Page 31 of Mad Dragon of Chaos

Shey’s throat tightened and his eyes burned, forcing him to blink rapidly. He was going home, and he was bringing with him a dragon, a god, and a hell of a fighter. They would make a difference in the fight against the Order. His family and his people would be safe.

And he’d get to keep Tyche at his side for a little while longer.

ELEVEN

OMARI HARU

Haru tipped his head back, letting the cool wind run through his long hair as he sucked in a deep breath. He closed his eyes against the bright sparkles dancing on the water. The sky was clear blue, beckoning him for a leisurely flight, but then a hand slid across his shoulders and down as an arm wrapped around his waist. A hint of something spicy and warm touched his nose, and his smile grew. Why would he want to fly when he had Adrian there to hold him?

Megumi had argued for Haru to remain with the clan for a few extra days, allowing him to eat his fill and rest before flying out to meet Adrian and the others on Prince Shey’s ship, but she couldn’t convince him. He loved his sister’s attempts to get him to put on some healthy weight. Beloved Nori didn’t even try to persuade him. Haru prided himself on being an easygoing dragon. Not much ruffled his scales, and he was happy to go with the flow.

Except with Adrian.

Haru could become the most stubborn creature in existence. The moment Adrian left the Isle of Stone, Haru would go with him. There was no room for argument or discussion. He could eat and sleep better with his Adrian at his side.

The others were quick to inform him that the return trip to Caspagir was going more smoothly than their trip to the island. There had been no storms, and the seas were calm, allowing them to make excellent time.

Haru was not a fan of traveling by boat, but it didn’t take him long to discover that traveling on a prince’s yacht came with certain benefits. During the day, Haru ate to his heart’s content, enjoying a mix of food Prince Shey had brought with him on the ship and a massive amount of prepared food that Nori had sent with them. Adrian remained at his side, allowing him to bask in his lover’s company and chat with him about silly, nonsensical things.

At night, Haru still suffered from nightmares and his sleep was endlessly broken, but it was easier to calm down and drift off to sleep with Adrian cuddled at his side. The only thing that worried him was that the goddess’s powers were leaking out of him. Each time he woke, he found Adrian’s brow furrowed and his skin covered in sweat as if he were also caught in the clutches of a nightmare. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do about it. Adrian refused to sleep away from him, claiming that the nightmares were nothing more than a minor discomfort.

“Are you hungry?” Adrian twisted to rest his chin on Haru’s shoulder and smiled. “The captain said we wouldn’t reach the docks until early evening. We probably won’t reach the palace until late.”

Haru turned his face toward his mate and smirked. “Can we eat now and eat at the palace later?”

Adrian rolled his eyes. “I’m sure we could. Shey doesn’t strike me as the stingy sort.”

“Then I think we should⁠—”

“I don’t give a damn what your orders are, Captain! We are to head directly to Sirelis with all haste.” Prince Shey’s voice rang out loud across the deck as he stepped out from the helm.

An older woman with graying short hair and steely cold eyes followed on his heels. Lines dug deep around her stern mouth. “Your Highness, we’re not equipped to face the kind of warships that are blockading the harbor. We’ll be sunk with one hit, and Her Majesty has instructed us that our priority is protecting your life.”

“What’s going on?” Haru pitched his question so that only Adrian could hear him as he pushed away from the railing.

“About an hour ago, we finally got within range of Caspagir’s radio signals. Shey has been communicating with military officials in Sirelis. It sounds like New Rosanthe, or rather the Order, has attacked Sirelis’s ports and formed a blockade.”

Haru turned his head toward Adrian, his brow furrowed. “This ship is small and fast. We can’t slip through?”

“It would be an enormous risk. We might be small and fast, but we also don’t have any big guns or a hull thick enough to withstand any kind of attack. The captain is right—one well-placed shot, and we’re sunk. The smarter option is to dock at a town a safe distance west of Sirelis and travel to the capital by land.”

“But that would be slower, yes?”

Adrian nodded. “Definitely. We probably wouldn’t arrive at the palace until after midnight, or possibly even the next morning. It depends on whether the Order has invaded the city as well.”

“Then we must go through the blockade.”

Adrian snorted. “It’s not that simple.”

Haru lifted his hand and tapped a finger on the tip of Adrian’s nose. “It is. Shey just needs a dragon to help turn the odds in his favor.”

“You want to fly out and attack the ships.”

“A dragon, a bit of Shey’s magic, and maybe even some good luck. That will allow Shey’s vessel to reach the port without a problem, correct?”

“Possibly, but you’re not flying off without me.”

Haru wanted to purr. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”