“Your Majesty,” Nienna broke in, her voice gentler than her mother’s, “King Kallias has already sacrificed time away from his realm. Asking more of him is difficult. Why the delay?”
Nyxaria turned her gaze to her daughter. My mind raced. Messenger doves relied on ship-to-ship relay, but Draconia had blocked our waters. Now that the truce held, I could press for their return, establishing the line of communication again, but that would take time—and each day, my unease grew.
“The matter of succession still leaves us…” Nyxaria paused, searching. “Unsatisfied.”
“Unsatisfied,” I echoed before I could stop myself, cursing inwardly. My tone had sharpened. The king’s glare joined hers now.
“I have set the option of the Draconis inheriting my kingdom,” I went on, steadying my voice. “And you call that unsatisfactory?”
Nereus leaned forward, bracing his hand on the table. “Never has a Draconis queen been barren. We ask that Nienna remain to ensure nothing interferes with her ability to conceive.”
Blood rushed to my ears. My jaw locked.
Would they listen at the door? Monitor the bedding like some kingdoms did? Were they accusing me of risking her health? Or were they worried I would pull back my promise and take Nienna to Radaan—poisoning her womb to keep Tallon in my line?
“Tallon is removed.” I matched his posture and tone. “There’s no reason to remain here while we consummate our marriage.”
His nostrils flared—confirmation I’d struck a nerve.
“Records state you only bedded your previous wife once a month, treating her like a–”
“Ronan.” Nereus cut him off before I could.
My head snappedtoward him, and the world tilted. Pain lanced behind my eyes. I clenched my jaw. “What records does Draconia keep on the marital affairs of foreign kings?”
He knew. If anyone had seen a sliver of my torment, it was Nereus.
“We’ve made our request.” Nyxaria redirected the topic, but my gaze found Nienna. A flush climbed the tips of her ears as she shot her brother a scathing look.
“I object.” My refusal came low, but firm. “I left my kingdom under the care of a war general. My advisor’s here beside me. The route home takes weeks. After negotiations, we’ll have time enough to prepare the wedding. You ask too much.”
Doubt pulsed across the room, thick as storm clouds. I should’ve eased into resistance—Fallione warned me not to lead with fire—but the demand overstepped. They knew it.
“Perhaps we should revisit this later,” Nienna said, lifting her chin. “What’s next?”
Nyxaria narrowed her eyes, suspicion sharpening her features. “How many dragons we send to your kingdom.”
“I request five.” The number Nienna mentioned during her time with the Sols. She’d called it a light demand.
“I will honor that,” Nereus said with a brief nod.
“As your daughter, I ask that my brother escort me to Radaan.” She straightened her shoulders.
Ronan choked, eyes wide as he turned toward her. “Me?”
There was something in her request, some bold play that I didn’t comprehend—but it had her mother leaning back, irises glittering with approval. Nyxaria’s thin fingers tapped on the table.
Nereus studied his daughter. “In addition to the riot, I’ll allow it,” he said at last. “But he returns within a moon.”
Suspicion stirred behind his tone. He felt it too—machinations moving where we couldn’t yet see.
The women were up to something.
Nienna caught my eye and bit her lip, softening just before she remembered herself. The shift back to polished princess looked almost natural.
I chose trust. “Done,” I answered, hating that her insufferable brother would now set foot in my kingdom.
The queen returned to her earlier point. “We still ask that Nienna remain for one month following the wedding.”
