I bit down on the retort, turned, and followed. He led in silence through emptied halls—cleared for this moment, no doubt.
Good.
He brought me to a chamber and stepped aside. I entered and stopped just past the threshold.
Light spilled across the floor. The room had a clean, masculine edge. Preserved sea creatures loomed from the walls—monsters frozen mid-lunge. Heavy blue drapes matched Nereus’ colors.
I kicked the door shut behind me.
Ronan looked over his shoulder, brow arched in amusement before sauntering deeper into the rooms.
I flipped the lock into place. Just for good measure.
“You’re broader than Father, but you could squeeze into some of his old things. That, or provide comic relief until we dig clothes out of your ship. Who knows? Perhaps the dragons will turn it into a game and roast you every time you stepoutside–”
I seized his collar and yanked him back, slamming him into the wall. Flames sparked to life in his palms, but my fist already flew.
Knuckles crashed into his nose, and pain jolted up my arm. Fire flared hotter from his palms, but I crushed a hand around his throat, leaning close. Let him try to burn me. I survived dragonfire. I could endure this ember-sparked brat.
“It’s time you learn what’s off-limits, boy,” I snarled, tightening my grip.
A dragon bellowed outside—likely his. He shoved both hands against my chest. Heat surged against my skin, then fizzled.
“Abyss,” he wheezed. “You’re fireproof?”
My grin cut sharp. I squeezed harder. “Taunt me all you want—but you’ll keep Nienna out of it.”
He bared his teeth, face flushing under the pressure. His knee jerked up, aimed for my crotch, but I snapped my legs together and trapped it.
“I’ll make sure you regreteveryslip. Got it?” I eased off enough for him to breathe.
“She’s mysister, you eel!”
“That makes me your future family,” I said, voice a growl. “So, let’s play nice, shall we?”
He squirmed against my hold, but it was his penance to pay. The boy had to learn when to bridle his tongue, and if no one else would teach him, I would. I’d bent too long beneath the burden of duty—to Radaan, to my son. At some point, a man had to serve himself.
“Fine!” he choked.
I let go and stepped back. “What happens between me and her is none of your business, understand?”
“You’re condemning yourself,” he muttered, rubbing his neck. He snapped his fingers; flames sputtered in his palm. He stared at them like they’d betrayed him.
“I’m teaching you respect.” I shook my head. “Now get the clothes.”
He bared his teeth, but stalked into the dressing room.
That marked the difference between him and my son. Draconia’s prince would learn from the correction. Tallon would let it rot inside him like a disease, plotting his retaliation. Ronan would still mouth off—probably about me andNienna—but if he breathed a word about our relationship, I’d teach the lesson again.
He left me with a basin of water and his father’s old riding leathers.
I eyed them with unease. Donning them felt wrong—almost sacrilegious. But it was what he gave me.
I peeled away the scorched rags, ash falling in soft plumes onto the stone. The mess made me grimace, but there was no help for it. Perhaps they had magic to sweep it away.
The slash across my chest was gnarly. Shallow, but blood oozed in branching trails down to my pelvis. I sighed and scrubbed it clean, wincing as I tugged away fabric clinging to the torn flesh. No sign of cloth melted into the skin where the dragonfire had sealed part of it—but I needed a healer to be certain.
Nothing festered like buried grit in an open wound.
