He gaped at me in shock. “I have never seen you in a kitchen.”
Micah, who had volunteered to help me with Frederick’s findings, sat next to us. “I’d appreciate it if you made some for us.” He was the only of his brothers who liked eating sweet foods.
I rubbed my lips together. “It’s for Frederick. I’ll learn how to cook for my best friend.”
Frederick lifted a brow. “Thanks but no thanks. I’m not sure if I want to be a test subject.” He tapped his jaw. “Hmmm . . . you could give me another raise.”
I sighed. “Rylan and I have given you plenty of raises. You’re one of the richest men in Constanria.”
“But not the richest.”
“If I give you anymore, the council is going to start thinking I’m playing favorites. How about the biscuits?”
He lifted his hands and gestured a cupping motion. “I’m sorry, but both options don’t really compare.”
I tapped the sheet of paper Frederick had passed me earlier. “Help me go through this, and maybe we can discuss a slight bonus for this month.”
“Slight?”
“Don’t whine.”
After returning from Beyestirya, it took me a long time to figure out what all the logistical items meant. It was a lot of studying, but I finally slogged back up to the top of my game. Now I could aid Rylan with ruling the country and making the right decisions, since I was armed with the necessary amount of information.
After searching through too many numbers, Frederick yawned and tapped the feather of his quill on a sheet of paper. “We’ve found an interesting discrepancy in Greta’s Pines.”
“And that is?” I asked.
“There has actually been an increase in the crustarians there.”
Micah screwed up his nose. “Insects.”
Frederick hummed. “A good source of protein.”
“It’s something to consider,” I said.
“Insects aren’t going to be the answer for your saving,” Micah said, picking up another sheet of paper.
“They’re part of the world,” I replied. “Aereala’s creations. Or maybe Gaean’s, if I remember what she told me correctly. The solutions are usually in the small details.”
“And yet you hate the meetings with the priests.” He scribbled an “X” on a sheet of paper and put it aside.
“We’re not doing this just to find an answer to the vessel problem. We’re helping Rylan with his rations.”
“The day Rylan asks his people to eat insects is the day they find a reason to start a rebellion.”
“The Constanrians can be that fickle?”
Micah smiled. “Where have you been living? Dragon-kind are known for their tempers.”
“So,” Frederick said, “did you and Rylan ever get back to . . .” He cleared his throat. “I mean, he seemed pretty mad about it.”
Micah turned his nose up from the sheet of paper he was looking at. “What did the both of you do?” A lock of his crimson hair fell over his brow as he leveled an intense expression on me. He told me he was over Rylan being king but that didn’t mean there wasn’t a little bit of rivalry between them. They were dragon men and couldn’t help it.
“Nothing,” I said, plastering a grin on my face and facing Micah. Not that I was ashamed, but I didn’t like the servants overhearing too much about our sex lives. There had to be a limit to how much we served as gossip.
Micah’s lips twitched. “All right. We can explore what ‘nothing’ is later.”
My blood warmed. I knocked back my tea to hide my blush.
Once I finished with my cup of tea, the servants hastily swept the dishware away. They asked me if I wanted more refreshments, in a too-polite way, which unsettled me.
Being queen gave things too much propriety. Worse so than when I vied for the position as head of the council. Unbelievably, it made working in the council even less enjoyable than before.
I tugged at the edges of my gloves, tightening them against my skin, before striding toward the railing to look down at the first floor and take a break. Micah loved swimming in numbers but it was something I had to force myself to do. I preferred reading through laws and census, although both topics were equally as dry.
I looked through the crowd of bustling scholars, until my eyes settled on Mei.
Mei was downstairs, going through details with Tindyll. Tindyll now reported to me, as deemed by Rylan. She absolutely hated the arrangement but she had stopped calling me a curse months ago, even though she liked shooting dirty looks my way.
Funny how life worked out.
Ever since Vancel Gavril fled, Mei had changed into a less confident version of herself. She’d swapped her flowing gowns for robes similar to those in the council. I wasn’t sure if it was because Vancel had been such a big part of her identity or if she kept her head low because she didn’t want to be identified as a traitor.
