Free Smoke and Fire by Donna Grant Page A

couldn’t defend Dreagan as they normally would with MI5 patrolling twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
    Con’s thoughts went back to Kinsey. Ryder had notified him through their mental link that none of Kinsey’s tech had been corrupted in any way.
    Everything was clean from her purse, the bag with all her tech, and even her car. The only thing Con hadn’t checked out was Kinsey herself.
    Ryder assured him that she wasn’t an actress, but humans could pick up all kinds of skills quickly when it suited them. Who was to say that Kinsey wasn’t using Ryder?
    Con set down his favorite pen before he broke it. The Kings had been fortunate so far in that all of their mates accepted who they were and what it meant to be a Dragon King’s woman.
    Had their luck finally run out? Had Kinsey been sent there to betray Ryder much like what had almost happened to Ulrik?
    The thought froze Con’s heart. His Dragon Kings had all experienced war in its many aspects. They had all suffered loss—though some more than others. And they had all been devastated when their dragons were sent away.
    Not to mention having to keep hidden from the world when they should be flying wherever they wished.
    The Kings had been through too much already. There couldn’t be another betrayal.
    Con checked his watch and adjusted his cuff links, fingering the dragon-head design. Any moment now, he expected a visit from Ryder. Not because Con sent for him, but because Ryder would’ve already figured out what Con would want to do.
    With Ryder’s visit would come an argument in favor of Kinsey.
    Con didn’t intentionally set out to piss off his Kings, but they were each so caught up in what they were feeling at the moment that they didn’t think ahead.
    That’s what he was for, and his decisions were rarely accepted eagerly. In most cases, there was a debate. It was imperative that the Kings stay banded together. They had been split once before, and it nearly destroyed them.
    On that day, long ago, Con had put his pride away and thought of their race. It won him back all the Kings but one—Ulrik. The weight of the entire dragon world rested on Con’s shoulders.
    There were times he strained under the burden. No one would ever know of those times. It would be used against him. It wasn’t because he was afraid to show weakness. That he had revealed plenty of times.
    No, this was about his strength to rule the Kings and keep everyone together. Every time a mortal joined the ranks, Con’s job grew more difficult. At the rate the Kings were finding mates, they were going to have to take turns eating supper because not everyone would fit at the table.
    A knock on his door broke into his thoughts. Con closed the file on his desk and set the bone-handled magnifying glass atop it. “Enter,” he bade.
    The door opened and Ryder with his blond hair and hazel eyes stepped into the office. He gave a nod to Con and closed the door behind him. “I’d like a word.”
    â€œI’ve been expecting you.”
    Ryder gave him a sly look. “So you think you know what I’ll say?”
    â€œI doona profess to know what you’re thinking. Why no’ just tell me. But first, who is with Kinsey?”
    â€œDmitri,” Ryder answered.
    Con laced his fingers over his stomach and jutted his chin to one of the leather chairs before his desk. “Sit down. Then tell me what it is you came to say.”
    â€œYou’re no’ happy that she’s here.”
    Con shrugged in response. “Of course no’. Someone sent her because of your involvement with her. And no’ just because the two of you were lovers three years ago. This is because you shifted in Glasgow and she saw you.”
    â€œI know. I’m no’ exactly thrilled with that,” Ryder stated crossly.
    â€œSomeone was watching her, because they had a suspicion you would return. That means