The Dragon King blinked. Shook his head. “Fuck,” he hissed and pushed himself back. “I'm so sorry.” He took my hands and helped me sit up. “I don't know what happened. I just . . . my chest went tight and then I was atop you. I don't understand.” He ran his hands over his face. “Great fuck! I'm not like this.” He dropped his hands to stare apologetically at me. “I swear, I have more control of myself.”
“Shh.” I straddled his lap and took his face in my hands. “You didn't scare me. I even kinda liked it. It showed me how invested you are in us. I don't think you can't scare me now, Rian. I know you too well. I know you won't hurt me. So, youget angry if you need to. You hold me down and snarl and growl. And I will lie still until you remember that I'm not going anywhere either.” I bent my forehead to his and sat with him like that until his breathing calmed. Then I pulled back and looked at him. “Are you better now?”
“Galin, there's only one explanation for my behavior.” Rian pushed back my hair, his stare coasting over my face. “You're my—”
“No!” I cut him off. “Don't say it. Don't give me that kind of hope yet.”
He smiled and settled his hands on my hips. “Very well, my jewel. I have enough hope for both of us. Not just hope. Certainty.” His smile brightened, going blinding. “You're mine and soon enough, I will bind you to me forever.”
Despite my words, hope burst in my chest and the memories of Rontor that had been surfacing vanished. They just dispersed like smoke. There was a new fire burning in my heart, one strong and smokeless. These flames wouldn't choke me. They would warm and sustain me. This is what love was supposed to be like.
“Rian, I—”
“No,” he stopped me as I had done him, but he did it with that beautiful smile in place. “You don't have to say anything. Just hold on.” He cupped my face. “Hold onwithme, Galin.”
I nodded. “I will.”
Chapter Eighteen
“Have you started building my crispers?” Rian asked as we headed downstairs.
“Yes, of course.” I waved at my worktable as we passed by. “I've got three done.”
“That was fast.”
“I had all the parts. I just had to put them together.” I got into my wing scarf and then pulled on my red cloak as Rian pulled on the cloak he'd left on my coat rack.
Once we were prepared for the cold, we went into the shop to find it busy, with both Raef and Arena helping customers. They waved at us as we passed through. The people they were helping glanced over, then exclaimed in surprise and bowed to the King. Rian smiled and nodded but continued to the door to open it for me.
As we left, Raef declared, “Yes, that's the King. We're currently fulfilling his first order from us. Five crispers!”
I chuckled. Raef was better at business than I was. He knew it would drive up sales more if the King was known to be a customer rather than my . . . what was he? I didn't have a name for our relationship yet. And that was all right.
Outside, the snowfall had gotten thicker, and I pulled up my hood against the chill. I was glad to have it since the carriage waiting for us had no roof.
“Is this one of those sleighs you told me about?” I asked as a Dragon knight opened the low door for us.
“Yes.” Rian waved at the high back that transformed into two golden curls, then pointed at the long metal bars that the main compartment stood on. “See the runners? No wheels.”
Rian helped me in, and I settled on the only seat, a thickly padded bench against that dramatic back. It was warm from the Fire crystals under the seat but there was also a fur blanket laid there, holding in the heat. Rian sat down and settled the blanket across our laps. The front of the vehicle was much lower than the back but was also bracketed by golden curls with the driver's bench laid between them. The knight who had opened the door for us went to sit on that bench, beside a second knight who held the reins to a pair of white horses attached to the sleigh. With a clicking sound and a snap of the reins, the driver urged the horses forward. So, just the knights today, no attendants.
“I thought we'd go for a ride through Rucholden,” Rian said.
“The forest?” I glanced behind us but there were no other guards. “With only two knights?”
“If something can overpower three Dragons, nothing will stop it.”
“Fair point.” Truth be told, Rian was all the protection I needed, but kings didn't go wandering about alone, not even Dragon Kings.
We went down Citrine Lane and took a right at the Time Keepers' Guild clock tower. Just as we drew up to it, the clock chimed nine and the doors on the front of the clock opened. Set on a ring that rotated, wooden figures, carved to represent every race who lived in Sken, appeared, seeming to dance out of the clock before swirling back in. I smiled up at the dazzling invention, watching it for as long as I could, even looking over my shoulder until we were out of sight.
When I glanced at Rian, I found him grinning at me. I lifted a brow at him.
“That was good timing.”
“It was,” I agreed. “You know, that clock is why I chose Vagasof.”
“It is?”