Whatever the case, I didn’t want to be her. She’d stopped walking with a confident gait. Everywhere she went, she constantly avoided arrows.
The large doors of the council’s entrance swung open. They thumped when their hinges were fully pried, and a bright ray of light streamed into the building.
Who was coming to visit at this time of day? Many of the scholars had begun packing and were about to leave. I crinkled my brow.
Bianca walked into the Council of Intelligence carrying an easel and a bag of paints. She was tiny when compared to the huge interior, but elegant and delicate, wearing gowns similar to the noble ladies. Her presence filled the large hall. Bright light streaming from the stained-glass windows reflected off her hair, turning the rims orange.
The scholars waved and clapped, and Tindyll even strode up to my sister to congratulate her and give her a pat on the back. This much? For the mere act of showing up?
Frederick leaned against the railing, situating himself next to me. “It’s nice of your sister to volunteer.”
“Volunteer?”
“You haven’t heard?”
I shook my head. “Tindyll had promised everyone that Bianca would come and do caricatures for the council. The scholars couldn’t stop talking about it all week. It’s not often there’s entertainment while at work.”
“What’s her game?” I asked, stiffening.
“Her game?”
“There has to be a reason why she’s reaching out, why she’s hovering around the princes and me. Is she like Vancel? Mei?”
Was she going to stab me in the back?
“Maybe your sister is just being nice.”
“Sure.”
Micah positioned himself beside me and slid an arm around my waist. “She’s just trying to cheer the council members up.”
“You’re on her side, too?”
“Pardon me. I didn’t know those existed.”
I curled my fingers into fists. “Yes. Hers and mine. And you’re on mine, right?”
He nuzzled into my neck, not caring that the servants stared. “If you promise to lay in bed with me later, yes.” His voice had suddenly turned husky.
“And if not, then you’ll go to her side? Do you have any idea how terrible that sounds?”
Micah stiffened. “No, I don’t mean it like that. I was joking.”
I laughed. “I know.”
Frederick coughed into his hand. “Still here.”
“Says the majestic dragon.”
“Majestic dragon!” Kael shouted.
We all turned around to meet him. Where had Kael come from? He had his wings out, resplendent and glowing with a pearlescent white as he strode in. The doors to the balcony were open. He always had to make a surprising entrance. Why couldn’t he walk in, quietly, using the front door like everyone else? That was impossible for Kael. Every time he stepped into the room, he had to draw all attention to himself.
He didn’t have to put in the extra effort. His looks and princely presence drew everyone’s attention on him.
At least, the people on the second floor.
The
scholars on the first floor fawned over Bianca. She caught me glancing down at her and shyly rose a hand to wave at me. I waved back, since there was little reason to be mean and ignore her, even if in the back of my mind, I wanted to slap the pretty bitch.
I spun my gaze back to Kael. “That’s what Frederick’s lover calls him,” I said dryly.
“Well, then, I’m sorry I said that and proclaimed it so loudly,” Kael replied, wearing a very concerned expression.
Frederick wiggled his brows. “You can call me that anytime. In fact, I think Torley wouldn’t mind if you joined us. Frederick and his harem—”
Frederick yelped. Kael had given Frederick a pat on the back and laced that touch with a hint of electricity.
Micah sighed. “Why are you here, Kael? We’re working. I don’t presume you’re going to sit with us and look through numbers?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be at the Council of Fortitude?” Kael asked. Rylan had put Micah in charge of the council. Vancel Gavril, the last bastard who ruled the council, was banished a year ago after he’d killed Rylan’s father, King Gisiroth, leaving the position empty.
Kael was supposedly Micah’s second. Rylan didn’t trust Kael to lead, even though the white-paired prince was unparalleled when it came to combat. Kael could be flaky at times. Rylan had been worried Kael would get offended with Micah being anointed instead, so I assured him Kael would be delighted at the lack of duties.
