Page 80 of In the Embrace of Dragons

I can’t show my face after that, so I spend the day with Ari, trying to forget how silly and foolish I’ve been. We go on a ride out to the lake that Vizarios first showed me, and while Quillion stands with his back to us, we take off our clothes and get into the frigid water. I squeal at the sensation of it on my bare nipples and decide to stay in the shallows, so I’m only freezing up to my waist.

Ari laughs uproariously. “Been some time since you went swimming?” She paddles across the lake ahead of me. “I don’t remember you being a coward.”

Annoyed at her jab, I finally walk into the water up to my neck, and I feel like a block of ice. But soon I adjust to it, and then we swim back and forth together, splashing each other and giggling like idiots.

Finally, the late afternoon comes as we sit drying andfreezing on the lakeshore. I wander away into my thoughts as I watch the sun sink down over the trees, feeling miserable for myself.

Ari scoots closer, peering at me. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you get like this over a boy.”

I cover my face with my hands. “I know. It’s stupid.”

“I don’t think it’s stupid. I think that you’re in love and you’ve been rejected. It’s not a good feeling for anyone.”

I sigh as she puts an arm around my shoulders. I don’t want to talk about it, so I suggest we head back to the castle, and she agrees without complaint.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I tell Ari as we ride home, Quillion dutifully following. “I don’t really know what I’d do without you.”

She grins. “Now I just need to find a dragon husband of my own.” Her eyes dart to Quillion, and then back. “Or a dragon wife. Zephala is very pretty.”

“Zephala?” I giggle. “That would be an interesting match.”

We discuss Ari’s prospects the whole ride home. After taking the tack off our horses, cleaning them up, and putting them away in the stable, we head inside for dinner. Vizarios’s footman comes to tell me the king will be working through the meal, but he sends his regards, and hopes that I will come visit him in his rooms later in the evening for something important.

I wonder what he has planned.

Ragnakor and I did not discuss training tonight, and I don’t want to see him anyway, so I take a long bath before changing into my favorite robe. When I look at myself in the mirror, I realize my outfit is the same rust color as Ragnakor’s hide, and I let out a bone-deep sigh.

At least I have Vizarios. The fire is fully alight between us, and it feels as if we have finally settled into a relationship that makes sense. My uncertainty has faded over the last fewnights, and I think I might be able to trust him with my heart.

Once I’m dressed, Zephala pats my hair dry and expertly uses oils to separate it into ringlets. She pins back just the bit at my temples, letting the rest fall free.

“You know, the more time I spend with you, the more I grow envious of this,” she says, fluffing my hair in the mirror. “Will your dragonlings have hair, I wonder?”

I hadn’t thought about it. I have not seen a half-human, half-dragon before.

“I guess we’ll find out sooner or later.” I surreptitiously put a hand on my belly. “The king is certainly trying.”

Zephala giggles with mischief.

As I head down the hall to Vizarios’s quarters, I wonder if he would be open to cohabitating. It seems fitting as husband and wife that we would have a shared room now that we’re frequently together.

When I knock, I hear heavy footsteps on the other side, and then the door flies open. Vizarios smirks when he sees me and eagerly grabs me to pull me into the room.

I stop in my tracks when I find Ragnakor sitting at the table and toss away Vizarios’s hand.

“What’s going on?” I ask, backing up to the door. This feels like an ambush and immediately I want to leave.

“See?” Ragnakor says, rising to his feet. “I should not be here, Your Majesty.”

Vizarios shoots him a deadly glare. “Sit back down.” Then he approaches me, reaching out to rub my shoulder. “My queen, can you give us a moment of your time to talk openly?”

I don’t want to. My heart hurts enough as it is.

Vizarios glances sideways at Ragnakor. “I think the captain has something to say to you.”

Don’t be a coward, I tell myself. So, I plant my feet firmly and cross my arms. “What do you want?”

Shame-faced, Ragnakor lifts his head to look at me.