Page 3 of In the Embrace of Dragons

When I’m dressed, I stand outside the king’s door, waiting for him to emerge. It’s nearly sunset, when the banquet is scheduled to begin, which makes me antsy. I despise being late.

“Your Majesty?” I ask, knocking on his door. There’s a groan inside, and then it opens.

He does not look much better now than when I left him.

“You are not wearing your ceremonial outfit?” I ask, trying to keep any shred of judgment out of my tone. Vizarios hates it when he perceives anyone condescending to him.

He shrugs. “Why bother? They won’t know the difference.”

“It is tradition?—”

“I don’t give a fuck about tradition.” He waves at me over his shoulder. “Come on. Let’s go already.”

I shut my mouth with aclackand nod instead, falling into step beside him as we head toward the ballroom. He’s not even wearing the gold rings around his horns that royalty should.

We are making a very bad impression.

Chapter Two

NISSIA

“You’re late!”

Ari is furious with me, and for good reason. I showed up dirty and mussed after my stint in the training yard, and we’re already running out of time before the banquet. At least we did a trial run of what I’ll wear tonight and how she’ll do my hair and makeup, so it should be faster for Ari to get me presentable.

She throws me into the bathtub, keeping my hair tied up on top of my head and covered because there’s no time to wash, dry, and style it. She scrubs me all over and then drags me out again, helping me dry off before she demands I get into the dress I’m supposed to be wearing. Father had it ordered special for the occasion, which seemed foolish to me. It’s not like the dragon king will turn around and walk out if I’m not up to snuff.

He’s already bought me with the treaty. He has no choice, and neither do I.

I try not to move too much as Ari pins my hair back, thensets to softening my skin with powder and hiding my eyes behind black kohl. I am so much taller that while I'm sitting, she barely leans down much to do my makeup. Her movements are practiced and fluid, and so familiar.

“You’re coming with me, aren’t you?” I ask.

“For the millionth time,” Ari grumbles, “of course I’m going with you. They have a horse for me and half my trunk is packed.”

I’m asking again because I am wracked by guilt over her decision, and I want to give her the chance to change her mind. Ari will have to leave everything behind to come along to the dragon’s country, including her own father, and yet she’s treated it like it was never a question.

Of course I’m going with you.How many times has she said it, and I still don’t believe it? At least I’m not going into this alone, but Ari and I will only have each other. There are a few humans among the dragons, or so I’ve heard, but not many.

“I’m sorry,” I murmur as she helps me up to my feet. There, she produces the shining leather shoes I’ll be wearing tonight. “That you have to give up everything.”

“Stop it.” She has on a familiar look of concentration, one eye closed, as she laces them. “I made this decision on my own. I’m not letting you go alone, Niss.”

My eyes get misty, but I pledge not to ruin the makeup that Ari just finished. Then it’s time to go.

I leave my changing room, and one of my father’s guards takes up position beside me. We weave down corridor after corridor, toward the ballroom, and my inkling of dread grows teeth.

What will the dragon king look like? How will he speak? Will he be kind to me, or cruel?

They’re all questions I’ve asked myself a million times, but now they’re coming faster, rapid fire, and I have no defense.My pulse quickens as we reach the threshold and step through into the ballroom.

The high ceilings here give me vertigo as we enter, and my guard leads me around the main table toward my seat. The dragon king doesn’t appear to be here yet.

My father nods as I sit beside him, and on the other side is my older brother, Roylan. My father’s dressed in his most regal finery, which I’ve always thought looks awful silly with its high, frilly collar, but he reveres tradition above all else. Roylan takes after our mother, but isn’t much taller, and wears the same gaudy outfit as our father.

I think whoever the dragons are, they will be making fun of us behind our backs.

Then there’s clanking at the entryway, and the guards part to allow someone through.