Free Burn (Dragon Souls) by Penelope Fletcher Page B

her by getting Katya disqualified.
    Her own actions at the time with Daniil were far less noble.
    She’d actually believed Koen’s affections wavered towards her opponent, and let her developing friendship with Daniil overshadow her true attraction for Koen.
    “Now is not the time to allow a lofty sense of honour ruin what can still be a successful campaign for the throne.” Troubled, Daniil advanced further into the room. “Occasionally circumstances compel us to perform acts that are ugly and morally repugnant. It is a fact those in our position learn to accept. So must you.”
    “Marina and the word ‘throne’ in the same sentence.” Cathryn staggered then slumped into a high-backed chair. “I just got chills.”
    Tossing Cathryn an irritated look, Daniil sank onto the mattress. He touched Marina’s bare ankle. “I have thought hard on this. I see no other way. What happened to your purity is irreversible, but your reputation is salvageable.”
    Marina plucked at the edge of the pillow. A feather came loose in her hand, and she blew it across the room. “There’s no changing my mind. No lies.”
    “It would not be a lie per say.”
    “And no omissions, equivocations or misdirection’s. The truth .”
    “The truth will see you heckled by your peers.” His grip tightened. “It will make you a pariah. It will make you fair game to any lusty Dragon Lord brave enough to fight for ownership. That would provoke Koen into perpetual rage.” Daniil gave up trying to wheedle and went for the throat. “The truth will see you fail.”
    “It will be my weapon, a formidable one.” Marina was shaken, but there was no changing her course. Her principles had to remain solid or she’d end up as crooked as the rest. “I won’t bend. Koen deserved a mate strong enough not to be corrupted.”
    “You would rather break?” At her nod, Daniil averted his gaze. He was grudgingly impressed. “What you desire is brave. It makes me proud to my soul. But you are not dealing with honourable aristocrats who will be awed by the courage of honesty. They will declare you unsuitable. Myron will yield. You will be disqualified from Aver. Koen will be lost to you.”
    “Because a virgin Queen is tradition.”
    “Yes.”
    “And law.”
    “Ye–” Daniil faltered. A calculating gleam swept across his expression. “Law?”
    “On earth law and tradition are two distinct differences,” Cathryn said. She slid a smile Marina’s way. She finally understood why she was confident in her chosen path despite its risks to her future happiness. “Tradition may see you shunned, but there are no legal repercussions. There would be nothing to stop Rina entering, say, a contest. Even if her competitors hated her.”
    “I may have unknowingly trampled over a highly regarded tradition. There’s nothing I can do about that now. Was my intimacy with Koen against the law ?”
    Marina watched his face carefully. She puffed with satisfaction when it creased in wonder.
    “From memory I can think of no specific diktat that says it is.” Struggling to hide his excitement, Daniil released her ankle to rub both his knees. “The truth as a weapon. I have spent so many years in the quest for truth amidst lies that using it as a means of offense escaped me.” He rose and headed to the screen, stride brisk with purpose. He paused then faced them. “The magistrate resides in the bowels of the Citadel. I will return before Myron visits you in the morning.”
    Relieved she didn’t need to ask for him to verify her deductions, Marina gave him thumbs up. She would have gone herself, but she was exhausted. “I’ll be waiting.”
    Grinning broadly, he shook his head. His expression was radiant despite his disbelief. “Truth as a weapon. So clever.”
    As the screen slid quietly behind him, Cathryn clucked. “You have these men wrapped around your finger.”
    “Daniil and I understand each other.”
    “You’re very in tune with each other.