Anastasia curled up in bed, but ze had trouble sleeping in Byron’s luxurious guest room.

Ze was in zir red dragon form, a small bundle surrounded by a huddle of blankets. It bothered zir that Revi insisted on sleeping in separate rooms. While Ana had that surge of courage to recruit Byron as zir spy, ze still wanted to confer with Revi on their next steps.

But Ana supposed that the gold dragon shifter wanted a bit of privacy, however, after spending near constant time together with Ana and zir mothers. The red dragon hooked a claw through a blanket and fidgeted with it as zir thoughts continued to race.

Ana had told Byron to watch out for his brother-in-law, Narwal, who had caused problems in the past. The red dragon hadn’t offered specifics, but Byron seemed to understand and requested no explanation. He simply agreed and promised.

In fact, Ana was a little surprised by how quickly Byron accepted zir proposal. Is he hiding something?

Since he was an aristocrat, he most certainly had secrets. But was he concealing anything that would harm Ana or zir family and friends?

Anastasia also thought back on the woman who was in Byron’s room — Bei Feng. Byron called her a close childhood friend. She seemed friendly and cooperative…maybe too cooperative?

Unease crawled up the red dragon’s spine. Ze shivered despite the warmth of the blankets.

***

The following morning, Anastasia stayed slumped asleep until ze heard a loud rap on the door.

The dragon shifter grumbled and was about to yell at whoever it was to leave zir alone. But then ze woke up fully and remembered ze was not at home.

“Ana?” Revi’s voice sounded frantic.

The red dragon stretched briefly, then hopped off the bed and padded towards zir friend’s voice. “What?” ze snapped as ze swung open the door.

Revi, in his human form, looked panic-stricken. “Did Bei Feng or anyone visit you last night?” he whispered.

The red dragon raised a brow. “No. Did she visit you?”

Revi stepped into the room and quickly shut the door. He glanced around, as if looking for spies on their conversation. The boy rubbed at his light brown hair. “Ana, it’s terrible, but we just made a new enemy.”

“What are you on about?” Ana demanded. Zir wings quivered a little with dismay.

Revi rubbed his thumbs together in a sheepish gesture. Then he took out a sheet of paper from his pocket. “Read this.”

Ana held the letter in zir claws, and zir eyes widened at its contents. “Did you get this letter last night?”

Revi nodded with a tired expression.

“How did your father know to deliver it here?” Ana wondered. Ze sucked in a sharp breath. “Does he know that we’re allying with Byron?” Otherwise, Lord Clementine wouldn’t have known to send the letter to this address.

Revi groaned and squeezed his eyes shut. “No idea. But why is this link to Byron the first thing you noticed in my father’s letter?”

The red dragon frowned at zir friend. “Because it’s important that we keep our alliance a secret. As for the other thing, I only met your father a few times, but he had never approved of me. No doubt he disapproved when my grandmother named me her heir. Why would I be surprised that he would ask you to stop following me?”

“That doesn’t bother you?” Revi asked with a stunned look.

Anastasia grimaced and handed the letter back to him. “I don’t enjoy hearing it, though I’ve never enjoyed hearing anything coming out of your father’s mouth. No offense.”

“Fair enough,” the gold dragon shifter said. “Yet, guess who delivered this letter to me in the first place?”

“Bei Feng?” Ana asked, since he had asked about her just now. Concerned thoughts spun through zir head.

Revi nodded with a heavy expression. He looked so young and vulnerable. “Apparently, not only is Bei Feng childhood friends with Byron, she also has some relationship with my father. Maybe he was a mentor or elder to her, as she claimed that he had always been ‘kind’ to her. But he also has something on her, so she has no choice but to carry out his wishes.”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Anastasia made a face at the thought of that demure woman carrying out Lord Clementine’s orders. “So, what do you plan to do now?” ze asked carefully.

“I told Bei Feng no,” Revi said in a firm voice. “Like hell would I ever listen to a word my father says. I even offered to help her get free from him and whatever he might have on her. But she refused and said that I would regret it. She threatened to block our access to Byron, and…she would get in between the two of us.”

Anastasia was baffled by this threat. “Get in between us? How on earth would she do that?”

Revi threw his hands up in the air. “She’s a politician. If it’s not outright violence, it’ll probably be some underhanded, obnoxious tactic.”

Ana snorted. “I’m honestly not that afraid of her.”

The other dragon stared at zir with confusion. “Why wouldn’t you be?”

Anastasia shook zir head. “I don’t know Bei Feng well, but I’ve seen her talk to my mothers and grandma before. They seem friendly with each other, and I really don’t think Bei Feng has it in her to carry out such a threat. She sounds like someone who says things without meaning them. I wouldn’t worry if I were you.”

