My bedroom is simple and uncluttered, a soldier’s room, unlike most of the nobles’ bedrooms in the palace.
I asked for a windowless room to maintain my privacy and avoid Maximinus’ spies.
I hung my Shadow Dragon banners of a fierce golden dragon from my campaigns on the remaining walls because it makes this place feel more like home. Being with my brothers and sisters in the army always felt more like my true home than the court.
Safer.
In the corner of the room is a pile of old blankets, which I have arranged into a small nest.
Beeswax candles flicker on a desk, which is stacked with neat piles of official paperwork. A chest stands next to the desk, which is heavily ornamented with flames of gold on each of its sides.
I hide my most precious objects inside.
A dragon must have their treasure.
Although, my greatest treasure is currently lining my royal dragon’s nest.
I glance at the bed.
It is raised up on a platform with an intricate bronze frame like curling wings and a heavy mattress, stuffed with feathers. It is piled with ornate golden cushions, as well as velvet bedding, which are embroidered with glittering dragons.
My eyes narrow, before I march to the bed.
Then I perch on the edge. “I thought we had an agreement that you could sleep on the lovely nest I made for you on the floor. What? After all those years hunting mice in the dungeons, only a king’s bed will do, huh?”
A large cat with ragged ears and messy tabby fur, Five, is curled in the center of my luxurious bedding, shedding her hair all over it.
I grimace.
The Beta servants can cast me annoyed looks if they like.
I am a king. If I want to allow a cat to sleep in my bed, then that must be one of the perks of royalty.
I sigh.
Why am I looking after Daire’s fleabag, while he’s training with my uncle? Because I know that his cat is like a family member to him? Because the pain in his eyes when I tried to take her away from him as a punishment crushed my heart in a way that I don’t understand?
Five raises her head and gives me a baleful stare out of her one cloudy, blind eye and her one golden eye.
My lips twitch. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to throw you out of my nest. I value my fingers.”
I reach out warily. I risk petting Five between her ragged ears.
Five allows it like a queen permitting worship from a servant.
I smile with surprised fondness, when she starts to purr.
I stroke Five more firmly. “Lan would have loved you, and you would have loved him. All animals treat him like he is their King. It was amazing to watch him use his powers. I always thought that he was the most incredible person I’d ever met. My best friend. I never understood why he was hated, and I spent my childhood wishing that I could hurry up and get older so that I could find a way to bring him to my own court and protect him…” I give a hollow laugh, and Five bumps her head against my hand. “But then, we did get older, but he betrayed me. Now, I’m not bringing him to my court to protect but to destroy him.”
My chest hurts.
When I first saw Lanlin in Mother’s rose gardens, under the starlight, after I’d slipped out of a political feast to celebrate our Shadow Vampire allies, I thought that I was dreaming.
A Blood with olive skin, who was about the same age as me but smaller, was lying on his back behind a rosebush in a robe adorned with diamonds like the night sky. A scarab beetle pendant with diamonds for eyes clung to his chest. His long, black hair was spread around him on the grass, as if he was surrounded by shadows.
He was so beautiful, I faltered.
Had I fallen asleep?
