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Relief over his support filled me. “Thank you.”
I guess I had truly won the brothers over, but just because I’d healed Sorfrona didn’t mean they should have trusted me. They had only my word. They couldn’t see into my soul. They didn’t know of my integrity and couldn’t sense my core emotions, yet they trusted me regardless. Humans boggled me. Maybe being immortal caused me to miss a basic trait they possessed. A blind compassion for others. Benevolence to reciprocate but without knowing the complete truth. A quality of humans to love in ignorance.
Must be called humanity, Seren said.
I laughed—mentally. They have their own word for this quality?
A condition of being human. I don’t know how else you’d describe their good deeds despite their unawareness—their inability to perceive.
Humanity. Interesting concept. I wish I could tell Catrin and Aneirin this.
I’ve reached Owein, Seren said. See you soon.
Kelyn beckoned to the shadows, and another guard emerged. “Tell my father to meet us in the courtyard. We have a guest arriving.”
After a curt nod, the guard was off. Kelyn took my arm as we strode toward the courtyard.
Humanity. I would let him express his humanity to me. What had I been doing with Owein—every time he led me through a crowd or danced with me or even when he chose to warn me about this world?
“What’s a dragon?” Brenin asked from behind, completely innocent and somewhat adorable. I took his hand as Tiwlip and Sorfrona joined us.
What a procession we made going to meet a dragon.
EIGHTEEN
“Steady men!” Kenrik shouted. “I know she’s a ferocious beast, but she won’t hurt anyone. We have Niawen’s word.”
With my shoulders back and my head high, I stood at the front of the crowd consisting of guards, the royal family, and the remaining court attendants. Seren circled above.
Owein was in the saddle, clinging for his life and whooping up a commotion. He was enjoying himself in an unrealized, never-before-discovered, frightening rush. I held my laughter in because the crowd behind me surged with mistrust and terror. They thought I’d tricked them. They thought I was a liar who came to annihilate them. Thank the Creator, they didn’t know Seren flamed. Even so, every eye was on Seren’s fangs and razor-sharp claws. Her armored hide and her red irises. The onlookers cowered away from the power in her wings and the muscles in her body.
She could kill them all.
But so could I, and they accepted me without knowing all I was capable of. Ah, mortals.
Seren descended, and I stepped forward to greet her. She landed silently, folded her wings, and dipped her head in polite acknowledgment.
I threw my arms around her neck. Well done. I think Owein appreciated his trip.
I ignored the unrest behind me and helped Owein off Seren. As I gripped his forearm, I said, “You and I shall have words later, but right now, I have to diffuse the situation.”
He grinned, and I cursed his satisfaction.
“How else was I supposed to get Seren to give me a ride?” Owein asked.
I bit my lip and shot Owein a look. “Well played.”
Raising my voice, I addressed everyone but directed my gaze at Kelyn. “Please welcome Seren, my dragon sister. She has come with me to start a life in this glorious realm. She appears fearsome, but I assure you, her temperament is quite the opposite of mine. We bring out the best in each other. Her meekness teaches me humility, and we humbly offer ourselves as your servants.” I curtsied, a practice I picked up since coming to Talfryn.
King Sieffre, who was standing next to Kelyn, answered me. “Niawen, you’ve done more for us—for me—and for this kingdom than I could ever ask. Seren is welcome.” From the sparkle in the king’s eyes, I knew Kelyn inherited his allure from his father.
“That pleases me, Your Majesty.” A smile played at my lips. Before long, Seren and I would be free to roam wherever we desired, without fear of scattering the king’s poor subjects. That is, once word had spread.
Kelyn edged away from the king, studying my face. He was more astonished than anything, and somewhat jealous. I assumed these feelings were because Owein was the first mortal to ride before Kelyn’s princely bottom could grace the saddle. He reached toward Seren. “May I?”
I felt the collective breath held as the assembly watched their prince inch closer to my beloved Seren. The smile broke on my face, and I gushed, “Yes, Your Highness.” I rubbed my fingers along Seren’s neck to her cheek, showing him where he could touch.
Kelyn stepped into place beside me, and with his fingers brushing mine, he stroked Seren’s scales. “She’s smooth and unyielding, like armor. And hot like an oven. Remarkable.”
