And then, just off to the left, gathered around a map of the Quadrants that floated in glacial magic, stood Draven Vortimer, Elyrren Vortimer, and Torvek Titanus, who all spun at my approach.
Grandma greeted me with a pleasant smile, but didn’t say anything. None of her usual “darling girl” or sweeping hug. She was tense but trying to conceal it with her usual supreme emotional control. She stood there in a pair of form-fitting black pants that had swirling pale-blue patterns all over them, a flowing top nestled beneath a blazer that matched the pattern of her pants. Her silver hair was tinged with ice-blue and beautifully curled.
To her right was my dad, his broad musclebound form in one of his dark silk shirts beneath his navy tailored coat, a pair of gray leather pants tucked into furry boots a lot like mine. “Evira,” he spoke in a tone that I couldn’t discern as being bad or good, just purely neutral.
Torvek was a little off to the side of them, fiddling with his coiling wristband as he stood there in his sleek tailored black coat, his open-collar black shirt, and in black leather pants this time. His dark, thick hair was perfectly styled and he was in a sturdy, almost regal sort of stance.
But then his molten golden eyes flickered and he winked at me while they weren’t looking, the two of them focused on my approach as I strode the distance to where they were all gathered.
I smiled inwardly. He knew how much I’d needed that. Reassurance that this wasn’t going to be as bad as I thought. Or, at least, if it was, he was right here with me.
My dad folded his big arms across his chest and rumbled, “As you should be well aware, Evira, the Dracoryn Realm rejected autocratic rule two decades ago and it is now governed with conscience and care. Underus.Under enlightened regency which has united all four Quadrants. This governance has maintained peace and coexistence effectively and efficiently. Our people are thriving, the Realm prosperous. As Crown Heir you are the chosen successor to stewardship, not blood-ruled dominion. Successor to the covenant that maintains peace among the dragon clans. Mine and your grandmother’s regency represents continuity and conscience, not tyranny.”
I frowned. “Of course I know all of this. Not getting your point in relation to this… turn of events you called me here to discuss. Or, more likely, ream me out for.”
“Thepoint,my daughter, is that all of that has continued to be possible due in great part also to stability. Our stability—House Vortimer’s. Not allying ourselves with perceived threats, not taking action that could bring harm to the Realm or infringe upon our people. Not breaking their trust. Not calling their safety into question.”
“And that’s what you think me being in a relationship with three men, none of whom are dragon, is putting at risk?”
“As you’ve likely already deduced, Vaxan Canor would be viewed as a powerful alliance that would serve the Dracoryn Realm well. Basilisk and Dragon allying would be beneficial on several levels for both kingdoms. The Ifrit is partiallyproblematic, yet his flame is valued and treated with reverence by those in the Fire Dragon Quadrant. The fact also that he is an evolutionary marker of his species being that he is immune to Cursed Servitude—dragons value adaptability immensely for it ensures long-term survival.”
“So, it’s definitely all about Winter, then. Got it.” I looked to Torvek who was smiling at me kindly, trying to help me in his sweet way.
Still, the tension that had started since I’d received that summoning text from my dad just couldn’t be contained any longer, and I eyed Grandma andkind ofsnapped, “‘Be loud, be brazen, be proud.’Remember telling me that? In your message right when I arrived at Loxley Academy?”
“I do, yes.”
“Making a claim on the Wraith-Necromancer was certainly that, Evira,” my dad spoke.
And then Grandma’s lips quirked.
She exchanged a look with Dad.
Andhegrinned.
What was happening?
“Your claim stands,” Dad told me, generating a great deal more confusion.
“It…what?”
His eyes shone at me. “You stepped up in order to do that. You showed strength, conviction. You stopped hiding it—from us and from yourself. That’s something to be celebrated.Andit’s something me and your grandmother are proud of you for. Things like that are a step on the path toward fully coming into your power.” He eyed me pointedly. “Even in spite of the political ramifications.”
Grandma stepped forward. “We’re also well aware that you don’t draw close in the sense of being willing to risk anything or fight for people usually.” Torvek gave a rough clear of thisthroat. Grandma smiled. “You being the obvious exception. But you took on the role of her big brother protector. Very different.Outside of the familyis how I should have phrased it. Even that awful Keuric whom she courted, she still stood at a distance to.”
“She’s saying Evira couldn’tnotlike you and become attached to you,” my dad teased Torvek.
“We’re also saying that your claim is yours to make or unmake, darling girl.”
My dad came to me and took my hand, stroking my fingers, his eyes softening. “You should know by now that there is no forcing from me, nor from your grandmother. There are expectations, yes, on our House, on our rule, but I thought I’d made it clear, especially through encouraging you to attend Loxley Academy, that I would never allow you to suffer for being born into that, for beingmydaughter.”
“I… I thought this would be different. Because of how Winter is viewed here, and maybe even because of the me-choosing-three-partners thing, as opposed to the accepted one here.”
My dad shook his head and gave my hand a gentle squeeze.
“Then why call me here so urgently?” I asked.
He slipped his hand from mine and gave my shoulder a rub, then stepped back, telling me, “Because there are still optics we need to concern ourselves with, a Realm of beings whose fears and upset we must ease. The people see Winter Nox as a potential destroyer of the very thing the Dracoryn Realm holds dear—the purity of life. He is seen as an infection of death unstoppable upon life and vitality. Having the Crown Heir claiming him is essentially being seen as an endorsement, as making all thatdeaththey fear part of the Realm—visiting that threat upon them. And because you are young and in love, they view it as a youthful mistake, which, in turn, is casting you as short-sighted and uncaring toward the people House Vortimer has sworn to safeguard and to lead with conscience and care.”
