Page 57 of In the Embrace of Dragons

“No, of course she doesn’t,” he says quickly. “She has no idea.”

“Hmm.” I set down my empty goblet and lean back in my chair. “Let’s keep it that way for now. But I will watch and see if she reciprocates your feelings.”

He balks. “She doesn’t!”

“How do you know that?”

His mouth bobs, like he wants to say words but can’t quite find them.

“Exactly.” This has become rather interesting to me. “You can’t see inside her heart, either.”

“I cannot.”

I wave him off. “That’s all for tonight,” I say, getting up and sliding out of my robe.

With a grateful nod, Ragnakor leaves. I know he’s glad that I wasn’t angrier with him. I should, perhaps, be upset that he hid this from me, that he thought I wouldn’t catch on. But I don’t feel the jealousy I expected to feel at the idea of sharing his affections. It’s good that Nissia has another protector in him.

My balls ache even worse after watching them on the battlefield tonight, so I am ruthless when I stroke my cock. I want to be inside her more than anything, as much as I wish Ragnakor were inside of me. It’s a strange and circular sensation, to be missing both of them, needing both of them at once.

When I finally erupt, it relieves very little of the painful itch that’s taken up residence in my groin. My scent glands are swollen, ready to release the moment I’m with them again.

I groan and squeeze another one out before I finally go to sleep.

Chapter Twenty-One

NISSIA

The following morning, Zephala is working on my hair when there comes a light knock at the door. My handmaid answers it, revealing Syzari. She’s bright and alive, her sapphire scales gleaming under her ivory and gold robe. How does she always look so put together?

“Good morning,” I say as Zephala quickly finishes her work. “I’m not dressed yet.”

“Sorry, sorry.” But the advisor doesn’t look all that sorry. “It’s just that proposal I’ve been meaning to discuss with you.”

I vaguely remember this. I wave for Syzari to come in, and the advisor follows me as I head into my dressing room. In my country, this would be scandalizing, but the dragons are far, far less modest. She doesn’t bat an eyelash as I take off my dressing robe in front of her and search for something else in the closet.

“What sort of proposal?” I ask as I pick out what I want to wear for the day. The garment I select is a rusty orange that reminds me of Ragnakor’s hide.

“So, we have a problem in the kingdom,” Syzari begins. “Our population is small, and it gets smaller with every generation. You can imagine that creates a labor shortage.”

“Yes, that sounds like it would become a significant barrier.”

“Exactly.”

I finish putting on my clothes, and we step out of the dressing room.

“Walk and talk?” I ask Syzari, and she nods hastily. I put a leash on Daina and bring her along as we head out into the hallway. “So where do I come into this?”

“We need outsiders, Your Majesty. I won’t beat around the bush. We need humans who are willing to come here, live here, marry here—build a life here. If we don’t have an influx of new workers from somewhere, eventually, the entire kingdom may collapse.”

I stare at her. That was a table full of information first thing in the morning.

“So you need my help to bring other humans here?”

She nods fervently. “I don’t know how you would manage it, but I’m here to support you in any way I can.”

It doesn’t sound like I have much of a choice if the kingdom is in that dire of straits.

“Incentives,” I say, and Syzari continues walking. “It requires a good incentive.”