Tension Raven hadn’t even known was there seeped from her shoulders.
Marius rested his hands across his stomach. “The goddess made it clear to me what she wants, and unlike my mother, I have no desire to go against her wishes. But I would like a life here, a role.” His gaze drifted to the painting again. “I find myself in need of a purpose for being here.”
“Of course, Marius. Gabriel and I want you to serve as our adviser to the Council of Elders. We’re reestablishing it to replace the Highborn Court.”
He licked his lips. “I can do that. Iwilldo that, on one condition.”
Raven braced herself. “What condition is that?”
He pulled up the sleeve of his pajamas, showing her the red symbols on his body. “Tell me what these mean.”
Frowning, she stepped closer to the bed to get a better look, and when he indicated it was okay, took his arm in her hands. “The truth is, I don’t know. I can feel the magic in them, but it’s foreign to me. Do they… bother you?”
His throat bobbed. “I have dreams.” He frowned, his face suddenly becoming drawn. “All in black and white and red. Horrible dreams. I’m back there in the in-between. When I wake, the symbols itch.” He pulled the sleeve down. “This body does not feel like my own.”
Raven grimaced. She joined her hand with his and gripped it firmly. “I’m not sure what the dreams mean or the symbols, but I will help you. We will figure it out, I promise you.”
He met her gaze and squeezed her hand. “Then I am yours, my queen. Tell my brother congratulations on his rise to power and that I hope his coronation goes more smoothly than mine.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
“Colin? Open up—I need to talk to you.” Gabriel’s gruff voice and harried knock sent Leena flying out of bed. She reached for the purple dress the elves had gifted to her. It was the only clothing she owned. When she’d resigned as a scribe, she’d had to leave all her robes and other possessions behind. They belonged to the temple. Technically, she did have the robes she’d been wearing when she informed the Quanling of her decision—Marjory did not take the clothes off her back—but it would be wrong to wear the uniform of her past calling. She preferred this simple dress. It might have been a gift, but it was the only thing in her life that was hers and hers alone. The only thing aside from Colin.
“Keep your dragon in your skin,” Colin called.
He didn’t look happy about the interruption. His hungry male gaze raked over her body before she covered it in the dress. How he could still look at her like that after they’d made love so many times was beyond her. Her most sensitive flesh ached with overuse every time she moved. Then again, that look he was giving her made her blood run hot enough she would do it again if there weren’t someone at the door.
As much as Leena was not ashamed of her mating to Colin, she didn’t welcome Gabriel’s judgment. She pressed her back against the wall, out of sight, while Colin slid the small panel built into the door aside and made eye contact with his brother.
“This isn’t a good time.”
Leena’s eyes widened. It had to be important if the new king of Paragon was seeking them out. It was not wise to deny the king entry even if Colin was his brother.
“I’m sorry to bother you,” Gabriel said. “But I have something important to speak with you about. Tell Leena she can come out from behind the wall. I can smell her all over you.”
Heat burned in Leena’s cheeks and neck, but Colin grunted for him to wait a second and slid the peephole door closed. He dressed quickly but paused and looked her way before he opened the door. She nodded. She wasn’t going to get any more ready than this. He flipped the latch and let his brother in.
Gabriel strode through the door and gave Leena a shallow bow before gesturing toward the small table in the room. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to sit for this. Niall has been running me all over Asfolk today, and I’m still recovering from our confrontation with Eleanor.”
Colin nodded and pulled out a chair for her, but Leena went to the pitcher on the side table and poured them all glasses of water before she sat. Her mouth was already dry as a stone. She was going to need it, and it seemed rude not to serve the two dragons. They both mumbled a thank-you at the gesture.
For as long as she’d known Gabriel, he’d always made her nervous. There was his size to contend with—he was as large as Colin but with a deadly sort of cadence to his movements that reminded her of a wild cat… some kind of predator. And his eyes—she always wondered how Raven could stand looking into those eyes. They were dark but always burning, red flecks dancing like sparks deep within. Colin was every bit of a warrior as Gabriel, but her familiarity with him, his gray eyes that always softened when he saw her, put her at ease. With Gabriel… Facing him felt like staring darkness itself head on. Like facing death.
Gabriel sipped his water and looked between Colin and Leena. “Am I mistaken, or are congratulations in order?”
Leena’s eyes darted to Colin, whose cheeks had taken on a red tinge. Was it possible that Gabriel could tell what they’d done?
“I don’t mean to embarrass either of you.” He glanced at Leena. “It’s a dragon thing. His mating scent is all over you and this room. And you’re no longer wearing your temple robes, so I can draw some conclusions.”
Now her face burned again. She pressed her cool palms against her hot cheeks.
“We are mated, yes,” Colin said. “Leena is mine. She will not be returning to the temple.”
A warm feeling came over her at the way Colin claimed her. She was not a woman who had ever longed to be possessed, but this mark of ownership was mutual. It was not a claim that threatened her freedom. Her mating was not a chain at all, but maybe a long elastic band. She could go from him as far as she wished, but there would always be that bond, always that subtle tug drawing her back to this dragon who made her feel whole again.
Gabriel nodded. “I thought that might be the case. I’m glad she’s here. This discussion concerns both of you.”
Now Leena squirmed. Was there to be a punishment for her leaving the temple? Would Colin be cast out, or would they both end up scraping by in the Borough?
