“I said, ‘Hey bitch, come and get me,’ and I stuck a dagger in her arm.” I shrug, taking a sip of my wine.
The king stares at me for a beat, then erupts into laughter, slapping his hands down on the table. I start to giggle along with Jace, and before I know it, the three of us are seized by that contagious,can’t get out a soundkind of silent laughter that racks through your entire body.
It feels like a privilege to laugh with him. Maybe it’s because being near him makes me feel close to my dad in a way that I’vedesperately missed. To see him smile at me—because of me—makes my heart swell.
I’ve never seen this side of the king. I always found him hard to read. Benevolent but severe. Level-headed but not soft. Formidable but not cruel or self-interested.
I understand now. In public, the king portrays the cold, hard war hero; the stern authority figure to Jace’s grave and obedient captain. He is tough on Jace in public. But behind closed doors, he is the loving father, and Jace, the devoted son. I can see the love between them.
We sip wine, and for a moment, all titles fall away. He is no longer king, Jace no longer captain, and I no longer Dragon Rider. We are three friends for a moment. I feel Jace’s hand discreetly reach for mine under the table, giving mine a gentle squeeze.
The king shares stories about Prophyria that have been passed down through generations. It comes as no surprise that she is known for being strong-willed, brave, and, at times, reckless.
A true free spirit.
“She was bred beneath that mountain, you know.” The king sips his wine. His cheeks are pink, and his face is animated as he talks about her. “Her mother was High Queen Arden’s dragon, Hyraxia. You have given her a reason to live again. In addition to bringing her home to Aegar.”
He sits back in his chair, assessing both of us carefully.
“I cannot express,” he starts, “how truly proud I am of you. Both of you.” His gaze shifts to me.
“I know this was not what you had planned for your young life.” He gently lays a hand on top of my own, resting on the tablecloth. “Your sacrifices will not go unrecognized or taken for granted. Not by me, and not by this kingdom. You have my sincere gratitude.”
“It’s been my pleasure,” I answer honestly. It’s been a pleasure and a gift to see my dad’s face again. To hear his voice. To get to know this strange, alternate version of him. I squeeze the king’s hand with my own as tears fill my eyes. He lets go far too soon.
I blink back the tears, straightening.
“Now that we have Prophyria here, what will we do?” I ask him. He seems to ponder a moment.
“Nothing until we have to. Continue to train with the captain, hone your magic, and get comfortable with your dragon.”
“We won’t be doing any attacking anytime soon? No battles?” I glance between them.
“I will never throw the first stone. Lives are too precious to be lost if it can be avoided. The dragon will be a secret weapon—reserved only for when we need her most. You must learn to work with her power. You alone will serve as a conduit for her magic. You must control it. Else, it will cause great destruction.”
“So, I’ll act as a filter for her magic.”
“Essentially,” Jace says in affirmation.
“Serena—” The king leans forward. “I would like for you to be a member of my small council. If you would be willing.”
My mouth drops open. I glance from Jace back to the king.
“Yes,” I sputter without a second thought. “Yes. I would be honored.”
Derek breaks into a warm smile and claps his hands together once. He rises from his seat and the majesty of his power curls around me, like I am suddenly part of his team. Like I am protected.
“Wonderful. Rest. Both of you. You deserve it,” he says and swiftly exits the room.
33
Walking back to my room side by side with Jace, I feel a familiar thrum of excitement dancing in my stomach. I want to be alone with him. With no weapons, no interruptions, no distractions.
Just us.
When he stops at my door and leans against the wall with that casual ease, I wonder if he wants that, too. A moment of silence passes between us.
“Do you want to come in?” I ask him timidly.
