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“That doesn’t seem like a healthy thing to do.”
“It’s not,” I agree, plunging my can into the water. “It could be quite suffocating at times.”
“Did you at least have family to talk to?”
The tightness in my chest increases, threatening tears. I blink rapidly to keep them at bay. “My parents died in a freak car accident when I was eighteen.” Mina’s look of confusion quickly prompts an explanation from me. “A car is something that transports us to different places. Like a carriage.”
Mina nods, understanding coloring her expression. “I see. So, you didn’t have any other family?”
I shake my head. “It was just my sister and I for the past ten years. She’s the reason I’m here, actually.”
“But why?—”
“Ladies.” At the arrival of the new voice I jump, but Mina whirls around, ready to spring into action if needed. Gone is the smiling, sunshiny woman. Her eyes narrow into slits and she moves in front of me, shielding me with her body.
“Aeron. Is there something you need?” The steel in her voice is unmistakable but does little to deter the stranger.
Aeron—as Mina supplied—is a large man, towering over the both of us. He’s built sturdy and appears to be in his forties or fifties. The muscles on his body could rival Malix’s, but that’s where the similarities end. I feel unease creep in that I hadn’t experienced with Malix.
“I heard the new queen was out. I want to introduce myself.” Aeron looks past Mina and stares directly at me. His eyes are black and unsettling. He smiles, but it’s far from friendly. “Rose, is it?”
“It is.” I surprise myself with how steady my voice comes out.
“Beautiful name for a beautiful mortal.” He says the last word as a reminder. As if I don’t understand my own mortality, especially in the face of a dragon. “My name is Aeron. I’m part of the king’s council.”
I look at Mina for confirmation and she gives me a shallow nod. She hasn’t moved from her stance in front of me and I make no attempt to move around her and offer my hand to Aeron.
“I see. Well, it’s nice to meet you Aeron?—”
“I’m surprised you aren’t with your husband. Newlyweds rarely leave their chambers, far too consumed with each other. I hope there isn’t trouble in paradise already.”
The fake concern in his tone has me on edge. I don’t even know the man and I already don’t like him. Perhaps it is simply being a woman in my world and having to know when a guy is bad news. It is literally life and death. Right now, Aeron is setting alarm bells off.
“Aeron, must you always be so insufferable?” Mina hisses.
“Insufferable?” Aeron feigns innocence. “I’m simply concerned for our kingdom. I have every right to feel this way, especially if the key to saving our kind is this mortal.”
“Malix has it all handled. Stay out of it.” Mina grabs my wrist and turns toward me. “We should go.”
I didn’t particularly want to leave. We still have an entire section of the garden to finish watering, but I also don’t want to spend another minute with Aeron if I don’t have to. “Yes, I guess we should.”
We turn to leave but Aeron shoots his hand out. Something digs into my skin and I gasp. Looking down, I see his hand has half transformed into a claw and his hold on me tightens. “I’m sure you have a minute to spare. A queen should be available to her people.”
“Aeron, drop your fucking hand.” Mina is at my side in an instant, trying to pry off Aeron’s hand but his hold doesn't loosen. I can feel his strength in this one touch alone and know this dragon is ancient and powerful. More powerful than he is showing us.
“No, I don’t think I will. Not until we get to know each other. I’m not a scary man, Ms. Briar. I care for Dragon’s Keep and the dragons in it. I would like to get to you, to understand why our king believes you are our best bet.”
I hear the tear of fabric next to me and I look at the spot Mina was in moments ago. No longer do I see the curvy woman with deep brown skin. Instead, a large green dragon, roughly the size of a house, takes her place.
“Mina?” I gasp, equal parts scared and interested as the dragoness growls deeply from the back of her throat, sending shivers down my spine.
“Really, Mina? Must we resort to violence?” Aeron sighs as if he is actually let down by her behavior. He opens his mouth to say more, when a dark figure appears behind him.
Anger rolls off of him in waves, his eyes dark, nearly black. It is a face I recognize, but not one I have seen since our wedding.
“Remove your hands from my wife or I’ll remove your hands from your body.”
Chapter 10
