“Let the prime minster know…” Everyone knew the only way to survive on the streets was to build alliances. My family was involved in a labyrinthine network of favours and backroom deals to maintain their position in the Blackreach underworld. “That there’s those that fear our dragons because they are so much bigger and stronger than anyone else’s but…” Everyone else was half asleep right now, so when I looked to them for support, I got nothing. “Let him know our dragons are at his beck and call, if he can keep the general off our back.”
“This is a very big thing you’re proposing,” Marius mused. “A deal that would be enticing to almost anyone. To have such formidable beasts do your bidding.” A sharp nod. “Yes, I’ll put your proposal to the prime minister and see what he says.” He glanced out the window. “Here we are at the keep.”
Which meant the job of hauling my brothers had to start all over again. With a sigh, I reached for the door, only for the cane to rap my knuckles.
“Since we’re doing each other a favour…” With a look out, we both noted several riders approaching. “I’d slip out the other door. Your comrades are likely to face disciplinary action, being out all night drinking. If you want to avoid that…”
Didn’t need to tell me twice. With a grin, I cracked open the other door, using the carriage and its horses as a shield as I joined a group of tradesman walking in through the gate. The muffled sounds of angry voices, along with slurred responses, had me moving that bit faster.
Where is she, lad?I asked ‘Fang.
Eating, came his short reply.I asked my queen if she’d like me to bring down a cow for her, but she told me to vomit up all my venom, allowing it to melt the flesh from my bones.
Sounds like you’ve got a way to go, brother, I told Fang.
She cares enough to want to see me die.His reply was smug.I think she likes me.
Fern, ‘Fang,I said.Where is Fern?
Walking down the path, towards the keep.
Just in time for me to intercept her. A stroll through the foyer and then out across the courtyard, I wasn’t close enough to to catch sight of Fern yet, but I did see the tubs of flowers set up along the perimeter. The sweet scent of roses filled the air, which had me remembering something Dain mumbled.Roses…Nothing more helpful than that, but… My knife was off my belt, cutting off several big white blooms until I had a large handful of them. With that, I made for the footpath.
“Oh…!”
That look of surprise, her wild hair, I sucked in every bit of Fern’s reaction, then presented the flowers with a flourish.
“Milady…” She didn’t take them at first, forcing me to straighten up. “I brought you these to try and make amends.” Well, Fern hadn’t slapped me yet, so hope sprang eternal. “I thought I’d bring you some flowers and see if you wanted to come walking?—”
“Walking?”
She had to know it wasn’t a need for exercise that prompted a man to ask a woman to go and take a turn around the gardens with him. If I could get her away from the keep, my brothers, everything, then maybe we could see if there was something real between us beyond infatuation.
“Walking, flying…” My smile was there and gone again. “I’ll waltz you all the way down to the docks, if that’s what it takes…” A hand scrubbed at my face. “Look, I am really terrible at this, but here’s what I know. You don’t know me from Adam.” She winced. “Well, slightly more than a stranger, but I’m pretty sure we got off on the wrong foot when we first met.”
“So you didn’t mean to thank the gods for ‘giving me to you?’” she said, eyes narrowing.
When her hands went to her hips, I followed the movement.What would it be like to replace her hands with mine, then tug her closer, right before… I forced my eyes up in time to see one of her eyebrows cock upwards, making clear she knew exactly what I was thinking. My tongue flicked across my suddenly dry mouth, then I continued.
“If I had spent a second thinking before I let my mouth engage, I would never have said that out loud,” I replied.
“Just thought it.” Her arms crossed. “Well, the flowers are rather lovely and?—”
This was not going the way I hoped. If I was a dragon, I’d be falling through the sky, ready to crash land.
“I shouldn’t have said what I said that day.” Talk fast and then people can’t interrupt, that was my plan. “I mean, am I sad that a woman like you is bonded to our dragons’ mate? No.” Brows drawing down, she scowled, but I forged on. “You’re beautiful…” I took a step forward, but she moved back, maintaining the gap between us. “And angry and somehow that just seems to make you even more radiant.” I gestured to her face. “Your eyes start to spark like blue fire and…”
Finally, my voice trailed away, though only for a moment. If charm wasn’t going to work, maybe I needed to try honesty.
“And that’s not why I’m here. I saw you fall, Fern.” I understood Dain then, because as that memory came rushing back, so did the wretched feeling of helplessness. “I was screaming along with ‘Fang, then Argent and Dain swept in, but…” My throat worked. “It should’ve been me, protecting you, keeping you safe.”
“Some might say I need someone to keep me safe from you, Master Lorien.”
Her reply was tart, but her tone wasn’t. I tried another step forward and this time she stayed right where she was.
“So that’s what I’m going to do. You may as well take the flowers.” With a press against her hand, her fingers reluctantly wrapped around the stems. Part of me wanted to stare at my fingertips, sure she’d left a searing mark there, because I could feel the heat of her skin long after she pulled away. “Becausefrom now on, I’m your shadow. Wherever you go, whatever you do, I’ll be there, making sure nothing like that happens ever again.” A far off roar had us both turning. “That’s ‘Fang, and he says me too.”
Of course, he said inside my head.My queen cares for yours so she must be kept safe.
