That was too sharp, but I couldn’t seem to keep my thoughts to myself. With a sigh, I twisted in the air and then arrowed back downwards. Feeling the air rush past my skull, buffeting my wings as my claws shot out, I could almost persuade myself I was a great queen, subject to none.
Instead of a commodity that was argued over.
Returning to the mountain, I heard my stomach rumble. Changing course, I made for the pens of cattle and sheep bred for us to eat. The bleat and then the rush of hot blood, I could almost taste it, but there was no such peace to be gained, not even in my morning meal.
Dragons’ minds connect in different ways. Some can communicate over many, many miles, particularly when the bond between them is strong, but others need to be closer to overhear conversations. I burst into one right now as I drew closer. Father was there, much to the consternation of the animals, as were a familiar group of dragons. The older males from Dragon Home. Turned away from my side, the same beasts and more had come to accost my father.
You said we would all be granted the opportunity to court the queens, one said.
Yes, I—Father replied.
Wait until the females reach maturity, that’s what you said, Hadrian, another spluttered.Well, Cynane’s daughters have been fully grown for some years.
Something I’m well aware of.
Father’s dry tone would have had me falling silent, but these males didn’t have the sense the gods gave a cow.
So it’s time to find them mates.
Find them… As if we were just like the cattle in the pens, ready to be led to slaughter.
And what’s being done about these silver dragons?I felt a buzz in myhead, which meant that more and more dragons were talking at the same time and I couldn’t process all of their thoughts.Silver dragons that are fixated on one of our queens.
Our? I didn’t belong to a single one of them and I wouldn’t ever, not if I had any say in the matter. Father assured me that would change when I went into heat, but I shot back that I simply wouldn’t allow that to happen. A queen could control her own fertility to avoid just this situation, being bound to beasts that didn’t deserve her.
You know what happens when gold dragons mate with silver.
That had my wings working hard. I was dropping like a stone, ready to join this conversation. Dragons kept talking about this as if it was knowledge that was well known, and yet I’d never even heard of silver dragons before their appearance at the keep. The wind whipped up by my descent had all of the dragons below looking up at my approach.
I hated the way the males preened, arching their necks and flexing their wings, as if that would persuade me they were anything other than terrible pests.
Father?I said, landing beside him, and the others all took a step forward.
My jaws locked tight lest I let out a rude snort as they all collided with each other in their haste to get to me. There was a whole lot of scuffling and affronted sounds before they seemed to recover their dignity.
Auren.The warmth in Father’s voice, in his bronze eyes helped dispel some of my irritation. His neck stretched out as he pressed his forehead to mine.How fare you this morning, daughter?
I didn’t get a chance to reply.
You shine brighter than the sun, great Auren, one said, his thoughts unwelcome and intrusive, but as soon as I severed that connection, another ventured forward.
More beautiful than a newly minted coin, the next dragon enthused.
A gold one or a silver one?I turned to my father.Why have you told me nothing about silver dragons before, Father?
Apparently, that was enough to stop the persistent push of the male dragons. They all went very still, staring at Father.
I did the same.
This is a conversation that needs to be had in private, he replied.You will excuse Auren and I.
The silver dragons need to be kept away from the females, the orange dragon said, and that was it. All the control, all the restraint my father had tried so hard to instil in me, shattered. I was striding forward, jaws opening as I came to stand between him and my father. Flames trickled over my fangs, making clear what a mistake this male had made.
Who are you to tell ‘a female’ what she should and shouldn’t do?My thoughts were like a lash across this male’s mind and I was gratified to see him scramble backwards.I can allay your fears. I have no intention of mating with the silver dragons.The orange male’s head jerked up.And the same can be said of you.My anger left me, so I turned to face my father. Even without our psychic bond, I would’ve sensed his disappointment in the set of his muzzle.Father?
This way, he said, turning tail only to leap into the sky.It appears its past time we have this conversation, daughter.
Chapter 23
