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She had to stop letting her mother get under her scales; it wrecked her concentration.
Kolina had come into her office, again, to push her agenda and had had the gall to recruit a cousin to back her up. Kymri wasn’t interested in having children at this time, she was determined to focus her time and energy on her job, regardless of how much her mother was pushing her into motherhood.
“What’s suddenly bringing this on?” Kymri demanded of her mother, dropping the report she’d been reviewing on the surface of her desk.
“It’s time. You’re not a youngling anymore,” Kolina said, then had gone tight-lipped.
Kymri’s older cousin Zayli butted in, “Do your duty like the rest of us. Have your young, move on.”
“This has nothing to do with you.” Kymri snapped.
“It has everything to do with everyone,” Zayli countered.
Kymri’s eyes narrowed on her cousin, “Everyone who wants my position?”
Zayli scowled, but it was Kolina that answered, “That’s of no matter. What matters is that each dragoness has her duty to fulfill and you’ve yet to do yours.”
“I am very dedicated to my duty,” Kymri growled.
“Not all of it.”
“It’s not complicated, Kymri, just go to the continent, find a reasonably equipped male, stay until you’re sure the coupling took hold or until you can’t stand him any longer, or find another until the job is done.”
“Shut it, Zayli. I said this is none of your business.”
“Sustaining the lineages is everyone’s business, Kymri; don’t be so damned selfish.”
“Zayli, that will do, I’ll catch up with you on the reports in my office.”
Apparently, Zayli was there to bluntly make Kolina’s argument for her so she could smooth things over. Good dragon, bad dragon games.
Kymri crossed her arms over her chest, “I don’t have time for this; I have work do to.”
“As do I, so stop wasting my time by making me have to come all the way out here from the queen’s lair to talk to you about this.”
“Just don’t bother and leave me alone about it. I’ll do it when I’m ready.”
“No one has the luxury of waiting until they’re ready. Especially not metal dragons, Kymri. I’ve been more patient with you than most.”
Kymri snorted, rolling her eyes.
But her mother’s stare hadn’t wavered, her expression growing more intense.
“What’s this really about?”
Her mother blinked, a flash of vulnerability, then the intensity shuttered back into place.
“I’m making arrangements for down time for you in the next cycle. Go to the continent. Go to Black River if you want, see the broader world. Just come back with a youngling.”
“Mother, I don’t want—”
“I know,” she cut in. “Neither did I.”
Kymri stepped back like she’d been slapped. She’d always suspected, but it was the first time Kolina said it outright.
Kolina must have seen her reaction because as she stepped toward Kymri, her expression softened, “But that doesn’t mean anything. That was before. After,” she shrugged, “is different.”
“You never talk about him,” Kymri said.
