"Why are you so sure I haven't already shown it to him?" Virginia asked.
Bertram smiled. "Because he did not list it in his hoard when we dueled. And believe me, if he'd seen the artifact, it would be in his possession right now. He's dragon enough for that." He straightened, turning to the door. "You have two hours to accept my offer," he said over his shoulder as he left. "I shall look forward to hearing from you."
Virginia looked at Dai, expecting him to indignantly deny Bertram's parting accusation, but he avoided meeting her eyes. A tiny worm of doubt squirmed in the pit of her stomach. Bertram was a liar and a thief, and she knew she should ignore every word he said...but Dai did seem to have a lot of dragon instincts. She was starting to suspect that he was trying to hide the full extent of his dragon heritage from her.
She knew with bone-deep certainty that she could trust him with her life...but could she trust him with her gold?
Chapter Eight
"I don't know, Dai. Maybe I should just accept Bertram's deal," Virginia said. Even though Dai was careful to check his pace to match her shorter stride, she still kept dropping behind, as though having second thoughts ab
out following him at all. "One artifact isn't worth the destruction of an entire site. And it shouldn't matter who gets the credit for the discovery, as long as the site is preserved for study."
Dai wished with all his soul that he could smooth the worry from her beautiful face, but he didn't know how to close the distance that had opened up between them since Bertram's visit. She'd been quiet and reserved since the other dragon shifter had left. The new doubt in her eyes when she looked at him tore his heart in half.
"It does matter," he said firmly. With a light touch on her elbow, he guided her down an alleyway so narrow that the eaves of the houses on each side almost met overhead.
They were in the heart of the Brighton Lanes, a warren of ancient, cobbled back streets. The narrow alleys were packed with an eclectic range of tiny shops catering to a range of specialist interests. Everything from antiquarian maps to fetish wear could be found in the Lanes.
And there were a few very private, very discreet businesses for a very select group of customers—shifters.
"It's your discovery," he said to Virginia as he guided her through the maze of streets. It was a route so familiar, he could have found his way in pitch darkness. "I'm not going to let Bertram steal either the artifact or your credit."
Virginia shook her head doubtfully, her face shadowed. "But Bertram's made it clear he's top dog. Top dragon." She blew out her breath. "No offense, but your dragon ancestry seems to be more problematic than helpful at the moment."
"Can't disagree with you there," Dai muttered, making his inner dragon lash an indignant tail.
The beast was as agitated as Virginia was subdued. Bertram's command not to shift weighed on the dragon like iron shackles. It writhed against the restraints, but couldn't overcome its own instinctive respect for a more dominant male. The dragon's helpless rage felt like scales scratching the underside of Dai's skin.
"I know you want to help, and I appreciate everything you've already done," Virginia continued. "But I don't see what you can do now. Bertram's got your hands tied."
"I know," Dai stopped in front of a black, iron-banded door, set uninvitingly in an otherwise blank wall. "Which is why I've brought you here."
Virginia looked up at the grimy sign above the door. It was so thick with dust that the full moon painted on it was only barely visible. "To...a pub?"
"Not just any pub," Dai said. He rapped on the door with his knuckles.
"We're closed!" yelled a woman's voice from inside.
"No you're not," Dai called back. It wasn't much of a password, but it sufficed to keep out random passers-by.
The door opened, revealing the round, smiling face of Rose, the pub owner. "Ah, there you are at last," she said, beckoning them in.
In contrast to the plain, forbidding exterior, the interior of the pub was a snug, comfortable haven of polished wood tables and plush velvet chairs.
"All the other lads beat you here. They're waiting upstairs." Rose's kindly gaze fell on Virginia, who was looking around with a startled expression. "And you must be Virginia."
Although Dai hadn't told her anything more than Virginia's name, there was no hiding anything from Rose. She scrutinized both their faces for a mere second, then clasped her plump hands together. "Oh, Dai, I'm so pleased for you."
"Why?" Virginia asked, a perplexed crease appearing in her forehead.
Dai shot Rose a warning look, but she just laughed. "Because our Dai's never brought a lady friend in with him before," she said to Virginia. "And I can already tell you're not one to put up with any of his nonsense."
It was Dai's turn to frown. "What nonsense?"
"Now that would be telling." Rose winked at Virginia. "Which I shall do later, my dear, when you have time. Our Dai is a lovely lad, but he does tie himself up into knots through overthinking things."
"I do not!" Dai protested.