Teng's eyes widened. “Oh? Are you an interested buyer, Your Majesty?”
“I'm interested in protecting my mate's family.”
Teng froze.
“Did he say mate?” one of the crew asked.
“Do Sea Dragons have mates?”
“Karadas gave the Sea Dragons mating magic,” I said loudly. “I'm his mate. Which makes all of you very fucking lucky bastards. Because now you have King Vaxarion's protection.”
“You're his mate?” Teng asked me.
“Yes,” Vaxarion answered for me. “And you're his father, are you not?”
Teng lifted his chin. “I am.”
“Then you're my family too. If you need payment for the Eye, I will provide it. But we cannot allow it to fall into the hands of a Land Dragon. Serai will not survive that.”
“Serai?”
“Imagine a Land Dragon in possession of the Goddess's Fire? Pure Fire Magic. Even if they were honorable, the power is not meant for one of them. It's why the stone was hidden in the sea. It seduces its master and makes them believe they're a god too. And no good comes of it. The last Land Dragon to possess Ensarena's Eye incinerated an entire city. Fortunately, he burned himself to ash along with everything else.”
“Dragons are immune to fire,” Teng said.
“Not the Eye's fire. Not at the level it was channeled. And that bitch goddess didn't care that her magic had fallen into the hands of one of her children. She didn't stop him.”
“Maybe allowing him to burn to ash was her way of stopping him,” I said.
Vax grimaced. “Perhaps. But if so, that is nearly as bad as doing nothing. That Eye belongs with the Sea Dragons where it will be safe. Only we can ensure that no Land Dragon gets its claws on such power.”
Teng considered this. “But that also means a Land Dragon would pay immensely for it.”
“Teng!” I snapped.
He grinned at me. “I'm just teasing, kid. Come with me, Your Majesty. We can talk about suitable recompense. I'll give you the family discount.”
I snorted and rolled my eyes but just before we reached the door, a roar echoed above us. I spun to see a crimson dragon on the horizon closing in fast.
Vax narrowed his eyes at the dragon and grinned. “It appears there's no time for negotiations.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Vax started stripping again. “Stay here, Mate.”
“What are you going to do?” I demanded.
“Handle this.”
“Vax!” I grabbed his arm.
Meanwhile, Teng asked, “Who the fuck is that?”
“That is King Lyrandir,” Vax said with a glance at me. “You didn't mention that he was involved.”
“Why do you think you found me in his castle?” I shot back.
Vax grunted.
