Burn (Dragon Souls) (17 page)

“You do not tell me what I can and cannot do.”

“No, I can’t.” She rubbed her forehead. “Whether my reaction was right or wrong, justified or not, someone who cared about me would have let me cool off for a few days then spoken to me about it. You didn’t. You disregarded my feelings and took what you wanted. Again. That’s fine. As you say, it’s your right. Just as it’s my right to feel betrayed when my parent expresses a wilful indifference my feelings. So, you no longer have a say in my life, and I don’t want you as part of it. I need people helping me stay sane, not trampling over my emotions and fracturing my concentration. I need people I trust. You no longer fall within that category. You’re no longer welcome inside my inner circle. Neither is she until she apologies.”

Mikhail exhaled shakily, eyes burning. “You are my heir. There is no way for you–”

“Distancing myself is best.” She met his gaze. “Koen is protective right now.” An understatement. “I could keep you around for appearances sake, but he’d feel the tension and react badly. If you’re sleeping with Cathryn she’d be around a lot more. I’m barely keeping him from going after her as it is let alone to dangle her in his face all the time.”

“I shall protect her.”

“Glad to hear it. She’s lost my protection until she apologizes. Boy and I will have moved rooms by nightfall. I’ve inherited my mother’s wealth, so I’ll pay you back for any losses you’ve incurred putting us up since I arrived.” She paused. “I’ll also pick up any of Cathryn’s expenses up until you took ownership of her welfare.”

There was a muffled thump and a terse, “
I’ll pay my own way
,” from behind the screen.

“This is absurd,” Mikhail said tightly. “I do not want your coin. You are my offspring and heir to House Zar. You have responsibilities to our vassals that do not disappear because you are angry.”

“Before Almeria took the name Zar she was Ryu, daughter to the beloved sister of the Lord who leads them. Found that out yesterday when I asked about accommodation here at the Citadel. House Ryu is here for Aver. I sent word and they’ve offered me inclusion into their House should I desire it. I met a boy at the feast, my cousin if you can believe it.” Having a second cousin and a great uncle was a big deal to a woman who’d grown up with one blood family member. “He impressed me. Their House is now mine until I legally join Raad.”

“It is not an Imperial House.” He sounded offended to be passed for a House of lesser power. “Ryu is barely noble, Almeria was the best of them, and her Sire was tremendously powerful.” His eyes flashed. “They are not even Drackai.”

“I respect the ice breathers. I’m honoured to be related to them by blood.”

“Bah, I respect them. My Dragon is part of them, but they are
less
.” He growled knowing nothing he said would sound good. “Chosen bear the name of their Sire. It is tradition.”

“Big mistake preaching to me about tradition.” She averted her gaze. “So that’s that.” She fell foul to the bitterness roiling in her gut. “I hope it was worth it.”

“This is not distance but severance. You punish me.”

“I admit I felt a small need to get back at you. I got over it. Honestly,” she jerked a shoulder, “I can’t deal with negative emotions you’re inviting into my life. I’m exhausted all of the time. I have people trying to kill me. Boy is going through some serious changes and gets a fraction of my attention. He deserves so much more. Aver is the most difficult thing I’ve ever participated in, and it hurts me to be away from Koen. Physically
hurts
. There’s so much going on, and I expected you to become this rock I would lean on. Someone other than Koen or Daniil I could depend on.” Her voice sounded hollow. She realised how much she’d wanted to be close to this male. “That’s gone now.”

“But why?”

“It just is.”

“I made a mistake.”

“Same mistake twice, actually.”

His hands fisted. “All this because your friend and I are intimate?”

“No. Koen helped me see things more clearly. And after I tossed and turned about it last night, I realised Cathryn was right. You’re grown ups and not related. The only connection you have is me. I told you, I understood that you underestimated how important she was to me. She’s my
sister
. You are my
father
.” Her voice coarsened. “While I could divorce the concept that you would be a father to her as well, I cannot ignore the fact that you failed in your duty as a father to
me
.” She sucked down a breath. “I failed you too. Perhaps if I’d been softer ... easier to talk to we would’ve developed loyalty between us.” She gave a sad smile. “My objection was never to you yourself, only what you represented.”

