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“How is Mina, by the way? Have you heard?”
“She visited the healers and is now resting at home. They were able to remove her chains. She has a pretty deep gash in her face that will leave a mark, but otherwise she’s okay. She asked about you.”
I smile. “I’ll make sure to visit her soon, maybe bring her some soup from the kitchens.”
“Later,” he agrees, “but right now you are going to eat. You’re not leaving our bed for at least another twenty-four hours.” He nudges the full tray of food at me and the mound of food he brought is enough to feed a full-grown dragon.
“I hope you’ll be helping me eat this.” He makes a noncommittal nod and reaches for one of the bowls of fruit. Still, his gaze lingers on me, as if waiting for me to eat.
So, that’s exactly what I do. The buttery biscuits melt on my tongue, and I flood them with the sausage gravy. More eggs and potatoes than I could possibly eat in one sitting are piled up in the corner of the tray. I’m particularly ravenous today—tonight?—and manage to eat a good portion of each. I wash it all down with the waters and juices Malix brought me.
By the time I’m done eating, most of the food on the tray is gone. So much for not being able to eat it all. “You are the best husband ever.” I sigh contently, rubbing my bloated stomach.
“And what was I before?” I hear the smile in his voice and it makes my stomach fill up with butterflies.
“A halfway-decent roommate.”
That earns me a bark of laughter. “Says the woman who has stolen my bed and room.”
I hold up a finger and waggle it at him like a mother to a naughty boy. “Oh no, mister. You gave me this room and then left me in it. Alone. I will hear no complaining from you.”
We smile at one another, both remembering the early days of our relationship. It feels like a lifetime ago. So much has changed in the last couple of weeks. Is it possible for a person to change in that amount of time? For feelings to change and evolve?
Malix’s smile soon fades, and the mood darkens. “While I was gone?—”
“I already told you not to apologize. It’s fine.”
“I’m not going to apologize.”
“Oh.” I blush. “Then what?”
“You woke every sleeping dragon, Rose. They are all awake now because of you and your ability. Otis and Aeron smuggled them over to the temple, and now they’re waiting to reunite with their families. There’s nothing I can do to thank you enough for what you did. This kingdom owes you a big debt, one I don’t think we will ever be able repay in full.”
Suddenly the tray between us is a barrier, keeping me from my husband. I push it aside, careful not to spill the remainder of my breakfast onto our sheets. When it is safely out of kicking distance, I move to straddle Malix.
The thin white dress he put me in last night bunches up around my hips, pulling tight around my thighs. It’s almost indecent, and I watch as Malix’s eyes drift down to my thighs. Slowly, far too slowly, he brings his gaze back up, pinning me with his molten stare.
I’m all too aware that I’m not wearing panties and my core is pressed against his legs. If I move just a little to the side, I could create friction against my clit.
Focus, Rose. Think with your brain, not your pussy.
If my vagina could pout, she’d be throwing a tantrum right now as I disregard her needs and cup Malix’s face. “Am I not your queen?”
Aeron had said I was queen in nothing more than name alone. That I held no power and was simply a pawn for the dragons to achieve victory in their upcoming battle with the Nephilim. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t chase away the doubt that had started creeping in.
That doubt, however, goes away when Malix squeezes my hips. His face is hard lines and narrowed eyes. “Of course. You are my wife, Rose. The queen of Dragon’s Keep.”
I didn’t know how much I needed to hear those words until he said them. A small smile spreads across my lips. “Then, is it not my duty to serve my people?”
“In a sense yes, but?—”
“Then you and this kingdom owe me nothing,” I interrupt. “Would it have been more ideal to wait and space the awakenings out a little more, so I didn’t dispel all my energy? Yeah. The situation sucked, but I don’t regret helping the dragons. That’s why I’m here, isn’t it?”
The question hangs heavy between us. There’re many unasked questions, all I’m too chickenshit to ask. No matter what he says, this is my life now and will forever be so. There’s no going back to Grym Hollow and honestly, I wouldn’t want to. Perhaps it’s crazy, but I truly believe I belong here, dragon or not.
After a tense moment of silence between us, Malix shakes his head. “No. That’s not the only reason you are here, Rose. Not to just be my wife or help break the sleeping curse. Not even to help against the Nephilim. You are your own person, and you can choose your own purpose.
“But”—he pauses briefly—“we may have never anticipated becoming husband and wife, let alone mates. You may have never considered yourself a queen before the role was thrust upon you. But this time with you has shown me how lonely I’ve truly been. You are mine as I am yours. I want you by my side.”
