Page 89 of Connor and the Dragons

“I didn’t,” Kessrin said, “I did not, I was not,” and then he stopped and did not finish any of the three. “I didn’t understand why I did it. Some instinct, I suppose.”

“Connor told us he loves us, too,” Oallian said. “You should have heard it, Delsy. It was quite romantic. And it goes without saying he loves me, too, because who wouldn’t?”

The room went silent.

“It is also not appropriate to shorten the name of a reigning monarch,” Kessrin whispered.

“Ah. Well, I suppose I must be executed then,” Oallian said, flopping back in his chair. “Too bad, because I was very much thinking I’d help Delsy find my wastrel of a brother.”

Delsynarea ignored him, which was a testament to her self-control. “Mr. Liang, please state your intentions for the court’s most trusted advisor. He is not to be toyed with, you understand. That is grounds for execution in this realm.”

“Tampering with feelings in general, or with Kessrin’s specifically?” I asked.

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Kessrin’s specifically.”

“So you want me to declare love again, right now? I was hoping to do it properly this time. Something romantic and alone. The first time was in a muddy field.”

“And naked,” Oallian added, nodding eagerly.

“We would be quite entertained if you were to state your exact intentions.”

“Entertained?”

Kessrin cleared his throat. “She enjoys, um… the occasional… gossip.”

“We are a queen, Kessrin. This is not gossip. You are the crown’s most trusted advisor, and we must be assured that Mr. Liang is not a threat to you or to this realm,” she said. “Step forward and state your intentions for Kessrin Frostvael Shimmerlight, and Oallian Vyranthos both.”

I looked at both of them, at Oallian still slouched in his chair with his arms crossed, and Kessrin sitting rigid beside him, and I got down on one knee.

I knew it was wrong on the way down. There was a point about eight inches from the floor where I realized kneeling was not the right move, but I couldn’t figure out a way to come back from it, so I just continued my descent.

“What are you doing?” Oallian asked. “Do you think it’s too soon for a proposal? I mean, I’m flattered, but…”

Kessrin made a high, strangled squeak. Everybody in the room was looking at me.

Oallian leaped up. “Is it me or is it him? Can it be both? Kessrin, is it lawful here?”

“It is lawful here,” Delsynarea said. “If the crown approves.”

“Should I be standing?” Oallian said. “I could do the one knee thing too. Do we do it one at a time? I don’t know the protocol with three.”

Delsynarea’s lips twitched as she drank whatever was in the cup.

“Three weeks ago I stepped through a mirror in the basement of a strip club in search of my brother. And I had no idea what I’d—”

“Twenty-three days,” Kessrin said.

“I stand corrected. Twenty-three days. So for the first few days I had my own mission, then the Queen gave me a job, and I was focused entirely on that. Except you guys came along and distracted me. And somewhere in there the job stopped being the reason I was doing anything.”

Nobody said anything.

“That didn’t come out right,” I said.

“It was rather nonsensical,” Delsynarea said.

“I’m in love with you, Kessrin,” I said. “And I’m in love with you, Oallian. And I can’t even begin to imagine what my life would look like without both of you in it. Or maybe I can, and it’s so dismal I don’t even want to think about it.”

Oallian squealed and clapped. Kess just watched me.