Page 5 of Queen’s Gambit

‘Thank you.’ My throat was so tight those two words were all I could manage. It took all my strength to hold back tears.

I barely had time to compose myself when Orm was pulled away, and I stood face to face with the most powerful mage on the continent. She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing briefly at my expression, before another chuckle escaped her lips.

‘You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Am I that scary, or did that brute say something sweet and heart-wrenching? The Erenharts can do this to you…’

‘No, he didn’t step out of line. If he did, I would poison his arse… Oh! No… I didn’t mean… I appreciate his acceptance and everything,’ I stuttered, my face hot with embarrassment.

‘Oh, I hope you mean it; then I won’t be the only one who isn’t afraid of those two oafs. Speaking of poisons, do you have something for nausea? I’ve been puking my guts out all the way here. Vahin was not impressed,’ she said, just as the dark fae came closer.

‘My lady, I’m Alaric’va Shen’ra, and I’m delighted to make your acquaintance. I will, however, insist on checking anything you intend on giving to my wife.’ His soft, melodic voice didn’t mask the hidden threat. Annika sighed.

‘Ari, apologise. I know you’re concerned, but this is going too far. We are not suspecting the family,’ she said sternly, shaking her head before turning to me. ‘He’s turned into an overbearing dimwit since I became pregnant.’

He murmured his apologies, but his eyes never left my face. I couldn’t pinpoint the feeling, but it was like being examined through a magnifying glass; all flaws suddenly came to life. I excused myself and turned towards the dragon.

‘Vahin, such a pleasure to see you again,’ I said, giving the dragon a small curtsey before reaching for his snout.

A crimson tail wrapped around my waist, pulling me back before I could touch the black dragon.

‘Cinared!’ I gasped when his front paws slammed into the ground, caging me.

‘Mine!’ he rumbled, a stubborn expression on his muzzle, and everyone’s eyes were suddenly on us. ‘You are mine, Sanika,’ he repeated softly, and this time, it felt more like a question.

‘Always. I still need to greet our guest, though,’ I answered, trailing my hand over his eye ridge. ‘Now, will you let me go, or should we have a word in private about your attitude?’

The dragon’s paws moved, and I stepped away from my possessive beast.

Vahin’s eyes shone with unbridled joy as he bowed his head to me. ‘Lady Roksana, forgive my brother. I’ve had centuries to learn riders are not a treasure to be hoarded. Cinared is only now learning the joy of sharing his soul with his chosen. Forgive his lack of manners.’

‘Do not apologise for my manners, Stormborn,’ Cinared snapped his massive jaw before lowering his head to me. ‘You can touch him if you want. He lacks the fire to take you away from me.’

I turned to the others. ‘Someone please help before these dragons start fighting.’

No one moved. They all started laughing or coughing behind their hands to hide their amusement. Annika came closer and took my hand, wrapping it around her forearm.

‘No one can help you now, Sana. You are loved by a dragon. At least yours doesn’t speak in your mind at inappropriate moments.’ She pulled me away, ignoring the two beasts staring at our retreating backs. ‘Leave them to their grumbling. Let’s eat. It was a long journey.’

The servants gave us a wide berth as we walked to the guest wing. The ever-thoughtful chamberlain had provided snacks and drinks, which Annika grabbed the moment we arrived at their room. To my bewilderment, she stretched out on the bed.

‘Thank you, Roksana. Walking and flying have become challenging lately,’ she said, grabbing a canapé.

‘Slow down, Domina, or you’ll get sick again,’ Alaric chastised her, but Ani ignored him, pushing the canapé into her mouth only for her face to turn a pale green.

‘Give me a moment, and I’ll bring a peppermint tonic that should help,’ I said, heading to my bedroom, with Alaric following.

‘Your Vivamancy—how much control do you have over it?’ he asked the moment we were alone.

‘What? Why are you asking?’ I halted, turning towards him.

‘I have an unborn child, and a woman who forgets her soul is bound to the goddess of fate. If your power is unstable, I need to know before either gets harmed.’ My jaw tightened. Only that he wasn’t accusing me. The same calculating look was on my father’s face as he assessed a threat. Alaric shifted under my scrutiny before forcing a smile. ‘I heard… rumours.’

Bile rose in my throat. The memory of my magic transforming the soldier into a monster flashed before my eyes. For a moment, I saw nothing but Tivala’s study and the man’s distorted face as his body twisted, becoming my defender.

‘I am fully in control. I would never harm a child,’ I snapped.

‘I never believed you would, but we walked in the shadows long enough to not naively believe nothing will go wrong from a lack of malicious intent.’

‘So, what do you want me to do?’ I asked, heading to my workshop.