Page 43 of Ale Storm

“You carried that three hundred miles? You must be exhausted.”

“I could use a short rest before preparations must begin for the dinner meal.” Jildarin grimaced again, probably wanting a long rest and for someone else to handle those preparations.

Rylana wished she had a knack for cooking. Zalani wasn’t half bad and usually finished off meals that he’d already started when he had to leave early, but she didn’t have any formal culinary training and hadn’t ever suggested she wanted it. She much preferred interacting with guests—especially cute male guests—to slaving away in the kitchen.

“You’re magnificent,” she whispered to Jildarin.

“I am a dragon,” he said, as if that explained everything.

“Quite a handy dragon.” Father rose and brushed off his hands.

“Handiness is a trait you find desirable in a male who will court your daughter, yes?” Jildarin asked him.

“Yes, he does,” Rylana said before Father could answer. “All of your traits are desirable, and he thanks you for the great tasks you’ve done for him. Also, he thinks you should date me now. Promptly.”

“Really,” Father said dryly.

With hopeful eyes, Jildarin grasped Rylana’s hand and looked at him. “You will now give me your blessing?”

Damn it, why did his opinion matter to Jildarin? All because of that stupid book?

“Yes,” Rylana said.

Father arched his eyebrows at her. “I will heavily consider it. I am not unappreciative of what you’ve done thus far, but you understand that I want Rylana to marry a human and have human babies who can grow up to take their place in the family business.”

Her fists clenching, Rylana’s fantasy of shooting Father in the butt returned. Maybe she could at least punch him. He deserved a good punching.

“Yes, you have said this, but you’ve implied…” Jildarin looked at her, then back to Father. “You’ve implied that if I suitably prove myself, you will give permission for us to…”

“Date,” Rylana said. “And you don’t need his permission. Also, I’m not marrying anyone, human or otherwise, right now, so babies aren’t a concern.”

Father’s jaw tightened, his gaze exasperated when he looked at her.

Bongs came from the front gate, the estate’s security system.

“The peacekeepers are here,” Zames called from inside the castle.

Jildarin looked in the direction of the ferry dock—the pillar. It had stopped alarming when he’d shifted back into his human form, but two uniformed gnomes jogged around the corner of the castle to check on them.

“I’ll deal with them.” Father nodded at Jildarin, as if he were doing a grand favor, and walked toward the peacekeepers.

“I should have punched him,” Rylana muttered.

12

While her father let the peacekeepers know that he’d requested a dragon’s help and they didn’t need to fine Jildarin for flying within Tranquility’s borders in his native form, Rylana clasped Jildarin’s hand and led him down the path to the dock. She wanted to speak with him in private. More, she wanted to hug him in private and thank him for helping her father. And finally, she hoped to get through to him that he didn’t need to help her father.

“I have no desire to be a human male or anything other than a dragon,” Jildarin said, as they walked out on the dock, holding hands. “But, in this instance, it would have been more convenient.”

“Trust me, Father would have found a bunch of stupid chores for you to do to prove yourself even if you were human. And he would probably be giving you mathematics tests to ensure you’re bright enough to sire smart children.”

“Hm.”

The rain had stopped, but everything was damp. Rylana thought about guiding Jildarin into the boathouse, but there weren’t furnishings or anything to sit on, only a rowboat and a kayak floating in the water. It was also a touch claustrophobic inside. She eyed the end of the dock, wishing the bench that had been there for part of her childhood were there now, though it would have also been damp.

Jildarin must have guessed her conundrum. He spread his hand, and magic rippled in the air about it as waves of heat flowed toward the dock at their feet. Before her eyes, the boards dried.

“You’re wonderful.” Rylana sat cross-legged near the end.