There were still some detractors here worried about his abilities, but it was just worry, not active antagonism. He just had to continue to be his usual responsible self. He and Fanor were even creating a council where he’d meet regularly with said detractors and reassure them, while also being transparent about the whole thing.
It would all be fine now.
So much had happened to bring it about, but now all of that was in a really good place.
Now that my business conversation with Cornelius was done with, I searched out my boys.
I’d barely started when I caught sight of Zayn decked out in a pink zebra-print leather vest and matching pants. He was entertaining some children in dragon form, making his Ifrit flame dance and forming animated shapes around the children that had them so excited, little growls of elation sounded from them. Their parents were gathered around watching with amusement.
A laugh burst from me. He was truly incredible.
Now where were my other incredible lovelies?
It would be hard to do a scent-track through an area chock-full of dragonkind.
Although, not impossible, if I had to.
My phone could also work.
But then I zeroed in on Vaxan over in the Wind Dragon influenced side of the city, by the wind chimes, a sky bridge in the distance behind him. He was talking with Fanor and T who were, as shocking as it was—especially with how Torvek usually was—all over one another. T was in a striking gold suit covered in rubies, looking the part of new royalty, and she was in her usual deep red and gold, albeit a suit also. Quite the striking display. Especially with my sexy mighty lord factored in with his sleek all-black look—a studded perfectly tailored blazer and those delicious leather pants. And of course his Sunveil crown nestled on top of his thick ebony hair.
As T and Fanor started getting a little too handsy and became distracted from their conversation, Vaxan used the opportunity to pull out his phone.
But I didn’t like what I saw as he did.
Urgency.
He was even using his Basilisk speed to type.
A sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach.
I swung my head through the space.
There Dad was with Grandma, the two of them looking so joyful and chatting away.
Last I’d seen Winter, he’d been talking with them. In fact, that was where I’d left him when I’d needed to speak with Cornelius. He’d seemed fine with them. Comfortable. He’d been celebrated here today as well, and he’d been in awe of it. For too long all he’d gotten from people had been suspicion and fear, but after what he’d done for the Realm that day he’d forcedback Sanctus, that had most definitely shifted—especially here. He’d gotten a Key to the Realm from my dad as well to raucous applause and cheers.
I was about to send a spelled concealed communication across the vast space to Dad when Flame walked up to him and they struck up a conversation. An interruption now would risk making a thing of it, the last thing I wanted now that Winter was being revered at long last.
Dammit.
A few feet to the right by the twin onyx arches of Ember Gate, I locked on Velra standing with Lazriel and Cassius. They’d come to see their son being honored during the ceremony earlier where Ariana had accepted the key for Kai as he hadn’t been present, then Winter had been up afterward and insisted that me, Vaxan, and Zayn join him up there. Ambrose had also been invited for his efforts, but he hadn’t shown up. That hadn’t seemed like anything out of the ordinary because he disliked notoriety. I mean, Cassius had arrived a little late because he’d had a class. He hadn’t been standing with Velra and Lazriel during the ceremony as a result, and he’d snuck in later on at the edge of the crowds so as not to make a scene. I’d thought the same of Sylas, that he’d gotten held up at Requital. But he wasn’t with the other three now either. So he literally wasn’t here at all.
Sylas and Kai missing. That then added to the Ambrose factor?
Yeah, something was going on.
Had Winter been called into that?
No. Why wouldn’t he tell us?
A hand landed on my shoulder and I spun to see Vaxan there. His eyes held concern, but he was otherwise checked—at least to any onlookers. I knew him better than that by now.
And so did Zayn, as he was meandering through the crowds in the next second toward us.
“What’s happened?” he whispered when he reached us.
Whispering among dragonkind? Sure. It was adorable, though.
