I forced myself to soften my words, though I wanted to bite them out. “The wedding isn’t for months.” I knew what I was—understood the role I’d been given. But now that I learned Tallon’s true colors, I couldn’t stomach the idea of marrying him. Would we end up like his parents in a cold, distant arrangement? Strangers beneath the same roof? The thought made me feel hollow.
“Don’t fret,” Fyrn mused. “They’re the only ones arriving so early.”
When we arrived at my rooms, my gaze drifted to the carved dragons adorning the door’s dark wood. Their wings swept up in graceful arcs, frozen in a moment of flight, yet bound to the surface. My heart twisted, envy stirring at the freedom in their poses.
“They’ll be grounded by storms if they wait any longer,” I said.
The Ivetti Islands lay close to my home, a scattered chain tossed westward across the sea. The whirlstorms hit Draconia first, moving on to churn over Ivetti waters for weeks, sometimes months. If the ambassadors waited, they’d be stranded, unable to attend at all.
“Do you know their ambassador?”
I shook my head. “I haven’t. Only Princess Kittiana—she’s visited a handful of times, though it’s unlikely she’ll leave the islands now.”
Fyrn’s eyes brightened, and she nudged my shoulder with a cheerful grin. “Then tonight, you shall.”
She dipped into a playful curtsy, her blonde curls bouncing, then turned down the corridor. I drew in a deep breath and entered my room, closing the door behind me.
“How was it?” Scythe blurted, rising from the chaise.
Edith hushed her with a stern glare, standing as her sharp gaze swept over me, searching for any sign of distress or need.
“It was,” I hesitated, recalling Tallon’s push against his father and Kallias’ calm attentiveness, “intriguing.”
Scythe’s face brightened as she hurried toward me, her hair flying behind her. Edith glanced at her wisps and patted her own gray hair down as if it made her feel unkempt.
“Edith, I’m parched.”
She exhaled a resigned sigh and shook her head, already knowing why I was dismissing her. “I’ll fetch some refreshments before we prepare you for the evening meal.”
Scythe grinned like a fool, staring after her as she slipped out the servant door. “Tell me, tell me!”
She seized my hand, dragging me toward my bedchamber. We collapsed atop the plush blankets, laughter spilling from us as we tumbled in an awkward heap.
“You want to hear of old men discussing borders?” I teased, spreading my arms wide in a theatrical gesture.
“No! Only the exciting bits!”
She threw herself at me, pinning my arm beneath her. I squealed, struggling to free my limb as she settled in, propping her head on her hand.
“Tallon fought with his father again.”
“That seems to be the trend.” She hummed, nodding.
“I don’t understand why he pushes him. Kallias is right! They just–”
“KingKallias?”
My mouth snapped shut, brows dropping into a glare.
She waggled her eyebrows. “Oh, do go on.”
“KingKallias had a point. The ink on the Velli treaty is still fresh, and they’re wise to proceed with caution. Until I’m married and the alliance sealed, they have nothing to deter an invasion. They need dragons, so I’ll write Father and request a fleet.”
She bolted upright, back straight, eyes wide with disbelief. “Youwantdragons in Radaan?”
“They’ll be tucked away in the Craggs, far from the townsfolk, and with all the goats they can eat.” I chuckled. “It’ll be more like a vacation for them than anything.”
“I don’t doubt your father would send them.” She sighed, sinking back against the bed. “I’m just concerned for the Radaanian citizens.”
