Chapter 190: The Dragon’s Accusation

“So we’ve agreed on the reports to submit, right?”

“I need time to reach the edge of Stoneforge, so factor that in before you start looking for the mole.”

“Yes, yes. We understand.”

Muted voices filled the air, faint through the orb still hovering on the desk.

Then, finally, after hours of going through all those different lists, one of the agents said, “Hmm, then if there’s nothing else, I think we’re done? Or does anyone else have any other concer—?”

The words died instantly.

Because the agents who were earlier distracted by their own chatter suddenly noticed the projected figure of their superior—eyes molten gold, glowing brighter than the orb’s light.

And in an instant, everyone just wanted to disappear.

But how could they have known that elsewhere, the same boss was having a different kind of meeting altogether?

Their gazes were locked, one dragon, one human.

And if anyone dared move, it felt like the entire world would ignite.

Kael’s gaze didn’t shift, as if immovable. He kept his attention to his right, posture deceptively relaxed, but there was an edge beneath that calm—a tension one human could feel in that hand that languidly held him.

So when the dragon lord suddenly spoke in that low and perfectly controlled voice, everyone was on edge.

“Documents for this operation must pass through my office before they can be used.”

“That’s all. Meeting adjourned.”

No one questioned it.

His eyes alone made sure of that. The line of communication went dead in a hurry, every agent agreeing all at once, voices stumbling over each other in their rush to end the meeting.

Then there was silence.

With the orb dimming and the projection flickering out completely, there was nothing left but the presence of two tense beings.

Although for one human aide, even without the projection, it was as if his ears were ringing with the sound of his own pulse.

But before he could even process what was happening, the ground was no longer under his feet.

“What? Wait!”

He gasped as his view shifted and he suddenly found himself being lifted, weightless, before landing on the lap of his very golden boss.

“Kael—!”

The name barely made it past his lips.

The dragon lord sat still. The hand that had been touching him was now behind his back, while the other rested on the chair’s armrest. Kael’s head tilted lazily, golden eyes half-lidded but burning like a storm about to break.

If someone didn’t know anything about the golden lizard, they might have thought he was simply lounging—but since when did that guy lounge with a clenched jaw?

Riley leaned back instinctively, his pulse hammering even louder in his ears. The distance between them was unbearably close for someone who was in a dangerous position.

After all, his mind had clearly betrayed him, replaying flashes of what he had done earlier—how forward he had been, and how Kael had let him run with it.

If his brain had worked earlier, then maybe he wouldn’t be fearing for his life!

Surely, his boss couldn’t be that mad, right?

After all, he was pretty sure not a drop was wasted!

Still, just as Kael leaned closer, Riley would retreat. Not that he had anywhere to run off to, seated on his very lap.

And as if to remind him about that, his back hit the edge of the desk.

Nowhere left to go.

The dragon’s breath was warm against his cheek, steady, measured, dangerous.

Riley’s hands gripped the edge of the table, his heart thudding violently as his body instinctively reacted to Kael’s movements and proximity.

The dragon lord closed in, his hand finding a way to his face, brushing his jaw, then tilting his face up just slightly.

Like captured prey, Riley’s breath caught. His long lashes fluttered shut as he felt that familiar movement.

Close. So close—

But Riley’s slightly puckered mouth met air as Kael’s lips brushed against his ear.

“I didn’t think that someone thinking of running away would be alright with a kiss.”

The voice was low enough to make every nerve stand on end.

“!!!”

Riley’s eyes flew open.

Their faces were so close he could see the reflection of his own wide-eyed panic in Kael’s golden irises.

__

See, if mortification had a face, it would probably look a lot like Riley Hale, age twenty-five, who may or may not be human.

And while his identity was rather questionable, there was one thing for sure: the young man was currently and most definitely frozen stiff in front of Eryndra’s strongest magical being.

Yes. Ladies and gentlemen, Riley—who by now should have mastered the sacred art of “fight or flight”—had instead unlocked a third, less effective option.

Freeze.

At least the letters matched.

But the paralysis shattered—well, thawed—when the golden lizard before him said in a low, calm tone, “I thought people shouldn’t be taking the easy way out?”

Hup!

Riley, who was very much burned by that one, sucked in a sharp breath, face heating.

Wait a damn moment!

He blinked once, twice, and then—

Smack!

He slapped both cheeks at once, startling Kael, whose brow rose at the sudden sound.

“?”

Riley, now wide-eyed and properly awake, looked aghast. “I’m supposing you’re referring to me? But since when was I running away, My Lord?!”

Because seriously—running away?

Was that even possible? If it were, how on Eryndra had he lasted long enough to end up in his boss’s lap instead of anywhere remotely safe?

Not that he’d never run away from anything, like the secret of his identity, for example.

Yeah, sure, he had been running away from that, but mind you, he definitely explained why!

So just what was he talking about now?

Kael tilted his head slightly, voice deceptively calm. “Oh? So you’re saying you weren’t running away? Then for what did I receive that scolding from my own mother?”

“…What???”

The disbelief in Riley’s tone could have cracked stone.

Kael’s silence that followed wasn’t just heavy—it was pointed. His expression clearly said, Are you calling me a liar?

Lady Cirila?

Wait.

Seriously?!

Riley groaned, running both hands through his hair, tugging at it in frustration. “I’m not sure why you got scolded, My Lord,” he said through clenched teeth, “but if you’re asking about my current connection with Lady Cirila, it’s because I wanted to take a vacation! And for your information, I was initially planning on going to the spa had she not invited me along!”

The pitch of his voice climbed with every word, his irritation spilling through despite his attempts at composure.

The dragon lord blinked, watching his aide explode in flustered indignation from where he sat.

“Then am I supposed to believe,” the dragon lord said slowly, “that someone so concerned about surviving would risk going out there with everything going on? Just for a vacation?”

Riley shut his eyes, inhaled deeply, and exhaled through his nose like a man on the brink. “Yes! Because if I don’t take a proper break, I might actually explode!”

Kael’s expression shifted—surprise first, then something that looked dangerously close to mild panic. “What? What are you even talking about?”

Riley threw his hands up. “I’ve become a degenerate! A degenerate!”

“What?” Kael’s brows furrowed. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Aaaaahhhh!” Riley cried, burying his face in his hands because he definitely didn’t want to explain that.

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