Stesha squeezes my fingers, releases a breath slowly, and turns back to the king and queen. “Then I’m grateful that it is done. It can’t have been an easy task for any of you. The warlocks are an asset to Maledin.”
Isavelle looks pleased by this and smiles at Stesha. “They have been forgiven for their misdeeds, but they still seek to atone. I will pass on your kind words to them, dragonmaster.”
I’m watching the king, who has dropped his head and is staring at his intertwined hands. “It must have been hard for you,Ma’len. He was the last of your family. I’m sorry.”
Zabriel lifts his red eyes to mine. “I did not relish the task. It would have be more difficult if I thought there was any humanity left in the man who was once my brother. He killed our parents, our sister, and his dragon, and he destroyed Maledin. He’s responsible for the deaths of countless others. I’m glad it’s done. If it’s truly done,” he adds bitterly.
“You mean you expect the return of the lich?” I ask.
Isavelle looks pained. “Yes. I’m sorry. I tried to capture it, but I failed. Even with the aid of the warlocks, my magic wasn’t good enough.”
Stesha caresses my knuckles with his thumb as he gazes at Isavelle. “You are fighting strange magic, my queen. Next time it appears, you will be more prepared.”
“I hope so, dragonmaster,” she replies. “I was afraid you might be angry with us about this news. Thank you both for taking the time to listen to us and understand.”
Stesha’s jaw firms. “It does not matter to me who slew the traitor prince. My blade is Zabriel’s blade. We agreed that long ago.”
Zabriel inclines his head. “Always, my friend.”
Queen Isavelle stands and embraces me while the two Alphas clasp forearms. I don’t think the news has properly sunk in yet, but I’m starting to feel a little lighter.
Now that theDragon Games are over, the dragongrounds belong to the dragons once more. At dusk, I go for a walk among them, my fingers trailing over scales, my hair fluffed every time a dragon leans down to snort against my nape. It tickles, and it makes me laugh. One or two dragons even try to groom me and nibble at my clothes. They’re taking care of me. They’re telling me that I belong with the flare even though I’m not bonded with a dragon, and it soothes my heart.
There are many new hatchlings and fledglings lately, but I feel none of the spark that I did with Minta. I think I’d recognize that spark right away the second time around. I know Stesha would. He’s always watching me with the dragons.
I come upon Stesha and Nilak near the center of the flare, and my mate has his hands fervently pressed against Nilak’s stomach as he concentrates hard. As soon as he notices me, he picks me up in his arms and whirls me around. His face is glowing as he places me back on my feet.
“You’re in a good mood,” I say, thoughgoodis an understatement. I’ve rarely seen Stesha so exuberant.
He beams at me. “It’s Nilak. She’s expecting hatchlings.”
I smile in delight. “She is? That’s wonderful. Who’s her mate? I didn’t know she had one.”
Nilak is standing regally as a queen in the light of the setting sun, her scales luminous and white. I look around for thedragon who has dared tame her heart, but there’s only the usual gathering of Betas settling in for the night around her.
Stesha shakes his head, bemused but smiling. “She doesn’t seem to have a mate. I don’t know who the father is. When I ask her, she tells me that it’s not important.”
“I suppose she picked a dragon who will father strong hatchlings, and that’s all the use she had for him.”
“Exactly,” Stesha agrees. “Nilak does not need a mate. She will be a wonderful mother, and we’ll all be the little ones’ family. I cannot wait to meet them.”
I watch him stroke her scales as he holds me against his side. He’s so happy, and I know he’s been waiting a long time for his day.
“Do you want children one day?” I ask, then feel myself turn red in the moonlight.
Stesha turns to me in surprise, and my stomach twists up in knots. What he and I have is still tenuous. We’re sharing a bed, and he calls me his mate, but there’s still tension between us because my designation is still reluctant to emerge properly. What if I can’t bear children?
Stesha leans down to me, and he’s smiling as his lips brush over mine. “If the gods will it, I want many children with you. Can you imagine Nilak’s hatchlings sleeping alongside our baby? Growing together. Exploring the world together.”
I can imagine it. I can imagine it vividly.
My eyes are wide as he kisses me. As he pulls away, he frowns. “Do you not want that, Zen?”
“I, um,” I manage to say, fiddling with the front of his shirt. I’m suddenly so overwhelmed by emotion that I’m finding it hard to speak.
“Is myaash’linshy? Come here.” Stesha pulls me into his arms and holds me close.
I bury my face in his chest and breathe in his scent. “Gods, these kinds of things were easier when I thought I was a Beta,” I mutter. “Now I know I’m an Omega, I suddenly can’t help feeling timid. Or maybe it’s just hard to speak about these kinds of things at all. The thought of having children with you feels like an impossible dream.”
