“Calytrix. It’s a pleasure to finally lay eyes on my son’s future bride. I apologize for the lack of a welcome. We thought you dead, and it’s been a busy day of debriefs.” The King gave me a warm smile, giving me some reassurance. He was more like Alaric than Arkyn, which gave me a little hope that this might go better than I’d first thought.
“The pleasure is mine, I assure you.” I tipped my head.
“You are everything your father said you were, and more. A true beauty. Both you and your sister. I am so sorry your journey here was not kinder.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“It is. These are my kingdoms those creatures are running amuck in. I promise you there will be a reckoning for what they’ve done to you and—” He looked to Nyx.
“Faolan,” Nyx answered.
“And Faolan.”
My chest warmed a little more at his reassurance, even though his claim over all the kingdoms rankled. “Thank you.”
“Now on to this ryder business. I can’t say we’ve run into this before…” The King trailed off. “Where is the lad?”
Nyx looked uneasy. “I think he’s in the Healer’s Wing having his wounds treated. Was I meant to summon him to this meeting? My apologies…”
I didn’t buy it. What was he hiding?
“No, it’s fine. As his commander you can talk to him after.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
“So you two are ryder and flyer?” the King asked me.
“We are.”
“Have you melded?” The King's tone carried no inflection either way on the importance, but I knew it was a test. Would they try to prevent it if we weren’t?
“We are,” I lied, and it was a risk, but a calculated one. I wasn’t willing to risk them doubting the legitimacy of our pairing. “It’s how we escaped capture.”
“Ah. I understand. Stress and dire circumstances can trigger those things.” The King nodded.
Out of the corner of my gaze, I saw Arkyn squeeze his hands into fists. I’d have to play this delicately.
“Where does this leave us?” the King asked.
“According to the law, they should be initiated into the legion…” Nyx said carefully.
“It might be good to have the future queen be so in touch with the legion and the war,” Kol added.
“I can see your point. As someone with the ear of the King in the future, it’s better for our queen to be intimately acquainted with many topics. The legion would certainly provide that.”The King mused. He considered for a long moment, then looked directly at me. “So you will enter the legion,” the King went on, but Arkyn cut him off.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate,” he barked, his outburst leaving the room in stunned silence.
“Why not?” the King asked calmly after a few moments.
“Not only would she have to spend hours upon hours alone with this dragon, which is highly inappropriate, but it’s also entirely unbecoming of her station.”
“Plenty of females are in the legion. Your thinking is very outdated, wouldn’t you say?” Alaric said.
Arkyn glared at him for half a second before turning back to his father. “Plenty of other females will not become queen, by the Goddess! There is purity to uphold in our union.”
Alaric scoffed under his breath.
“Just because you don’t want yours doesn’t mean one of us doesn’t want a suitable wife.”
