Warriors of Wind and Ash - Page 105

“They’ll sleep soon,” I tell Serylla. “Hatchlings spend most of their time sleeping or eating for the first few months.”

“Oh thank goodness,” she breathes. “I’m still so tired.”

“So am I.”

She strokes my hair with a sympathetic murmur. “Too tired to think of names?”

“Not at all. What did you have in mind?”

“I thought we could call this one Violet,” she says. “It suits her coloring, and it sounds a little like Vylar.”

I clear my throat, willing the tears not to rise. “Yes.”

“Good. And him—I’d like to name him Callim. After the stable-boy who tried to help me escape, and lost his life. I know neither of them sound particularly dragon-like, so we can change them if you—”

“They are good names. Those are their names.”

“Good.” She glances at the lavender hatchling in my arms. “I think she’s asleep.”

“So she is.” I ease Violet onto the grass and climb out of the nest. “I should get dressed.”

“Clothes are an important part of being human.” Serylla gives me a saucy wink. “And after you’re dressed, dragon, I shall relax here while you prepare something for me. You’ll find everything you need in that bag, hopefully intact. I wrapped it as well as I could.”

“And what am I preparing for you, my Queen?” I ask.

Her smile widens. “A proper cup of tea.”

32

ONE MONTH LATER

I stand in the hallway outside the ballroom, waiting for Kyreagan. Instead of a skimpy white dress and a silver cage around my hips, I’m wearing a voluminous golden gown and delicate lace gloves. Parma, who recently opened a dress shop in a nearby town, returned just for tonight, as a special favor to me, to do my makeup and style my hair into a towering mass of golden curls, studded with sparkling pins. She seems happy, and I’m glad of it.

I’m wearing my favorite necklace, reclaimed from the palace treasury where Rahzien had stowed it. By Meridian’s directive, most of the jewels and fine things in the palace will be given to the people now, but I’m being allowed to keep some of my possessions. Tomorrow my bed and a few chests of personal items will be transported by dragonflight to one of two new chambers Kyreagan has carved at the back of his cave. One of the rooms contains a small nest just the right size for the hatchlings, and the other room is for me and Kyreagan, so we can have some privacy when he’s in human form. Odrash has promised to come over to Ouroskelle soon and install doors on both chambers.

Kyreagan’s original nest remains in the main area of the cave, since he does most of his sleeping in dragon form. Most nights, he drapes himself on the nest and I curl against his warm belly. The hatchlings nestle in with us, calmed by the great, slow breathing of their powerful father. They usually beg me to sing them to sleep, and I always oblige. Sometimes I share songs I’ve learned over the years, and sometimes I craft new songs during the day, just to please my darlings.

Tonight, our children are with Rothkuri and Everelle and their little ones, while Kyreagan and I celebrate the confirmation of all members of Elekstan’s new democratic government. Meridian was asked to be one of the regional representatives, but he declined the role. He’s more interested in adventuring with Hinarax. They set off for their journey southward tomorrow. Now that Elekstan is at peace, I’m sure the two of them will find a new cause to champion together.

For my part, I’m looking forward to sharing a bed with Kyreagan after the gala—at least for a few hours. He’s been in dragon form all day, saving up his time so he can attend the event with me and visit my room afterward.

And there he is, rounding the corner and striding toward me, looking perfectly at ease in a pair of tall, shiny black boots. He’s wearing a suit of deep purple tonight, with a loose, silky black tie at his throat, and a black vest. His long hair is tied back, and he wears the silver crown I gave him.

There’s a sinuous grace to his walk now, a feral elegance that makes me tingle with delight. I can’t stop thinking about how much I’d like to seize him by that tie, shove him into an alcove, and—

“By the Bone-Builder, you look like you plan to devour me alive,” he says with a half-smile. He scoops up my hand, bows, and kisses my fingertips.

“Stop it,” I whisper. “Stop making me want to fuck you.”

He grins, a flash of teeth that’s so very dragon my breath catches. “What about you, in this?” He gestures to the extremely low neckline of my golden gown.

“Oh, this?” I exhale, then inhale dramatically so my breasts swell above the edge of the bodice.

His gaze intensifies. “Fuck… do that again.”

I breathe deeply, and he steps forward, bending to nestle his face in my cleavage. My nipples go instantly hard, and a glowing heat swells in my pussy.

We’re not alone. There are a few guards stationed along this hall, a cluster of guests near the end, and hired servers coming and going. Plus the doors to the ballroom stand open, offering a glimpse of the colorful crowd beyond. Anyone who glances this way will see a tall, handsome dragon shifter with his face buried in the former princess’s chest.