“I really don’t need to be carried…” I insist.
Sevrin’s grip tightens around me. “I know that you don’t need me to carry you, but I would like to carry you. It would soothe me to know you’re not risking further injuring yourself.”
All three of their jaws hang open.
I can’t help myself—I smile up at Sevrin and pat his cheek. “Alright, if you must.”
His gaze is sharp as it lands on the three men. “Lead the way.”
It takes them a few seconds to react. All of them are staring, looking like they’re facing some kind of internal battle, before Gareth finally spins on his heel and leads our group forward.
My stomach flip flops inside of me. We’re going to see the king now. We’re going to sign the peace treaty, if all goes well.We need this to go well.
And I realize I mean that deep down in my soul. Sevrin, in a very short time, has changed me. He’s shown me what it’s like to be with a man who is strong but doesn’t use that strength against me, who is powerful but wants to use that power to protect me, and who cares about me but isn’t afraid to show it. I don’t want to lose this man.
This has to go well.
6
Harper
I feelridiculous as I’m carried in Sevrin’s arms through the academy and then into the castle, telling Sevrin every step of the way that I really don’t need to be carried. People stare. Maybe because Sevrin is a Hollowborn on our lands, or maybe because he’s carrying their only female dragon rider. But it’s probably both things. We’re certainly not something people see every day.
Ahead of us, the princes keep looking back, and they’re not doing a very good job hiding their displeasure. Every time our eyes lock, I get the deep sense that they feel I’ve betrayed them with Sevrin. Like they didn’t know I went off to present an offer of marriage to him. Like it’s a shock that they might have to share me with their enemy. Maybe, like me, they didn’t think enough about what this situation would look like.
Guards open the doors to the king’s study, and it’s clear the king has been waiting for our arrival. Fresh flowers decorate his room. Lights dance in all the sconces on the wall and from the fireplace. His desk has been neatly cleared off, save for something I’m pretty sure is the peace treaty and a map. Andthe king? Well, he’s in golden and white robes that look new and expensive. Behind him are a couple of men who look like lords, and his advisor.
Elder Thorne is dressed in his ordinary robes. His white hair and beard have neither been trimmed nor combed back. There is still an air to him that I don’t like. His expression is neutral, but his eyes blaze with unspoken anger. Not that it matters. I’m sure many of the king’s people aren’t happy with this treaty, but it didn’t stop the king from making it.
“King of the Hollowborns!” King Stormvale greets, opening his arms wide in welcome.
Sevrin nods with me in his arms. “King Stormvale, I am King Sevrin Grimsbane of the Hollowborn. I have come here under a flag of peace and union. My voice will represent that of all my people, and we will all follow the agreement formed here today. I hope the same can be said of your people.”
“A man who gets straight to the point. I like it,” he says, flashing a grin.
His advisor mumbles, “I didn’t even know it could talk.”
King Stormvale flashes the advisor a look of warning, then is back smiling at Sevrin. “The peace agreement is here, along with a map indicating the area of our lands we are allowing the Hollowborn to use, as per the agreement. All the resources within this area will be yours to use. But, of course, this agreement will be void if… the information you have about the male dragons doesn’t prove to be true or useful.”
Sevrin’s face is a mask of indifference. “You will find my information both true and useful.”
The king claps his hands together. “Good. Once the agreement has been signed, we will have the wedding tomorrow, and then we’ll get the information about the male dragons.”
Sevrin doesn’t look concerned. “We’ve already had a wedding under my people’s customs, so we are already husband and wifein our eyes, but I understand the ceremony is important for your people, and for uniting us with your sons.” He casts the princes a glance, but I can’t decide what he’s thinking.
But the princes… they look absolutely shocked.
“Shouldn’t we have been consulted before you had your little wedding?” Lucien asks angrily.
His father presses his lips together in annoyance. “That’s a rather small matter. Let’s focus on the bigger picture.”
“This is not how it’ll go once we’re married,” Lucien continues, taking a step closer to Sevrin.
As intimidating as he is, Sevrin doesn’t even waiver. If his arms didn’t tighten around me, I’d have no indication that he was the least bit disturbed by the big, angry man in front of him. It’s strange, the three princes might be big, but I think this is their first time meeting a man who is even bigger. I wonder if that changes the power balance between them at all.
Sevrin’s glance slides from the angry prince back to the king. “Are they needed for this? Perhaps it would be easier to do this deal between men.”
“It’s an insult to the Dravari princes,” Elder Thorne hisses.
