Page 17 of The Forgotten Throne

“I seem to remember when Zan showed up that Jade didn’t trust him either. Out of all your guardians, Jade is the most overprotective, and it presents itself with anger or lashing out. Could it be because all they remember is the boy he once was? Maybe they assume he is the same as an adult without giving him a chance?”

Hearing it spelled out in that manner, it was easy to see how that could absolutely happen. Many of my guardians seemed to have a quick temper when it came to me. Could it be as simple as having them get to know each other to calm things down? How did I do that before I was forced to pick my consorts?

“Vasin, you know the rules of coronation in Sheca. I have to pick.”

“My advice on that is to sit down with them, and explain the rules and the position you are in. Yes, to be crowned queen you have to at least have one consort and that relationship must be consummated, but the law also allows you to take as many consorts as you wish after that. My guess is they wouldn’t want you feeling forced into a relationship with them if you’re not ready for that. They care a great deal about you, Cass. Give them a chance to show you that.”

“So you don’t think they’ll be mad if I don’t take them all right away?”

“Do you want to take them all?”

“No… at least not right now. I don’t really know Zan and Paxton as well as the others. Cole and Abbott have been with me since the beginning, showing me time and time again I can trust them. That and there is a deeper connection I could see turning into real love like they talk about in books. Same with Jade. He gets under my skin and sees the real me. Even if we argue, I know it’s because he’s looking out for me or pushing me to do the right thing. Izel also has a special place in my heart along with Dayson. They are new and growing slower than the others but I see what they can be with more time. Zan is such a mystery. He keeps holding back because of things I need to learn about Sheca but he is easy to be with and so smart. Paxton though is the wild card. I mean, how can I even say there’s a chance for a relationship when I’ve known him for all of two days, most of which we’ve been apart.”

“What about Gavin?”

Just hearing his name made me smile. “Gavin is my prince charming. I know that once he gives his heart to someone, it will be forever and in the most beautiful way. I just don’t know if I feel worthy enough for that kind of love when I have feelings for other men at the same time. That’s the biggest part of this. I know I can choose more than one, but should I? Is that fair to them? Being queen in the middle of a war doesn’t give me a whole lot of extra time to invest in multiple men. It would be selfish of me to make them and promise them only part of my heart when I don’t know that I’ll ever have time to give it.”

“My sweet tender-hearted Cass, you are looking at this all wrong. A healthy relationship goes both ways. You are not responsible for their happiness just as they aren’t responsible for yours. Together, as a team, you learn to build each other up and support one another but it doesn’t all fall on your shoulders. Some days you might need more attention from them and in return they might need your undivided attention. If you build the relationship on the right foundation, they will understand and respect it, knowing they will get the same in return if they need it. If one of your partners can’t deal with that, then that’s on them, not on you.”

“How do you make that sound so simple?”

“Because I’m looking at it from the outside without my feelings or heart attached to the situation. It’s always easier to be on the outside looking in than it is to be in the middle of it.”

“Alright, since you’re on a role from your omniscient perspective, how would you deal with the Clan Leaders? I just found out that they pulled Paxton into an interrogation and never once told me about it or what they learned from it.”

“I would inform them that they are no longer needed to serve the role that they are in under this new rule of the Dragon Queen. Although, I should add on the caveat that you will be creating a group of advisers instead. If they would like to put their nomination in for that role, you will take it under consideration and will inform them if they gain the position or not. Personally, I would make the viceroy along with Sal as your historical advisers like they had Sal doing previously, in addition to other advisers who can help in other ways.”

“Now why didn’t I think of that?” I huffed, seeing it as the perfect solution for what I would need and not to ruffle too many feathers along the way to a new way of doing things. “Too bad I can’t make you one of those advisers. You could teach them all a thing or two.”

“Yes, well they wouldn’t listen or trust my words the way you will. Such is the pair-bond between dragons and their humans, which I will forewarn you, there is much for you and the others to learn about.”

“Delightful. Just when I thought I had enough on my plate to worry about.”

“Since you are already bonded to a dragon, it won’t be as large of a revelation as it will be for the others. I just wanted to alert you to the subject coming up in the near future. It explains how they have so many dragon riders versus what is happening in the rest of our world.”

“That actually sounds like it would be beneficial, unlike some of the other dramas I’ve been faced with the last few days. If they had told me it would be this hard to be queen, I might have taken my chances in the wild.”

Vasin just chuffed at me as he wheeled back over the camp below, watching people getting on dragons. “Now that we’ve traveled this far, how long will it take for them to get back to Sheca?”

“You could do two trips in a day, if you wanted them to send back another group of dragons.”

“If we could get everyone not on horseback to Sheca, then it would make the journey easier, and people would be less tired, making it safer.”

“Does that mean you wish to return to camp?”

“Might as well. I won’t let the rest of my people go alone with the Clan Leaders. It would prove they are still more in power than I am. It will already be hard enough to retrain them all out of that mindset after so many decades of them leading.”

With a hum of acknowledgment, he began his descent into the pass, landing in an open spot that the previous dragon left open. I saw there were two teenage girls next in line to be placed on a dragon, so I waved them over once I slid off Vasin’s back. “Come, let me introduce you to Vasin. He’ll take good care of you on the way to Sheca.” The girls looked warily at Vasin as they approached but he just settled on the ground, tucking his wings away, trying to look as unintimidating as possible. “Would you like to pet him? He loves to get his eye ridges scratched,” I suggested as he swung his large head over for me to show them what I meant.

“He wouldn’t eat us for touching him?” one girl asked, a quiver to her voice.

Smiling at them, I wrapped my arms around Vasin’s snout and placed a kiss on his scaled forehead. “Not at all. He is a gentle giant as long as you are respectful to the fact he is an intelligent being. Where people get in trouble is when they treat him like a horse or another pack animal that doesn’t share the same level of understanding. He is just like you and me in how he thinks, so just treat him the same way and you’ll never go wrong with any dragon.”

“Hello, Mr. Dragon—I mean, Mr. Vasin,” the other girl greeted, bobbing a curtsy.

Vasin gave a soft pleased trill as he nodded his head in return before extending his leg to make it easier for them to climb on. Giving one last confirming glance at me, they scampered up, and I helped walk them through how to attach the straps of the harness.

“Make sure to tuck your cloaks nice and tight around you. The wind gets even colder the higher you go,” I warned, then gave them a wave as Vasin took off to join the other waiting dragons.