Mikhail’s lips thinned. “I represent loss?”

“Hope. Hope I had another parent who loved me as much as my mother did, and hope that we’d be as close, maybe even closer, as I was with her. I think I’m more like you than her.”

“So much time has been stolen from us. I will never forgive Almeria for that. Never.” Pale, Mikhail scrubbed hand over his face. His voice was hoarse. “I would never betray you.”

“But you have. I understood the first time. After ranting for a few days I would have worked through it.” She motioned to the room beyond the screen. “This second time cements the betrayal. You decided my opinion didn’t matter.” She blinked rapidly. “I’m sorry for the way I acted. There. That’s all I have left to give you right now.”

He shook. “Marina–”

“If you see Boy ask him to find me?”

“I lose him too? Will you keep him from me?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Marina started towards the stronghold throne room in search of Daniil and Koen. “You love him, and he adores you. I won’t stand in the way of that.”

B
ored of the Red Citadel and its grandiose ornamentation, the stressed ambience of the room grated on Koen Raad’s nomadic concentration.

He hooked a leg over the armrest of his throne.

Sipping from his goblet, he wondered if Marina had found Boy yet. She’d been worried about him on their journey back to the Citadel. The attack barely fazed her. Her calm reaction reflected her unwavering confidence in the strength of his protection, and that warmed him, and made him feel worthy.

He knew eventually it would be instinct to allow her to protect him while in battle, but it did his pride good to know she trusted him as he would have to trust her.

Myron paced the floor beneath the dais, craggy face so tense his wrinkles smoothed. “Why? Why now? After so many years of peace, why would they dare trespass now?”

“We are closer than ever to an Emperor ascending the throne.” Daniil lounged on the steps leading to the dais under the throne meant for Koen’s Treasure. He lethargically broke his fast, picking at a plate of roasted meat. “Perhaps they sense now is the opportune time to sow discord and uncertainty. The Kingdom is in disarray until the new Queens are crowned. While martial strength is at its peak with the Wyvrae gentry here for Aver, the ice breathers may not support the alliance between Realm and Kingdom while the thrones sit empty.” He shrugged. “And no Emperor to convince them otherwise.”

“That is not why they wanted my Treasure.” Koen stared at the empty bottom of his cup. “If they had wanted chaos it would have been prudent to send an entire legion across the border to slay her. We would have been unprepared and hard pressed to protect her.” It galled him to admit it. In order to save her he would’ve had to run from battle, a thought that sickened his beast to the core. “By approaching us so boldly they alerted us to their hostile intentions. I sensed their invasion was an opportunity to avert a war not begin one.”

“Idle speculation gets us nowhere.” Myron threw up his hands. “This may have been a genuine act of war endorsed by the Grand Mage, or simply the act of exiled troublemakers.”

Daniil licked his fingers. “Ask Khan.”

“It will offend him,” Myron protested. “He will believe I ask because we concluded he must have been involved.”

“So? You know he will know
something.
At the least give us an indication of what prompted the attack. Even if we discover their identities we can investigate their allegiances.”

“Such questioning will not only offend his deep sense of honour, but ruin the trust he spent years building here.” Myron was livid. “Dragon Lords do not extend trust to Mages. Against all odds he has made friends here. If we do this he will become a pariah.”

“Sacrifices must be made.” Daniil pinched his nose bridge. “It is not a favourable course of action, I agree, but I see no other to expedite answers to our growing concerns.”

“Harassing servants is not acceptable.” Myron turned to face Koen Raad. “I will not allow this.”

Daniil cocked his head. “Why are we assuming Khan had nothing to do with it? Often the most obvious answer is the right one.”

“He is beyond suspicion.” Eyes barrowing, Myron’s pacing increased in speed and length. Angry spots of colour appeared on his cheekbones. “I dare you speak against him again.”

Brows lifting, Daniil flashed both palms, shrugged in a gesture of retreat.

Koen was torn between allowing the Mage the freedom to live out his life in peace and without suspicion – something he earned at a high price – and ensuring any plot against Marina was brought to light.

