Page 66 of In the Embrace of Dragons

“A surprise. Please come?”

The earnestness in those eyes sways me. “All right. Show me to this surprise.”

Reverently, he takes my hand in his and does not let it go as he leads me down the hall. I chance a look back at Ragnakor, to see if he might give something away, but as usual, his expression is stern and unreadable.

What is waiting for me? Nerves spark to life in my belly, wondering what Vizarios has planned.

We head to the grand entryway and come to a stop in front of the great doors. Still, Vizarios does not release my hand, and I like the feeling of our fingers twined together.

One door opens, and a guard steps inside. Following him is a small... human?

Yes, it’s a human. A human with soft, brown skin and long black braids wrapped up in a traveling bun behind her head. Her eyes are kind and warm, and when she sees me, her smile squeezes her cheeks into pert little apples.

“Ari,” I whisper.

She takes one step, then two steps in my direction, reaching for me. Vizarios releases my hand, and I cross the last bit of distance between us at a run, throwing myself at Ari and wrapping her up tight in my arms.

“What are you doing here?!” I cry into her hair, squeezing her even tighter. Tears sting in the corners of my eyes. It hasonly been a few months since I saw her, but it feels like years. Almost a lifetime.

“I was summoned,” she says.

I pull away, peering down into Ari’s face. I forgot she was shorter than I am, given I am always surrounded by much taller dragons.

“Summoned? By whom?”

She nods over my shoulder. “The dragon king himself.”

I whirl around to face Vizarios, who stands behind me, wringing his hands.

“I called by pigeon,” he says uncertainly.

“But your father!” I spin back to put both hands on Ari’s shoulders. “He was so sick. You can’t have left him there.”

Her eyes drop to the floor. “He passed about a month and a half ago.”

Oh. My heart breaks for her, and I hug her again, even tighter this time. Her father hadn’t been a healthy man for a long time, but he was always kind and had a generous heart.

Now I understand why I never heard back from her. She has been grieving and probably couldn’t bear to write the letter.

“You went through all that without me,” I say miserably. “I’m so sorry.”

“And you went through allthiswithout me.” She pulls away from our hug so she can peer over my shoulder. “But it looks like things are... going well?” Her gaze darts to Vizarios, and then back to me.

It’s all far too much to explain here. I turn to my husband, the one who orchestrated this, with a mixture of feelings swirling in my heart. He called Ari here like a dog to obey his bidding, and yet, I’m grateful—more than grateful—to see her again.

“I was worried that you were lonely,” Vizarios says. “I ensured she had no other obligations. The humans whobrought her here on the journey were paid well from my coffers.”

I’m not sure how to answer this gesture.

“Thank you,” I say, though it doesn’t feel sufficient for bringing me my best friend. But he shakes his head as he strides toward us across the great entryway. Once in front of me, he brings his palm to my cheek and leans down close.

“You don’t need to thank me, wife. I will be happy to see you happy.” He rests his forehead against mine, and a whole swarm of butterflies bursts to life in my chest. After the briefest moment, Vizarios pulls away. “I have dressed the accommodations beside yours for your friend.”

Ari nods thankfully. “It worked out for the best, Niss. I needed to escape that place. It held so many memories of Dad.” She loops her arm through mine, smiling up at me. “Now show me around! I want to see my new room.”

So we depart together, and I brush a hand over my husband’s shoulder as I go. Ragnakor watches us with approval, and I give him a tiny wave.

Zephala smiles radiantlywhen I appear with Ari in tow.