“Likely a bearer. He leans that way, anyway.” Ghreid cleared his throat, giving a cursory glance to the hatchlings.
Asha’s face, pale as it was, pinkened at the admission, though Varis seemed unfazed. He was comfortable with his preference and that pleased Ghreid so very much.
“So…” Asha cleared his throat and clapped his hands together. Rath and Ghreid stared at him as they wrangled their feisty little ones.
“There’s a settee and a lovely view in the tower. I’ll have refreshments sent up if you like?” Ghreid gave Asha what he hoped was a gentle smile that Asha appeared to return.
“What about the—” Asha flinched as Rath shooed him off.
“Go have words with Varis. The little ones needsometime at my side.” Rath smiled, his eyes glittering with adoration. “You’ve been such an attentive father. If anything, use this as an excuse to have some time away from the kids.”
“I still feel bad leaving you with them… Without Lyss or Jeron. I have them so often.” Asha hesitated, but Rath leaned over and kissed Asha’s full lips before shooing him off.
“Have fun.” Rath urged Asha to leave with a flamboyant gesture.
Asha offered Varis a nod, and they strode off together. Varis stood tall and confident, and Asha, still learning his station, capered only slightly while across Rath’s face stretched the most sodden of smiles.
“We are so very lucky.” Rath sighed and turned his head to Ghreid, face darkening. “We need to talk about this sleeper.”
“I thought as much. Come to my office.” Ghreid gestured Rath along.
“There’s a small problem with him,” Rath said as he settled down. “He’s not a dragon, yet. He’s sleeping without ever having met his mate.”
“What does this mean?” Ghreid stared at his brother who let some of his glamor down, scales crowding his face a little more, like a blush over his cheeks.
“I’m not sure.” Rath settled back. “Graylan isveryinterested.”
Ghreid snorted. “How is Slath taking that?”
“Same as always. He pretends to be indifferent.” Rath snorted.
“But it’s eating him alive, isn’t it?” Ghreid tapped a finger on his desk.
“Father expressly forbade it,” Rath sneered. “Not when he’s so much older than Slath.”
“Father isn’t around anymore.” Ghreid poured a glass of water from a pitcher on his desk and raised it in a toast that Rath followed suit on.
Rath frowned. “I think there’s more that we do not know.”
“Time will tell. Have you asked Slath?” Ghreid raised a brow.
“Like he’s going to answer,” Rath huffed and took a long sip. “Time will tell. Maybe Graylan will wake him and they’ll be mates and Slath can move on.”
“Here’s to moving on.” Ghreid raised a glass and nodded.
“To new beginnings.” Rath nodded. “And the finest Draynarian silk I’ve ever seen.”
Chapter Fifteen
Varis
“So, does it— Does it hurt?” Varis settled himself in a seat in the observatory they’d only recently finished in Ghreid’s estate. The light, at that time of day, had been turned off, ships navigating by sun.
“The knot, I suppose, at first.” Asha tugged at his vivid hair anxiously, the flamelike hues of it so pretty in the morning light coming over the ocean.
“I think we speak of different things, my prince.” Varis cleared his throat and sat up straighter. “I wish to know of the change.”
“Oh!” Asha’s cheeks turned such a vivid pink into a rosy red, that Varis laughed. “That part. Yes. At first it had a—honestly…”
