Page 29 of In the Embrace of Dragons

Ragnakor’s entire demeanor has shifted as if to make himself smaller while we leave the training yard. Inside the castle doors, though, Vizarios rounds on us again. He chooses me to attack first.

“What were you doing, fighting in the yard?” he demands. “A queen! Debasing herself this way!”

“What’s wrong with it?” I shoot back. “I like swordplay, thank you. And as queen, I can do whatever I want.”

“Unless it upsets theking.” His voice comes out a growl.

Even Ragnakor looks taken aback.

“You can’t mean to hold her hostage,” the captain says, and I’m surprised at how frankly he’s speaking. “Queen Nissia can do what she likes. There are no restrictions on whether or not a queen can fight.”

“And you.” Vizarios’s lips peel back over his fangs as he turns on Ragnakor. “Was this your idea or hers?”

“Mine,” the captain answers instantly.

“You put my wife in harm’s way, and—” Vizarios cuts himself off, his eyes blazing. Then his voice falls much quieter, much more helpless. “You would do this? Behind my back?”

I’m astonished. He’s...hurt?

Ragnakor’s stony expression melts, and without hesitation, he reaches out to put a hand on Vizarios’s shoulder. It’s such a practiced, intimate gesture, one he’s clearly done before, and my breath escapes me.

What is it? What is this between them? I can’t be imagining this tension.

“Why are you angry?” Ragnakor says in a solemn voice. “Why, truly? It’s not because you believe the queen shouldn’t learn swordplay.”

Vizarios flinches but doesn’t pull away from Ragnakor’s touch. I feel as if I am an audience member watching a drama playing out on stage, completely separate from them.

“It’s not becoming of royalty,” Vizarios mutters under his breath.

Ragnakor narrows his eyes. “Your mother would have some words to say about that.”

Vizarios’s gaze darts up and his lips part.

“Before you get angry with me,” the captain continues, his voice soft, “I want the answer to my question. Do you think I would ever try to hurt Queen Nissia?”

Vizarios hunches forward, almost like a chastised child. “No. Not... intentionally.”

“So what has upset you?”

Something about Ragnakor’s calm, collected voice is lulling, like a dream. It has both of us in its spell.

“Seeing you two together, without me.” Now Vizarios is staring down at the floor, his tail flicking behind him. “It infuriates me!”

His admission startles me. He was jealous because I sparred with Ragnakor without him there?

“But I don’t hold an affection for you,” Vizarios suddenly snaps at me, standing up straighter. “Don’t get any illusions. Imarkedyou, yes, but it was an accident, and now”—hegestures between us—“my body thinks you are mine. It has nothing to do with feelings.”

I stare at him as I search for words. So he wants me, but he doesn’t actually care about me? He’s saying this is all just his body reacting instinctually to what we did in the throne room. Purely physical.

I look down at the floor, finding myself much more injured than I would have expected. Why is he fighting so hard against some kind of relationship between us?

“We could embrace it,” I finally suggest. “We could... you know.” I wouldn’t mind doing again what we did then, and then maybe we could develop real feelings for one another. “We could try to be more.”

Vizarios’s reaction is impossible to understand. His lip curls with disgust while his other hand drops to his crotch, rubbing over his groin.

“No.” He shivers. “I can’t ever love you. It’s impossible.”

“Why?” I ask, my voice rising. But I already know this was a mistake, to even bring up the idea. I made myself vulnerable and I shouldn’t have. “What is your problem with me?”