Page 81 of In the Embrace of Dragons

“My deepest apologies, my queen. I have injured you.”

I purse my lips and don’t answer.

“I did not intend it,” he continues. “I simply don’t believe it’s honorable or dignified for me to engage in a relationship with?—”

“Of course,” I say, my tone pinched.

His hand clenches into a fist, and his expression turns pleading. “It’s what I know. I have my place, my role, and it has always guided me.”

All I hear are excuses, and I’m not interested. Vizarios sighs and curls his arm around me, bringing me to his side. I lean my head against his chest, and it’s odd and new and lovely to find comfort in him when the situation feels hostile.

“Please, Nissia,” my husband says, in a tone gentler than I thought he was capable of. “Will you come sit?”

He takes my hand in his, and though I pout, I follow as he leads me to a seat at the table across from Ragnakor. The big dragon looks like the entire weight of the castle rests on his shoulders.

“I apologize for leaving,” Ragnakor says at length, keeping his gaze down. “But I... I worry about what my desires might mean for the two of you. For the health and status of the kingdom. And I cannot overlook that, no matter what my personal wishes might be.”

I squint at him. “The health of the kingdom?”

“A happily married king and queen is what’s good for Selvumrrest. It is unusual, to be blunt, to bring a third person into such a sacred relationship. It will raise eyebrows and may cast your rule into doubt.”

When I glance at Vizarios to gauge his reaction, his forehead is wrinkled in thought.

“I had not considered this. That it might cause a challenge.”

“You are the rightful king, and a good one, Vizarios,” I say. “What you do in your own time, in your own private life, is for you to know and you alone.”

Without answering, Vizarios lifts my hand to bring it to his lips. He presses a small, chaste kiss there, his mouth curving up on one side.

“I’m lucky to have such a fearsome queen at my side.” But then the smile falls. “I believe, unfortunately, that Ragnakor is right. If knowledge were to spread about the truth of our relationship? That we are sharing a bed with a dragon who isn’t royalty? It could be a problem.”

I have not lived among dragon politics for long, but I’m not sure I believe him.

“You really think the wardens would judge you for this?” I ask. “While Syzari and I send them new workers, while you build new trade routes with the ogre-people that will benefit all?”

Vizarios watches me carefully. “I was going to propose that we simply keep it a secret.”

Ragnakor grits his teeth. “Secrets don’t last for long in a castle.”

“Then wedon’tkeep it a secret!” I say. I’m growing tired of this. “Then we live our lives in the open and take whatever comes with it. No one will call into question your devotion to your king,Papa.”

Ragnakor reacts instantly to the word, his spine straightening, his brows lifting. He studies me like I’m a strange and foreign object, a wonder of the world he’s never seen before.

“You would not be ashamed?” he asks, lips pulled into a disbelieving frown. “You would openly bring me into your marriage bed?”

I have to laugh. “What marriage bed? We still don’t share a room!”

Vizarios snorts. “She’s right. Perhaps we should relocate somewhere bigger.”

He gets to his feet and walks behind Ragnakor, dragging his claws over the other dragon’s broad shoulders. Then he leans forward and wraps his arms around Ragnakor’s neck.

“What do you think?” Vizarios whispers into his ear. I can only make out the words by the movement of his lips. “Will you join us in said wedding bed, Papa? Show us how to make a dragonling?”

Ragnakor’s brows furrow in worry. “But the kingdom may question the parentage of your heir if I’m involved.”

“An heir is an heir. They will be grateful for whatever they get.” The king’s voice is firm. “Now, I think you have some apologizing to do.”

RAGNAKOR