Revi looked exasperated. “Really? We can’t underestimate our potential enemies just yet.”

The red dragon shifter stomped zir foot with impatience. “Come on. I seriously don’t think she would do anything. These sound like idle threats on her part, maybe to give off the impression that she’s satisfying your father’s wishes, without actually satisfying them. All smoke and no fire, so to speak.”

Revi still appeared dubious. “She was quite intimidating, and I don’t scare easily.”

Ana shook zir head again. “All smoke, no fire, Revi. And even if she does try to block off access to Byron, or get in between you and me, what would she even do? Can you imagine any scenarios?”

Revi, the gold dragon, looked uncomfortable. He pressed his lips together as if tongue-tied, and glanced away with a stubborn expression.

Anastasia added, “I know you’re more familiar with dragon politics than I am. But you’re overthinking this. It’s just a scare tactic, Revi. I truly don’t believe she would be able to, or even be willing to, do such things.”

“So you believe she is on our side?” Revi questioned.

Ana bristled at his sharp tone, though ze could understand his irritation. “Yes. I don’t see why she wouldn’t be on our side. She might not always be a nice person, but she knows that we’re allies.”

“Why?” Revi asked, befuddlement coloring his features again.

The red dragon paused and glanced at the windows, which were sparkling with the sunlight filtering through. The garden beyond appeared so innocent and pretty, unlike what was roiling inside the mansion. Anastasia said, “I’m not saying that she has no cunning or that we should never be on watch for her. Given what I’ve observed of her during her interactions with my family, I don’t believe she would push that far.”

“Is that your faith in her honesty or her cowardice?” Revi quipped.

Ana sent him a small warning growl. “I know you’re frustrated, but I’m telling you there’s no need to be so paranoid. That’s what your father wants, right? For you to be frightened?”

The gold dragon’s demeanor softened. “Sorry, I am frustrated. Yes, my father does like to terrorize me, especially as he believes he has rights over me, as his son.” Revi rolled his eyes. “Yet, as petty as he is, he is a powerful lord. And maybe Bei Feng won’t naturally pull off atrocious acts, but I know from experience that people are willing to do things they normally wouldn’t if they’re under some sort of threat.”

Anastasia rubbed a claw under zir chin in thought. “So you want to find out what hold your father has over her?”

“It would help us persuade Bei Feng to leave us alone,” Revi said with a sigh. He folded his arms with a defeated look.

“It doesn’t seem like the priority, though, right?” Ana asked. Revi shook his head. Anastasia continued, “All right. I will look out for Bei Feng, okay? I still doubt she would try anything extreme, but it’s a fair point that her behavior might be different if she’s being blackmailed. Along the way, we may get clues as to what advantage your father has that makes her vulnerable.”

“Is there any way to gain her trust? So she could tell us what my father holds to keep her compliant?” Revi mused out loud.

Anastasia frowned and zir tail twitched as ze pondered. “Maybe it’s not because she doesn’t trust us, but because it’s too risky to tell anyone what her secret is.”

Revi put his head in his hands, his clear eyes showing his discontent. “It just doesn’t feel right to sit here and do nothing.”

Anastasia straightened. “Fine. Then let’s go out and get breakfast.”

Zir friend groaned, but followed Ana out the door.

***

At the breakfast table, Bei Feng and Byron were already seated.

Byron looked uncomfortable, but smiled politely. Bei Feng played with her long brown hair, but otherwise seemed affable.

Who knew how much of her affability was genuine? Ana thought.

From Ana’s observations of the woman over the years, Bei Feng truly didn’t seem the type to stir up trouble.

Yet, Revi had a point. Perhaps she would act differently under duress.

What did Lord Clementine have on her?

Bei Feng interrupted zir thoughts. “Your Majesty, we have good news. Your cousin Ero is staying at Byron’s house — um, his regular house.”

Ana’s first reaction was elation. But ze noted Bei Feng’s pause and her awkward glance at Byron. Revi cast a dubious look at Byron and Bei Feng, too.

What was Lord Byron hiding?

The man cleared his throat. “I plan to go back there today, anyway. Your Majesty, Lord Revi, I can take you both there to see Ero, if you wish.”

That all sounded good, yet something pricked at the back of Ana’s neck.

Indeed, Bei Feng then said, “Take Zir Majesty with you, Byron. I will keep Lord Revi here for a while.”

Ana and Revi were shocked.

“Why?” Revi demanded.

The brunette woman smiled. “You know why. And don’t worry. I won’t separate you from our sovereign forever.”

As Revi snarled and was about to protest, Ana saw ten dragon shifter guards surrounding their table and closing in.