Yenni took one more look at his anguished face and burst into giggles. Oh Mother Shu, deliver this poor fool from the clutches of heedless love, she thought. When she looked up, he was scowling at her.

“Well, at least you’re laughing,” he muttered.

“You are certainly passionate, I will allow you that much,” said Yenni. “And confident as well.”

“Yenni Ajani,” he began, and moved a step forward as if he meant to reach for her, but instead he shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants. “You don’t have to leave. Stay in the city with me. I’d give you the bedroom and sleep on the sofa or the roof. And I swear on my honor as a dragon I would never put so much as a finger on you. I’ll stay in dragon when we’re alone if that helps, but don’t leave. Please. There’s so much more I want to know about you.”

Yenni turned her head to the side, studying him. “Stay with you, the man who grabbed me like a mauling bear? The man who insists I must marry him?”

He winced as if in pain. “I see now that I acted somewhat beastly toward you in my, erm, enthusiasm to have met you.”

“I could not go outside without constantly checking the skies for days after you whisked me away,” she told him.

Remorse twisted his features. “I’m so sorry, lovely. Truly. I hate the thought that you might fear me.” He sighed and ran his fingers through his loose hair. “How about this—let’s start over, en?” He stuck his arm. “Weysh Nolan.”

Yenni hesitated, then slowly reached out and grasped it. They shook.

“Yenni Aja-Nifemi ka Yirba,” she said.

“Yenni Ajani Femi Kayirba. Yenni Ajani Femi Kayirba.” The dragon repeated her name under his breath.

“No talk of marriage,” Yenni told him.

He nodded. “No talk of marriage. I simply want to help you.”

“Why?” asked Yenni, wary.

“Because—” He crossed his arms and bowed his head, thinking. At last he met her eyes. “Because I like you, Yenni Ajani. I like your confidence and I like your tenacity. I feel we’re two of a kind.”

She studied him. What was it Carmenna has said? He lacked the guile for manipulation? “I believe you,” she said at last. “And I don’t want to. Leave, that is.”

But could she really stay with him? It was a bad, bad, bad idea. Because leave she would, eventually, and when the time came, he would not let her go easily. But what were her other options?

“Is that a yes? You’ll stay with me?”

But Yenni shook her head. “No. I need to speak to Captain Augustin. Perhaps he can help me.”