Page 119 of Under Restless Skies

“Sorry.” He drops his gaze again. “I’m… too irrational sometimes. You can’t… Mayara, you can’t make me give up everything I fought for. Do you want me to risk my throne? Is that what you want?”

“Quite the opposite. If a relationship with me is that problematic, the best thing for you is not to entertain it. It will strengthen your claim, Alayel.”

“But I want you.”

“Then we wait for the right time.”

He huffs. “That’s it then? The only issue is that I don’t want to make our love public? Is that your only problem with me?”

“And ignoring me.”

“I ignore you to hide our love. Let me get this straight. If I didn’t ignore you, and if I told the whole kingdom that I love you, would you be mine? Like before?”

“Ifs are pointless, Alayel. You’re going to tell me what? That I’m fickle? Proud? I don’t want to be a shameful secret you need to hide. I can be single forever. At least there’s dignity in it.”

He sneers. “So it’s pride, then. Your pride is more important than me.”

“My dignity.”

“Fine, then.” His eyes have a glint of fury. “Stick your dignity up your cunt. From now on, you’ll no longer have my protection. Let’s see how well you fare in the academy.”

A cold shiver runs up my spine, but I don’t want to show him my fear.

“Showing your true colors, Alayel? We had a deal.”

“Our deal is dead,” he spits. “You deceived me. You’re not the person I thought I loved.”

“Who? A brainless idiot you can manipulate at your whim? I’m most definitely not that person.”

“Oh, no. You’re not the woman I chose to be my queen. Most definitely not.”

With that, he storms up the stairs, while I stay here, waiting for my anger to subside, as I don’t want to see the baby dragons in this state.

What an asshole. What an idiot.

And still, despite everything, something inside me feels his absence like an open wound. Why am I so stupid?

You command my heart, and there’s only you.

His words echo in my head, then move down to my chest, cutting like a blunt knife, drawing out the pain.

I take a deep breath, trying to push away all thoughts of Alayel, or at least quiet down my anxious heart.

Eventually, I focus on Ava and Vos, on my brother, on my friends, and cling to a different kind of love. My heart quiets down enough that my breathing steadies, and I finally go to the room with the hatchlings.

Ava runs to me, and I pull her onto my lap, but I see no sign of Vos anywhere.

“Where’s your brother?” I ask.

Ava squeaks. Since I don’t sense any worry or fear coming from her, I figure Vos is fine.

“Vos? Where are you?”

I scan the room slowly, checking carefully behind rocks and potted plants. Ava twists in my arms, climbs to my shoulder, and stays perched there, her little claws pinching my skin.

She squeaks loudly when I check a corner.

“What is it?” I ask, and she makes a gurgling sound, like Vos usually does.