...he army that comes your way!"

Immediately he regretted the words; he had denied his sister the element of suprise, given her quarry the chance to escape. She would be angry, when she caught him. If she caught him. If she guessed; she had always thought him cautious, silent.

Madame de Silva narrowed her eyes.

"You lie."

Seeing his chance, Donovan shrugged and smiled at her. If she disbelieved for long enough, his sister would still have her chance.

"My lady, I am hurt. I am not a liar."

She fixed him with a look of such hatred that he almost flinched back; but her attention was distracted by a rustle in the bushes, the sound of approaching feet. Soft and silent as the ghost of a shadow, she left Donovan tied with her magic and slid away to discover the source.

The shapeshifter, head cocked, wondering if the army had arrived already, heard her incredulous voice say "Drakon?" and grinned despite himself.

Two birds with one stone.