“You’re less beastly as a beast,” Yenni said at last. He made a short huffing noise she interpreted as a laugh. If Yenni was honest with herself, Dragon’s presence was more than tolerable; it was enjoyable. After the day she’d had it was nice to sit and recuperate with someone who expected nothing of her. Amazingly, in his beast form Weysh was more civilized, when he wasn’t licking her or grabbing her up off the ground, of course. She glanced sidelong at him. It seemed she would have quite a lot to write for her report.

And then that would be that. This sort of idling together was not something she, or he, should get used to. She was there to learn Creshen magic, please the Sha, and save her n’baba, not become some dragon’s plaything. And with Creshen magic being so much more difficult than she anticipated—

Yenni sat up straight, gasping softly. Her magic tutoring! She was meant to be meeting with Carmenna that very moment! She sprang to her feet, and Dragon lifted his head, watching her curiously. Mothers and Fathers but he was a distraction. She’d all but forgotten about her pact with the other woman. Yenni composed herself and stood tall.

“Dragon, there is something we must discuss. I cannot be your Given, but there is a woman named Carmenna who is quite fond of you. She would make a more suitable match. You should turn your attentions to her.”

Dragon slowly rose to his feet, and in the span of a blink he changed back to the man, Weysh. He gave her a look full of skepticism.

“En?”

“She is my tutor, and I told her I would steer your attention to her in exchange for her help.”

“What?” said Weysh, and it came out laced with incredulous laughter. “Surely you’re joking—Carmenna is your tutor?”

“Yes, and your efforts are best spent on her, not me.”

“Sweet,” Weysh said patiently, “I’m not some breeding stud you can cajole into plowing a mare. Carmenna is not my match.” He held her eyes with his own. “You are.”

Yenni paused at that, at the strange anxiousness his frank gaze stirred in her. No man had ever dared look at her like that before, his thoughts so plain on his face. It made her angry, but there was something else too. A nervous adrenaline, like when on a hunt.

“Well, I do not want you.”

He threw up his hands in frustration. “Then what on Byen’s hallowed soil do you want, if a thrice-damned dragon isn’t good enough for you, en? What must I do to prove my sincerity to you?”

“What I want is to study the magic of Cresh, only.” She pulled on her back-satchel. “I must go.” Carmenna was waiting.