I was right.
“I’ve finished my work there,” Micah said.
Kael shook a finger at his brother. “Now that’s efficiency. And you’re here to do more?”
Micah ran his hand over his face. “Yes. Are you here to slow us down?”
“I’m here to slow Sera down, specifically.” Kael wrapped his hand around my wrist. He pulled me forward, away from the railing, and kissed me. He had absolutely no respect for propriety whatsoever.
His hand inched toward my ass.
I gripped it to stop him. “Kael? How many times must I warn you about public indecency?”
“The only indecent thing around here is the sheer amount of work you have piled up on that table. You’re about to—” The grin on Kael’s face dropped before he had to put it back on. “It’s my job to bring fun in your life, Sera-kit. I’m here to steal you away for that.” His blue pupils shone with sincerity as he clasped my hands to his chest. I was lost in his words, so he used the opportunity to pull me close to the balcony.
Frederick interrupted Kael’s impromptu kidnapping, shouting, “Sera! Are you not going to stay for the night?”
I blinked. “Kael, we have to—”
“I disallow it,” he said, sweeping me into his arms. He clutched me to his chest, holding me so tightly that the beating of his heart pulsed against my skin. The gorgeous white of his hair picked up some yellow from the setting sun, forming a thin halo around the edges of his head.
“Rylan has another meeting scheduled with the priests tonight,” Micah said. “Don’t be late.”
“Oh, curse Aereala for those meetings!” Kael shouted back.
I knew he meant to simply curse, but he wasn’t wrong.
“Is Micah not going to come with us?” I asked.
“Fine,” Kael said. “Micah, do you want to come with—”
Frederick stomped his foot. “You both are not leaving me here alone with all that data to go through. Micah, you’re staying.”
Micah rolled his eyes and waved us away. “Go on, you two.”
Kael grinned. Canines poked from his upper set of teeth when he did.
“Be punctual!” Micah yelled as Kael spread his wings from his back.
“Sure thing!” Kael yelled back.
Chapter Three
Kael strode out of the bar, laughing and clutching his belly. “Your face is entirely red.”
“No thanks to you,” I said. My head spun, and I needed a bucket to puke into. I shouldn’t have asked for the second cup of Morning Mist. I wasn’t drunk yet—Kael didn’t let me get that far—but my stomach had begun churning and I’d need lots of water if I didn’t want my hangover tomorrow to be too terrible. This was always the case when I spent a night out with Kael.
It hadn’t reached midnight yet, so most of the patrons hadn’t left. We were already late for the meeting with Rylan and his priests. The raucous from the bar flittered out through the curtained entrance into the cobblestoned streets. Fireflies hung from lantern posts in the streets, barely lighting the broad pathway.
I took a woozy step forward.
“Careful now,” Kael said, supporting me with his arm. He had more alcohol than me but because he was a hidrae—the most powerful kind of dragon-shifter—his body burned off the alcohol quickly, and it barely even made him flush. Kael liked to bring me to these kinds of places. He said it helped me loosen up, and he preferred it when I wasn’t so concerned about propriety. I tried not to be, but years of cultivating my habits made it difficult to switch train of thoughts quickly. And that was why I needed him.
Kael lowered his arm and hooked it at the curve of my hip. He drew me closer to him, against his tattooed body, and pulled me so that he was up against a wall, and I was leaning on his abdomen and chest. We hid in the shadows of the bar, next to the chatter, singing, and playing. Just me and Kael, with an expression more serious than usual. His breathing slowed as his eyes traveled from my mouth, then to my collarbone, before coming back up to meet my gaze coolly.
“Your cheeks are red,” Kael said, brushing his thumb across my face. He traced a heated line from my cheek to my jowls. “It’s cute.”
I flushed even more. “We shouldn’t be hiding in a dim alleyway. Aren’t we late for Rylan? We promised Micah . . .”
