“Can I at least know where we’re going, and why?” Delilah asked. No sarcasm this time—just a trace of worry. It was both satisfying and painful to realize she didn’t feel safe with me.
“We’re flying to the Kingdom of Terrain,” I said. “Then we’re hiking to the enchanted mines. We need to find three specific crystals that will remedy a livestock shortage.”
She arched a brow. “That’s it? That’s the big emergency? The reason we’re delaying the retrieval of the dagger is because of a shortage of cows?”
The sarcasm returned in full force. Good.
“There are over ten thousand dragons in my army, we’ve bred more than the land can sustain,” I said flatly. “And the moment we stop feeding them enough, guess who they’ll eat first? So yes—this is an emergency. We have enough for a week at best before we’re forced to start rationing.”
I gestured vaguely toward the mountains. “The crystals multiply an object thousands of times before their power burns out. One goat becomes a herd by sundown. We need one for each of the remaining livestock towns.”
“Remaining?” Her expression shifted. “Was one attacked that night we were… together?”
She tried to conceal her discomfort, but I immediately scented her faint arousal from the memory.
Focus.
“Yes,” I said. “Our largest supplier. All livestock and slaves disappeared while the guards and fae in charge were slaughtered. We suspect the Kingdom of Night.”
Her gaze snapped to mine. “Your kingdom has slaves?” “Yes,” I answered plainly. “The most in all Nevaehun.”
And then the energy between us turned strange. She looked at me like she was seeing me for the first time—for the monster I was. Her arctic blue eyes dug into my soul.
Unease crawled up my spine. “What of it?” I demanded.
She didn’t speak for several long moments. I wished I could read her mind.
Finally, quietly, she spoke.
“I just don’t think anyone should be held against their will.”
My mother’s face flashed through my mind again, and I was immediately done with this conversation. Feelings were a waste of time. Feelings equaled weakness and I have had enough feelings for one day.
“It’s the way it has always been,” I said. —commanding, definitive—so she’d know the discussion was over. I was not expecting her to speak nor what she said next.
“Then your way hasalwaysbeen wrong,”she declared, definitive, brave, bold, and beautiful.
Fuck. I didn’t know how to respond, so I ignored it, swallowing the guilt. Because the worst part was that some traitorous part of me feared she might be right. And if she was, then maybe I was not the ruler I had always believed myself to be.
I had my dragon keepers prepare Draxxinar for our flight.
When I learned of the mortal’s existence, I took the liberty of having a double saddle made, because I only flew alone—and I knew one way or another she would become my mate.
The keepers coaxed my disobedient beast to hold still while they struggled to secure the new saddle. It was obvious Draxxinar was in a mood today.
One keeper approached me. I was grateful for the interruption; his presence buffered the awkwardness between my future mate and me.
“My Lord,” he began shakily, “my apologies. The double saddle you requested—it doesn’t seem to fit Draxxinar.”
I held my flames back as best I could. “I don’t understand.
Were his measurements off?”
“No, My Lord. I checked the measurements personally three times.” He swallowed. “It seems Draxxinar has been… gaining weight.”
Delilah quietly studied my dragon with an otherworldly gaze.
“Gaining weight?” I repeated, incredulously. “How is that possible? All dragons have a strict diet for optimal health.”
