Loska hovers, secure in the air.
According to mundane anatomists, dragons don’t make sense. Based on muscle and bone, mass and volume, they shouldn’t be able to fly. But considering dragons without magic never made sense to Marek. Dragons nest in scalestone, amplifying and strengthening their magic before birth. They roost in it whenever they need to refresh their power, but the magic itself is inherent.
Like Sei. Except instead of allowing him to soar through the skies and breathe fire, Sei’s magic condemned him to life in the Porcelain Guild. An organization Marek dislikes even more the more he learns about it.
Fucking teacups.
Why do you want to un-betroth him, anyway?Loska asks.I like Sei.
Marek slips his arms from the harness and sits upright in the saddle. “I like him too. That’s not the problem.”
Do you like-like him?
“Don’t be childish.”
Don’t avoid the question.
If anyone else asked, Marek would be annoyed. But this is Loska. They connect on a deep, mystical level that centuries of scholars and riders have never been able to explain. Loska knows Marek needs to talk this through.
“He’s attractive, obviously.” The admission feels insufficient. “I mean, he’s fucking gorgeous. Those dark brown eyes, and the way hemoves. Anyone would be into him—okay, I know he’s not your type. Anyone interested in human men, which I am. Plus he’s so damn easy to talk to. Too easy. I’m worried that he’s tiring himself out, talking to so many… What?”
Marek narrows his eyes as Loska’s laugh rolls through his mind.
Thanks for answering my question,Loska says smugly.
“What I think of him doesn’t matter.”
I know. For your mysterious human reasons, I understand that being mated to a man you want to mate with is the worst thing in the world.Loska smoothly adjusts to maintain his place in the current. The slight rock barely budges his rider.My condolences.
“Oh, fuck off.”
Now that you have this attractive man in your grasp, how do you intend to get rid of him?
“Still working on that.” Marek can be honest with Loska, even though he hasn’t been honest with himself the past few weeks. “Actually, I don’t think I can avoid the wedding.”
Loska’s laugh is restrained. Somewhat.
“Fuck off,” Marek groans again. “I’ll divorce him as soon as it’s politically possible. I just don’t have the full picture yet.”
He had wanted to figure out if the deaths the night of Vana’s desertion were related to the betrothal. He’s not certain they are, but the information he’s uncovered is even more disturbing.
Three years ago, before Marek became wing-marshal, Rakos Tem deserted the dragon corps. Irenka Miraz led the operation to hunt Rakos down. She recaptured him near the roosting grounds, but he escaped again. Irenka died in the pursuit.
Simple enough. Except for Ludvik, Irenka’s adjutant, refusing to talk about it.
Which means King Imrik is involved.
Marek isn’t an idiot. He doesn’t want to rule Draskora—he lacks the patience for politics. But even if he wanted the crown, the last thing Marek would do is let his father know about it. Imrik Dire doesn’t share power easily, and every king’s worst enemy is his successor. Marek has risen to wing-marshal on his own strength, his inherited magic, and his sincere determination to stay out of Ostomar politics. The slightest hint of conflict with the crown could eradicate any fatherly affection.
So, whether or not Petir Bernek’s death means anything, Marek has to abandon that investigation for now. Besides, it was only a secondary pursuit to the matter of his betrothal.
Loska shifts beneath him, and Marek braces his arms in the harness again before they take a few wingbeats higher.
If you can’t tunnel beneath the mountain, can you fly over it?Loska asks.
Another angle of attack. Petir and Mori’s deaths may or may not be related, but Imrik and Naoko signed the treatybeforeVana vanished. And Naoko Mallory’s role as ambassador means Fellrin always intended to offer Sei Mallory as their bid for scalestone.
“Fellrin has offered grails in exchange for scalestone before,” Marek muses out loud. He doesn’t raise his voice over the wind—Loska hears him half out loud, half through the bond. “They’ve offered just about everything over the years.”