Kael grunted with a sour expression. “He’s always on about appointments, duties, things like that. He’s got a good head on his shoulders when it comes to leading people but what’s with all this when we could be enjoying our last—” He could never bring it up. Kael never had much responsibilities as the third child of the royal family and lived through days with nothing weighing him down.
But now, the decree from the goddess weighed heavily on his chest. In the last year, Kael had . . . changed. His jokes, for one, had increased, perhaps a way to shield himself from what was to come. But sometimes his facade slipped, and he gave me sweet but heartbreaking moments like this.
“You can say it, you know.” I trailed my hand across his shoulders, down his arm, before finding a resting place around his waist. I had him to myself now. It was nice whenever I had a quiet moment with Kael since it rarely happened. Our family was too big. “You don’t have to keep running away from the fact of the matter. You’re Kael Everborne, strongest warrior among the hidrae princes, likely the best fighter in Constanria. You have it in you to say and confront such things.”
Kael shook his head. He placed a hand behind my head and pushed me toward his warmth, his breath tickling my skin. He eased my lips open and gently pushed himself into my mouth. Our kiss was languid, soothing, and warm. A throaty sigh escaped him and his body temperature increased. When he drew back and gazed at me, his eyes were glazed over. A hum, low and like a rumble, started from his chest. “Let’s not return you to Rylan. Or the palace. We can book a room at an inn nearby, and I’ll have you for the rest of the night. We can pretend.”
“Pretend what?”
“That we’re just . . . normal.”
“But we’re not.”
“You can be my nagging wife, and I can be your handsome, capable, amazing, and wonderfully perfect husband. Just simple townsfolk.” He flashed an empty smile.
“Nothing about you is simple, Kael,” I replied, placing my left hand on his chest, feeling the thumping of his heart. His pulse had quickened.
“I can try to be. But you’re right, I’m just too amazing.”
“And I’m the nagging wife.”
He chuckled. “You’re a witch, too. Clever, with better command of soul magic than even Gaius t
hese days.” Playfulness danced across his features.
“Oh, like calling me the nagging witch lessens the blow of your insult.”
He ran his hand down my hair and brought a strand to his lips. “I shouldn’t have added ‘nagging’ in there, huh? It’s just such a common stereotype.”
I laughed and sank deeper into him. “No, probably not.” My cheeks were still heated. I wasn’t sure whether it was because of Kael’s presence or the couple drinks I’d had earlier. “But we can’t pretend, Kael, or we’re not going to solve it. Rylan’s way of dealing with this might not be the most pleasant, but if we don’t go through with it then we might not be able to find a solution.”
“What if we don’t?” The teasing on Kael’s face unraveled into something darker, more pained. “Sometimes I wonder if I should have fallen in love. I question why I did. You’re my weakness, Sera. You make me . . . scared.”
My breath hitched. “I’m sorry.”
He frowned. “No, don’t be. Nothing had meaning before. It was boredom, superficiality. Sometimes it felt like my brothers acknowledged my presence but it was little more than that. So, I liked playing the jester, perhaps to make myself worthy of attention and to make life have any meaning at all.”
I’d never heard this from Kael before. “Was that why?”
He nodded. “I guess I’d never opened up to anybody about this.”
“Oh, Kael.”
“Now I just want to make you laugh, Sera. To make us happy. Together. What am I going to do when you’re gone?” A hiss pulled from his throat, and he brushed his hand through his white hair. “It’s not fair.”
“Hey,” I said, tugging his head down so our foreheads met. He was so tall. “It’ll be all right. We’ll figure out a way. I solved the famine and the war by working it out with Aereala. There must be another option, okay?”
“It’s been a year,” he whispered back.
“We have four years ahead of us.”
He snorted. “I used to be worried about your lifespan as a human. Aereala’s kind of a bitch, huh? She wouldn’t even give me that.”
“That she is.” I waited for the thunder because I knew she might be listening in, but the sky remained clear and quiet, and only the sounds from the bar accompanied us. She probably didn’t want to waste her energies on a snide remark.
Fall of Dragons (Sera's Curse Book 3) Page 3
