Free Dragon Heat (Dragons of Perralt Book 2) by Sher Dillard Page B

You remember, no matter what, you are just as special as they are, even more so.”
    Laila’s heart broke. She leaned forward and hugged the woman. She could not let her down, nothing must stop her from landing this prince. It was as if she represented all of the people of Fifth Point. She was the one who got to live their dreams of escape.
    Mrs. Peabody smiled at her, then gently reached up and wiped a tear from Laila’s cheek. “No matter what, don’t let them see you cry. If this doesn’t work, hold your head up.”
    “Maybe I should take my dagger,” Laila said with a laugh.
    “Maybe you should,” Mrs. Peabody answered with a serious frown. “Half those people will stab you in the back without a second thought. At least you’d gut them, staring them in the eye.”
    “And give the knife a little twist,” Laila said with a smile.
    Mrs. Peabody laughed with her, then stepped back and gave her one last examination.
    “You’ll do girl. If ever there were a princess, it is you.”
    Laila lifted her chin and thought to herself. It is now or never.
    She glanced one last time at the dagger resting on her bureau. Should she wear it under her dress? The thought was almost sacrilege, yet she would feel naked without it. Her hand ached to take it. In all of her years, that dagger had been the only thing she could ever rely on.
    No, she thought. Flint said that princesses don’t wear daggers. Well, she would show him that she was a princess. At least for tonight. He might not want her, but a prince would. She was determined to show Flint what he had thrown away.
    Taking a deep breath, she gathered her inner strength before she started down the stairs.
    Flint waited for her at the bottom of the stairs. For a change, tonight, he was dressed in black with a stark white shirt under his tight jacket. On him, it worked. But then, Flint would make any clothes look good.
    The man looked scrumptious, as always. Her heart jumped when his eyes locked onto hers.
    A deep desire passed behind his eyes. He might not want to keep her. But, he definitely wanted to take her again, she saw. It was as if he saw her as his prey. Something to be caught and then forgotten.
    She lifted her chin and ignored his look of passion. To hell with him. She would find her man at the party tonight and forget this arrogant idiot.
    Turning she let him slip her cloak over her shoulders.
    “Slightly different than my pants,” she said with a small laugh.
    “I don’t know, I liked you in those pants,” he said. “You look priceless,” he whispered into her ear.
    Laila shivered as his warm breath caressed her neck. Oh what might have been, she thought.
    Turning, she gave him half a smile and dipped her head. She would have to put their argument behind her. She needed his help to get through the night. And after all, he was doing this for her. For her and his damn coin.
    “Thank you,” she said. “And just think, you will soon have your precious coin.”
    Flint looked taken aback for a moment. “True,” he said, “and you, your prince.”
    They rode together in a fine carriage, their shoulders brushing. Laila had a hundred questions she wanted to ask. Who would be there, what should she expect. Emily had gone over the details a dozen times, but still, she wanted to hear Flint’s voice assuring her everything would be fine.
    Instead, she remained quiet. The tension between them rising with every turn of the carriage wheel.
    Why didn’t the man talk? she wondered. To him, this was just another party. Another opportunity to meet new women and obtain new conquests.
    The tension became unbearable. Laila couldn’t take the quiet between them any longer.
    “This is the first time I have seen you outside the house without your sword,” she said. It was the only thing she could think to say.
    He laughed. “True, a fact that I hope to not have to ever repeat. The Ambassador let me know that swords are frowned upon at these parties.”
    She smiled and