Emmavane snarled back.
Vash held her ground.
“Easy, girl,” I said to Vash, hiding my proud smile. “Stand down.”
It turned out that she didn't have to defend me.
Even as I called off Vashana, Rian snapped, “Grandmother!”
The woman stiffened.
“First of all, this is still my home,” Rian went on. “Galin and Vashana are my guests. Do not snarl at either of them! Second, Galin wouldn't have to be impertinent, nor would Vashana have to growl at you if they'd been welcomed properly. You are putting my consort on the defensive, then punishing him for reacting. I daresay, you'd call him weak if he hadn't stood up for himself and dismiss his dog as ineffective if she had not growled. Thus, you are being unfairandrude. And all of this after I promised Galin a warm reception. You're anembarrassment to this family, your dread, and me. If you wish to continue to behave poorly, kindly stay the fuck out here.”
As Emmavane gaped and Alder hooted louder, the Dragon King waved his men forward. They herded Geris and Sebastian past the ancient Dragon couple, but as they reached us, Rian and I took the lead, Vash by my side. I glanced at Rian, expecting to find him glaring at me for being “impertinent” and forcing him to defend me. Instead, I found him staring at me adoringly, his lips twitching.
“You don't think that was too much?” I whispered once we were in the entry hall.
Rian snorted. “My grandparents are too much, and they respect a good show of strength, especially from a member of another race. You've done better than I expected, my jewel.” He smacked his top hat on at a jaunty angle and grinned at me.
“Maybe you should have worn your crown today.” I grinned back.
“That damn thing is heavy and messes up my hair. I don't wear it unless I absolutely have to.”
I snorted a laugh.
“Ri?” a woman called.
Rian stopped in his tracks and lifted his head.
Before us stood a glorious Dragon woman, her blond hair cascading down her left shoulder from a pile of curls atop her head. Her skin was porcelain-pale with a hint of pink over her cheeks, and her eyes were deep, dreamy blue. She opened her arms.
“Mother!” Rian rushed forward to embrace the woman.
She held him a moment, pressing her hand to his cheek, then stepped back. “I've missed you. But I don't suppose you're here for a social visit?”
“No, not entirely. But I've brought someone I'd like you to meet.” He held a hand out to me.
My stomach flipped. With Rian's grandparents, I hadn't experienced any nervousness. I expected them to dislike me and that made it easier to meet them. But his mother was obviously dear to him, and she was staring at me with a soft smile, not at all what I expected from a Dragon duchess, the mother of a king.
I went to stand before her and bow. “I'm Galin Savas, Your Grace. It's an honor to meet you. And this is Vashana.” I motioned at Vash.
“So polite,” Rian's mother declared. “And you are even lovelier than your manners.” She held out her hand, and I took it to place a kiss on the back. “I am Mila. Are you a member of my son's court? You did not give yourself a title.”
“Thank you. No, I'm not. But I was once a part of the Dragon Court of Vix. I gave up my position to move to Vagasof.”
“Ah-ha!” Adler declared as he escorted his mate over to us. “I knew you were a courtier.”
“Anex-courtier,” I said. “These days, I try to stay away from castles and courts.”
“That must be difficult.” Adler looked at Rian.
“My Galin has his own life. He's an inventor,” Rian declared, steering the conversation away from that quagmire.“He moved to Vagasof to open his emporium, and he's done splendidly. Galin doesn't have time for court and its politics. He specifically moved to this kingdom to get free of that, and I admire his dedication to his craft.”
“An inventor?” Emmavane asked skeptically. “All the things we need have already been invented.”
“That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard you say.” Adler rolled his eyes. “Andthat'ssaying a lot.”
Waiting along the wall, Rian's knights tried to look oblivious to the conversation, their lips pressed firmly together and stares lifted. Sebastian just gaped openly.
