“I’d need to hear more about your vision, Your Majesty. But I’m willing to listen.” Rakos releases Bellamy’s hand, military precision stiffening his posture—except for the wink he tosses Bellamy. “I’d like to take Bell flying again. Maybe he’ll bond to a dragon of his own.”
“I don’t think that’s prudent, considering Bellamy’s—” Claude starts.
“I don’t care about being prudent,” Bellamy says. “But I don’t know about my own dragon. I like flying with Rakos and Sarka.”
Margot brushes another leaf from Claude’s shoulder. “Let’s not commit to anything before tea. I’ll call for refreshments before we continue.” She kisses Claude on the lips before walking away to address her queensguard.
Leaving Bellamy, Rakos, and Claude alone together. Bellamy counts silently: One. Two. Three.
“My dear Bellamy,” Claude says sweetly. “Could I talk to your paramour alone for a moment?”
Not even five seconds. “It’s fine, Claude. You can threaten him in front of me.”
Rakos slings an arm around Bellamy’s shoulders with a welcome, reassuring weight. “Let me guess. If I hurt him, you’ll kill me?”
“Oh, you are a clever one,” Claude says, unabashed.
“Claude, you’re embarrassing me,” Bellamy teases. “Don’t worry, Rakos, this means she likes you.”
Claude tosses her long hair behind her shoulder. “I certainly do not,” she says haughtily, before drifting away to rejoin Margot.
“If she truly meant to kill you, she wouldn’t warn you first,” Bellamy adds under his breath.
“Good to know.” Rakos laughs and squeezes Bellamy closer to him. “I like your family.”
“So do I,” Bellamy says. Especially now that Rakos will be part of it.
?
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Rakos
Unfamiliar forests sprawl far below, kissed gold and red by autumn. To the north stretches an unfamiliar mountain range, and to the south runs an unfamiliar river, its tributaries the life’s blood of the verdant landscape surrounding it. Everything below is new to Rakos, but the sky is the same sky he’s always loved. Sarka’s flight is just as thrilling no matter what land their shadow falls upon.
When Sarka pauses, hovering on an updraft, Rakos loosens his left arm in the harness enough to sit up. “I could get used to exile.”
Sarka snorts.You just like fucking your scrawny prince.
“That’s definitely a perk.”
Rumbling happily, Sarka wheels a slow circle around the trees and towers of Sandrelle. There’s no place to land there, and the defenses wouldn’t allow them in anyway. But they can sweep around the edges.
Over the last few weeks, Silaisan enchanters have been hard at work investigating the barrier around the scalestone. They’re close to cracking it, but they’ll wait for the queen’s command to actually unravel the spell. Rakos has spoken at length with Margot and Audric. Both are cautious about the potential impact of open scalestone veins in Silaise. Whether they can control its bleed into the surrounding landscape.
Rakos was surprised to learn Commander Lucien Vaire already had a sheaf of potential structures for a Silaisan dragon corps, as well as key mages and soldiers he wants to recruit. The man is very enthusiastic about dragons.
For the first time in a long time, Rakos is excited about the future. He’s never thought of himself as ambitious, but he wants to be involved with this. He wants his influence and expertise to guide an organization he can be proud of.
He wants to build this with Bell at his side.
Sarka lands lightly in the clear space outside Sandrelle’s moat. Rakos jumps down with a loving pat to her shoulder. “Love you, girl.”
She nudges his chest with her snout. Rakos stumbles back and strokes her smooth scales. Closes his eyes and shares a pulse of mental affection, then turns towards the palace.
A phalanx of oathguards surround him as he enters. They’re ostensibly assigned to guide and protect him, but everyone knows their primary task is to watch him. Rakos doesn’t mind. Public scrutiny will make it more difficult for Lady Claude to discreetly murder him.
It’s going to take a while to win over Claude and Julien, but Margot and Audric have accepted Rakos with surprising ease. Whether that acceptance stems from fondness for Bell, political interest, or both, Rakos will take it.
