into the wyvern spot when Chuan Ren was banished to Abaddon, but who also didn’t formally challenge for the position?’’

‘‘Correct. Thus, at best, the punishment against Fiat would have been for the murder of a member of the red dragons. And although I am opposed to murder for any reason, Fiat would most certainly strike back should I present your evidence.’’

I searched his face, reading the truth in his eyes. ‘‘You’re afraid he’d challenge you for me.’’

His fingers tightened. ‘‘I do not fear a challenge of lusus naturae, little bird. You are my mate, and I will not give you up to any other. But Fiat would seek you not for yourself, but for what you bear.’’

‘‘The dragon shard,’’ I said, closing my eyes for a moment as nausea gurgled around in my belly. ‘‘I understand your reasoning, but I don’t see what will prohibit him from challenging you for me even if he is the red wyvern. The weyr allows those sorts of challenges.’’

‘‘That’s why I put that little worm in his brain,’’ Gabriel answered, his voice hard. ‘‘Only a wyvern may challenge for a wyvern’s mate, and he is now aware that I know the truth about his method of taking control of the red dragons. He’ll know that if he challenges me for you, I will simply reveal the fact that he is not a wyvern at all. Much as I believe he would wish to possess the dragon shard, he will value the position of wyvern more.’’

I looked at him with open admiration. ‘‘And to think I thought you were just an extremely pretty face attached to an incredibly hot body.’’

‘‘Modesty has never been one of my strong points,’’ he admitted, glancing out of the window when the car stopped in front of a familiar hotel. ‘‘We are here. Just when I was going to allow you to praise me more, too. Alas.’’

‘‘I thought we were going to Drake’s house to discuss all of this.’’ I said as he helped me out of the car.

The smile he gave me was pure wolf. ‘‘Drake asked us to come in a few hours, after Aisling has had time to rest. That gives us time to . . . discuss . . . things first.’’

Chapter Twenty-one

A little ripple of fire swirled around me, but I stamped it out immediately, not wishing to attract attention. ‘‘Gabriel, I don’t think that’s going to be such a great idea—’’

‘‘I have something I wish to show you,’’ he whispered in my ear as we stood before the elevator.

His breath on my neck sent another wave of desire crashing through me. I fisted my hands to keep the claws from popping out, fighting the shard for control of my emotions.

Gabriel, Tipene, and Maata discussed Fiat as we made our way to the suite. I struggled with myself, part of me desperately wanting to have the discussion that Gabriel indicated, the other part sick at the idea of losing control.

‘‘Pass the word through the sept to be cautious with regards to the red dragons,’’ Gabriel told them as he led me to his bedroom. ‘‘Explain what has happened, but remind everyone that the silver dragons’ official stance is one of neutrality.’’

The bedroom door closed on Maata’s acquiescence. I half expected him to pounce on me right then and there, but he dropped my hand and went over to a safe set into the wall, twirling the knob as he whistled softly to himself.

‘‘Gabriel, I think we need to have a little talk,’’ I said, preparatory to explaining my reluctance to engage in any lovemaking.

‘‘Certainly, if you like. But my mother reminded me I was remiss in giving you a gift.’’

‘‘What sort of a gift?’’ I asked, curious despite my better intentions. I peered over his shoulder as he shuffled through a couple of black leather boxes inside the safe. He pulled one out.