“He truly used a dragon to burn people?”
“On occasion.”
“I don't have a dragon in my throne room,” I said.
“That's a good thing.”
Was it? Not to burn anyone. Never that. But to . . .
The thought slipped away.
“I like dragons,” I said. “I wish I had more time to work with them, ride them. They’re ferocious beasts but I admire everything about them.”
“Work with me on my magic, and I’ll help you train a dragon.”
Here we went again. At least she was persistent; she didn’t easily give up. “Lord Lorant will work with you during the evenings.”
“When you’re sleeping.”
“I need to sleep. I get tired.”
She turned to face me fully, her gaze flickering over me. The concern in her eyes made my heart weep. “You’re not sick, are you?”
Not yet, but soon. “I’m not. I promise.”
“Good.”
I grinned. “Good.”
She turned to look around as we passed beneath one of the arches of the inner-city walls, and I was glad when she leaned into me again, because that meant I could wrap my arm around her.
Countryside and hills rolled away beneath the carriage wheels, each hill taking us closer to the castle.
When Farris whined, I lifted my hand, and the zephyl came to a stop. “I think your pet would like to roam beside us.”
She tightened her grip on the nyxin’s leash. “What if he runs away?”
“Would you hold him back if this is what he needs?”
She pinched her eyes shut before opening them and shaking her head. After leaning over to rub Farris’s ears, sheundid the collar and dropped it and the leash on the floor. “Go, friend. Please . . . I’m not going to name it. You’re right. He’s a wild creature and if he wants to be free, he should be. I just . . . I told myself I’d never love anyone else, yet here I am already pining for a pet who probably only wants to slip into the woods to poop before he returns to my side.”
“Like me?”
Her laugh rang out. “Do you need to poop?”
“I meant run free.”
“You’re probably one of the freest people I know. You’re a king, ruler of all you see.” Her hand swept out to the world around us. “Nothing and no one binds you.”
“I wish that was true.” Did she hear the wistfulness in my voice?
“I assume duty calls to you much too often.”
“Yes, that’s it.”
Farris bounded from the carriage and raced into the woods. We waited because I also hoped he’d come back. He did, but he sat beside the carriage rather than jump in to rejoin us.
“Want to run along the side?” I asked, and he yipped.
