“Thank you. But all I want is for you to swear fealty to my husband.”
“Husband?” Marla looked around at the dragons.
Dash cleared his throat to get her attention.
Marla gasped. “Forgive me, Sire. I didn’t see you there.”
“All good. I’m just glad no one stepped on me.”
Smiling at that, Tanis returned to her human body. “I wish you well, sister. I know you’ll see justice done in the name of myfather and brother.” But she didn’t want to witness it. For better or worse, Reva and Ragna were her sisters.
And while she should hate them for what they’d done, she didn’t. Had it not been for them, she would never have met her unicorn.
Marla bowed to Dash. “The Indarians are forever loyal, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Marla smiled at Tanis. “Be happy, little sister. May the gods grant you a home full of hatchlings.”
“Thank you, Marla. May the gods smile on you and keep you in their safety.”
And with that, Dash took them home.
They didn’t talk much,and luckily, it wasn’t that long a journey. But it was a beautiful one as they went over the Windy Crossing waters that separated Indara from Licordia.
When Tanis had been a young hatchling, she’d dreamed of flying over this area where it was forbidden because it was a shared border with Licordia, and her father had always feared the unicorns breaking their truce.
The winds here were said to make a dragon’s wings stronger.
She’d never once imagined she’d be making the journey while riding on someone else. But that was okay. She didn’t mind in the least.
In fact, Dash made everything better.
And once they were home, Ryper actually pouted. “I feel robbed. I didn’t even get to rough up a single elf while you were gone. They all behaved.”
“You’ll get over it. Besides, I’m sure someone could incite a riot from Tova or her children.”
Ryper laughed. “Where’s Chrys? She’s good at that.”
Dash shook his head. “Don’t disturb her quite yet.”
“Why?”
“We’re not finished, brother.”
Ryper’s expression turned serious. “Meara.”
Dash nodded. “For now, she thinks her kingdom protects her.”
The fire returned to Ryper’s gaze. “Are you telling us that we finally get to skin a centaur?”
“Long time coming. But yes. We’re going to skin a centaur. I need Chrys and Ronan to find Xaydin. It’s time to break a contract.”
Chapter 26
THREE WEEKS LATER
Ronan entered the Vaskalian tavern that sat on the border with Sagaria. Vaskalia was the home kingdom of trolls, ogres and giants. Sagaria was ruled by a sidhe court.
