Page 149 of Under Restless Skies

His laughter is warm and low, but then he turns serious. “Mayara, if ever… I think everything will be fine with the little dragons, but if ever… I don’t know. Don’t do anything stupid, all right? They’re just dragons. Enemy dragons who would happily burn us.”

That’s it, then. I can’t tell him—and the thought cracks my chest. I blink, pretending to be confused. “What do you think I’m going to do?”

“I don’t know. I’m just saying. Bringing them here was a lot of work, and it was the price for being recognized as my father’s son. I don’t mind you bonding with the dragons, but… don’t ever jeopardize my position.”

A threat laces his words, bringing a chill to my stomach, but I keep pretending not to understand what he means.

“Why are you saying that?”

He smirks. “Because sometimes I’m awfully jealous that you prefer to spend time with them than with me.”

“It’s not true.”

He raises an eyebrow. “You want to debate facts?”

“Hours spent together don’t equal preference, and I’m mostly asleep when I’m with them. If I count waking moments only, I spend more time with you.”

“Hmm. I will accept this explanation. For now. But let’s get ready. Are you coming to the star nectar party?”

I look down and, this time, don’t need to hide any of the pain on my face. “It reminds me too much of Celine.”

His eyes soften, and he caresses my face. “I understand. For me, it’s a good opportunity to fraternize with the recruits. Do you mind if I go without you?”

“Just don’t fraternize too much with the female recruits.”

He smirks. “Oh. I’ll fraternize just a little, then.”

I slap his shoulder softly. “You’re impossible.”

“Seriously, you can wait for me here. Then you’ll know I didn’t bring anyone to my bedroom. I can even get some nectar for you.”

“I’ll be fine. And I trust you.”

He kisses my cheek. “As you should.”

Actually, I’ll ask Nelly to keep an eye on him, but the realization that I don’t trust him, not completely, hurts.

It shouldn’t hurt if I’m going to leave him, and even this thought feels like a splinter lodged in my heart.

I wake up with Ava jumping on my stomach.

“Ouch. That’s rude.” I chuckle, relieved to see the little dragons more alert and playful.

Oddly, they seem to get better when I spend more time with them, and maybe coming early last night made a difference. Soon, soon, you’ll be out of this gloomy, stuffy room. I don’t dare voice the thought, as I can’t vouch that these walls are safe from prying ears.

Vos runs to me, climbs on my shoulder and jumps too.

“Oh, you’re both excited!”

I wonder if they can sense my feelings, that beyond all my fear, they realize that they’ll soon be free.

A pang hits me—soon I might never see them again. When I cross over, what will the other dragons do? Kill me on sight? I picture the black and purple dragon. He might save me, but I can’t bet my life on the mercy of his entire kind.

One thing I can’t do is simply put Ava and Vos on a boat and hope they’ll be safely delivered. I have to be with them and make sure they’re safe.

Well, I’ll face my fate. I should have considered it when I walked into that dragon nest and took two eggs.

Ava snuggles on my stomach, and I caress her cute horned head. So perfect, so innocent.