Whilst day-to-day administration of the Fire Kingdom fell to Regent Myron while a female transitioned from First Chosen to Queen, threats of war fell directly on Koen’s shoulders regardless of monarch.

Anything concerning the military might of the Dragon Lands was his remit.

Only in times of war did his power supersede the Dragon Council, the will of both Queens, so even now as he investigated his hands were tied.

He simply could not cross into the Wastelands and demand answers from the Eldernmoot. Such a move required approval from the Dragon Council. They would never agree to such a risk during Aver, not when there was a chance Koen would finally ascend to the highest sovereignty in the land, uniting the people as one.

“We could ask Khan if he would be willing to help with our investigation.” Koen sat straight in his chair, resting his hands on his knees. He disliked feeling unsure. “No one will force him, Myron.”

“It does not matter. Gossip will slander him from a humble Court physician to the bloodthirsty leader of an uprising. The result is the same if we implicate him in this matter at all.”

“Reports of this will spread,” Daniil pointed out practically. “We must involve Dragon Lords at some point, and they will speak to their trusted advisors, and wives, who will talk to others. It is inevitable. We cannot change who Khan is, an exiled Mage. No matter he was banished by his people as penance for foiling a plot to overthrow peace by coming to you, Regent. His noble deed will be forgotten and his presence here regarded with fear when it is known the Dragon King and his favoured Chosen were the victims of an unprovoked attack by the Barren Ones.”

“I will not let the threat of slander mar Khan’s faith in his safety with us.”

Koen huffed a breath. He understood both points of view, but neither gave him what he needed, a diplomatic yet progressive solution. “What do you suggest as a substitute plan, Myron? Sending a party of men across the border to discover answers?” He of course would lead the team after
the Regent
was granted permission from the Dragon Council.

They didn’t have to know their successor lead the party until he was long gone.

Pausing his agitated stomping, Myron clasped the edge of his robe as he spun. “But if those who attacked you were mercenaries acting alone and the Eldernmoot find Dragon Lords infiltrating their province
we
end up breaking the treaty.
We
instigate war.”

“Then give me a solution as Daniil has done. You cannot oppose a logical course of action and give me nothing in exchange.”

Myron made a gesture of frustration. “There is no risk free solution in circumstances this volatile.”

“Then I speak with Khan.”

“I demand we consult the High Princess.”

The unexpected petition had Koen’s brow lowering.

Involving his Treasure in this situation was unacceptable. Should anything bad transpire because of any action they took he would not have her blaming herself.

Moreover, she was occupied with other troubles.

Dealing with the Mages without embroiling her further was the sole reason he’d been content to steer her to conclude the nasty business with Council Mon Mikhail, and see to their offspring.

Koen opened his mouth to flatly refuse then grimaced.

Protest died on his tongue as a familiar intoxicating scent drifted into the room. He remembered that scent wrapped around him with Marina’s soft limbs.

Immediately, he was hard, ready for her.

Wincing as his cock swelled to painful hardness, he shifted uncomfortably on the lushly padded seat and fought a tremendous urge to track the delicious aroma, so as to luxuriate in its source.

“Ask me what?” Marina poked her dark head around the ornately carved entrance. “Do you know three servants from different Houses were out here eavesdropping?” She strolled into the room munching on blush-ripe firefruit. Hips swaying, her black leggings were indecently tight and moulded to every sweeping curve. Her tunic ties hung loose, the crossed strings stretched across her breasts. “I shooed them off, but they’ll be back.” She licked fruit juice off her lips then sucked on a dripping finger, cheeks hollowing. She released the glistening appendage with a wet pop.

Sweating, Koen eased himself to the edge of his throne, shifting balance. He bent his knees. A sigh originated from the base of his throat and eased past his lips at the relief from the throbbing pressure at his groin. She wasn’t even
trying
to invite him, and look at the state he was in. He’d denied himself the exquisite surrender to be found within her flesh for too long – too long!

“Don’t we post guards to prevent that sort of thing?” she asked.

“We didn’t want the guards hearing something they should not,” Daniil answered.