“Sovereigns on approach,” Vael announced, the tips of his fingers pressed to the space above one ear.
Instantly, all members of the Wing lost their casual postures. Every dragon rose up as one. Vael vaulted over the couch to stand at attention directly behind Taevas. Radek joined him to take uphis post behind her. The other dragons assembled by the glass wall, where they stood at attention, their backs perfectly straight and chins up.
The faintest sound of whirring wind began to filter through the glass as a shadow passed over the rooftop patio.
Sniffing, Taevas rose from the couch. Offering her his hand, he told the healers, “We’ll continue this conversation after my meeting with the sovereigns.”
The healers made their polite goodbyes and rushed off toward the door, where a beautiful dragon in a pencil skirt had manifested out of thin air. Gesturing for the healers to pass through the door with her tablet, she called out, “Isand, Lee Seymour is requesting a call.”
Taevas narrowed his eyes. “Oh, I’ve got some things to say to Lee. Katya, tell him I’ll call him tonight.”
“Yes, sir. And when the Emand is ready, she has several messages as well.”
Alashiya started. “I do?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Katya replied. “The nymph representative from the United Congress has called several times, and a few others have left messages as well.”
Nymphs want to talk to me?Alashiya paled.
“Don’t worry about any of that right now. You’re the Emand. Everyone can and will wait until you’re ready,” Taevas muttered.
“What if I never am?” she whispered, wiping her sweaty palms on her pretty silk skirt.
“My brave queen? Impossible.” Taevas shook his head. Stroking her back, he crisply informed Katya, “Hold all calls for her until she says she’s ready.”
“Understood.” Katya nodded and turned on her white stiletto heel to follow the healers out.
“Deep breath,metsalill,”he murmured as he guided her out of the sitting area and toward the wall of windows. “Remember, elves only bite if you insult their mothers. And witches… well, best to get on their good side early.”
“Ha-ha,” she deadpanned, jabbing her elbow into his side.
Nerves tightened her stomach as she watched a small white aircraft with a golden sun and thistle crest on its tail land across the rooftop. The whooshing sound cut off abruptly, and not a moment later a door opened on the craft’s side. A short silver staircase extended. Several helmeted, black-clad soldiers jogged smoothly down the steps and fanned out around it, making two columns.
A massive figure in a sharp black suit appeared at the top of the steps. A much smaller person stood beside him, their hands linked. Her red hair whipped in the wind as he guided her down to the roof. Only when they passed under the awning attached to the glass wall did she notice the man was pale blue.
Taevas nodded toward Pasha, who tapped what looked like a small screen on the wall. One of the massive panels of glass slid aside. Wind whistled inside immediately, rustling her hastily braided hair. Alashiya braced herself as the sovereigns stepped inside, their clothing flapping.
She’d never seen an elf in person before, but she’d read about them. Jewel-toned, towering, almost indestructible, and secretive, they kept themselves apart from every other group in the world. Stand-offish was the nicest way she’d seen them described.
It came as a bit of a surprise, then, when the blue elf paused, gently released his wife’s hand, grabbed a fistful of Taevas’s shirt, and dragged him in for a rough embrace.
“You son of a bitch,” the elf hissed.
Even Taevas, her outgoing and affectionate husband, seemed taken aback. It took him a second to catch up before he wrapped his arms around the elf with a hearty slap to his back. “Hey, kid,” he rumbled, pleasure warming his voice.
“You picked a shitty time to take a vacation, old man.”
“This is the thanks I get for giving you time to shine?” Taevas pulled back to grip his shoulders. Peering closely at the elf’s handsome blue face, he asked, “You okay?”
“We’re okay,” the elf answered. Clearing his throat, hegestured toward the woman who’d come with him. “Lost a decade off my life, probably, but other than that…”
Taevas released him and offered the small redhead, clearly the witch of the pair, a smile. “I know how that feels.” He half-turned and extended his hand to Alashiya, who took it tentatively. Reeling her into his side, he announced, “I’d like you to meet my Chosen, Alashiya Ardz. She saved my life and brought me back to the ’Riik. Shiya, this is my protege, Theodore Solbourne, and his much more talented wife Margot Goode. They run the Elvish Protectorate.”
Margot, a keen-eyed young woman with fox-like features, came forward to take her free hand. “Hi, Alashiya. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I can’t tell you how relieved everyone is that you brought your mate back to us.”
Trying not to shy away from their scrutiny, she shook Margot’s hand and gave them both quick smiles. “I’m happy he’s back with his people, too,” she replied, still uneasy about everyone knowing her before she knew them.
“I’mnothis protege,” Theodore brusquely informed her. Despite that, he took Alashiya’s hand from his wife and gave it a long, grateful squeeze. “Thank you. He’s annoying, but I’m fond of him. And I really wasn’t looking forward to all the meetings I’d have to take if he was replaced. Icannotwait to hear exactly how all of this played out. I’m extremely curious about how he managed to go from kidnapped to mated to a hero like yourself.”
