“Yes, sir,” Izzy agreed politely.
Luka’s beast rumbled in his chest, but he kept his mouth shut. Izzy had always been excellent with even the most cantankerous patients. She had the patience and the years of learned diplomacy to manage Batlok. If it kept them all safe, Luka could endure far more than being spoken about like someone’s unruly pet.
“A dragon killed my niece.” Batlok clenched his fists, his already flushed face growing even more florid. “An animal flew into her room and murdered her!”
Shane stood up, his jaw clenched, clearly ready to argue, but the queen silenced him with a sharp look.
Izzy glanced at Queen Danikha, waiting for her tiny nod before replying. “Please, Your Eminence, could you share your evidence? We have several drakes in this room, and I promise that none of them are a threat to you or your party.”
“My niece is dead,” Batlok spat. “That is evidence enough!”
Luka’s beast rumbled loudly, hopefully not loud enough for Batlok to hear. “It is impossible to enter the castle walls unseen,” Luka said as politely as possible. “The ramparts and the sheer cliffs of the mountain protect the apartments we provided to your party, and your own guards share the corridor patrols with ours. A dragon swooping down would have raised an immediate alarm.”
“Not if the guards knew the monster,” Batlok snapped. “If it was their commander, for example… or their prince! A man well known for seducing every available woman… including my niece!” A vein pulsed in Batlok’s forehead, its angry beat accentuating the rage in his tone. “I demand that the culprits—these so-called drakes—be taken into custody immediately and punished accordingly.”
There was a moment of stunned silence. Even the brigadier general seemed shocked. And then the queen neatly folded her hands and lifted her chin. Her usually warm gray eyes were icy cold and ringed with the vibrant garnet of her beast. “Your Eminence,” she articulated each syllable with frosty precision, “while we understand your distress, we would ask you to consider your words carefully, lest we misunderstand and come to think that you are threateningmy son.”
Batlok’s scowl deepened, but he did not apologize. “I want to know what happened to Narya.”
“As do we all,” Danikha agreed. “I promise you, we will solve this terrible crime. But nothing can be gained by threatening innocent members of my court.” She softened her tone. “Please, Your Eminence, give us time to catch the assassin.”
“Time! You’re lucky I haven’t already declared war!”
Izzy gasped softly, and the scales that had been rippling down Luka’s back solidified into plates of armor.
“My lord!” Queen Danikha interjected. “Are you now threatening us from within our own house?” Garnet scales spread over her high cheekbones. “You are impugning our honor while simultaneously relying on it for safe passage!”
“Honor. Bah.” The archthane snorted. “Find this predator. I want to see him punished.” He gestured to his guards to follow as he turned toward the door. “In the meantime, the trade deal is on hold, as is the peace treaty.”
God of Chaos. It was everything they’d hoped to avoid.
The archthane gestured with a rough wave of his hands to round up his guards and stormed out, with Brigadier General Declan looking somber at his side.
The door slammed behind them, but the tension in the room remained just as high. Iona rose and stood beside her mother, and the two seemed to lean together, their faces pinched with worry.
Before Luka could say anything, Melo glared at Izzy. “Your Majesty, I’m also unclear why Izabel should be here.” She gestured toward the dark-haired man standing beside her. “We already have a senior healer working on this. Sarwin was first to see the young woman and first to discover that a murder had been committed.”
Izzy was close enough that Luka saw her rough swallow, but her voice was calm when she replied. “We have wonderful healers in the castle,” Izzy said generously, “but everyone needs assistance occasionally.”
Queen Danikha looked at her head physik tiredly. “Melo, by the Mother, let Izabel support you. She’s welcome here at any time. And she’s right… we need all the help we can get.”
Melo’s eyes flicked toward Sarwin and back, but whatever she thought, she kept it to herself as she dipped her chin in a clipped nod. “Of course, Your Majesty.” Beside her, Sarwin watched the proceedings with a deep frown and teal scales gleaming over his wrists.
Gods of fire. Why did Sarwin have to discover the murder so quickly?
Because everything was against them. As usual.
Queen Danikha turned to Luka. “Find out what is going on please, Luka, and do it now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The queen looked around the room. “It’s very late. I suggest we all retire now and leave Commander Ryland in charge untildawn. Rest a little, I need you at your best when the sun comes up. I want a report from you, Luka, before midday.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Danikha called to her personal guards and swept out with Shane and Iona. The healers followed immediately, leaving Luka with Cori, Aiden, Kai… and Izzy.
The others had stood at silent attention during that tense meeting, but now their shoulders slumped with tiredness and worry.
