Page 21 of The Dragon King

So I’ve waited and am doing my best to shake off the insecurity bubbling up with each passing day.

Kem and I have passed the days visiting my father, whose remaining vibrant green scales fade more with each passing hour, but Kem has always been there to distract me from my sorrow. He shared tales of the kingdom. He told his story of how he met the Seelie fae royal children. His face softened when he spoke of Raelyn, now the Seelie queen, and I think I’d like to meet this woman.

I shared pieces of my childhood, telling him about my family; of how my mother died when I was four, and though she wasn’t my father’s Mate, she was his true love, and he never married again. Kem asked about my brother, and while I have fond memories of Kogra, I haven’t seen him in over thirty years, and I’m not sure who he is now.

Kem told me stories of my father and him. I had no idea my father was one of Kem’s main supporters in his Challenge against Kem’s predecessor. My father fought at Kem’s side when Ruenar, the former King, sent his fighters to take out Kem before the Challenge. I never knew where the ragged scar on my father’s rear right leg came from. Now I do. Kem won the Challenge and granted my father the Mountain territory, allowing my clan to grow and prosper in peace.

I knew the story of the rescue attempt of one of the dragon younglings, but when he told me the story … when his eyes darkened as he recalled the cave-in, his broken wing, the crushing weight … the tangy scent of fear I picked up the first time I brought Kem to my father finally made sense. Since then, I’ve made sure to avoid the smaller passages.

I showed him my favorite routes to fly, where the currents hold you with little effort, or they scream against your wings, making you fight for every flap. We’ve hunted, and we’ve swum in the freezing waters of the lake that’s fed by the mountain snows. I’ve shown him every nook and room in the vast caves I call home, and he curls himself around me every night.

But he hasn’t claimed me.

The morning of our fourth day, I’m nudged awake by Kem’s snout gently pressing against my neck. His scent of leather, cardamom, and vanilla pulls me from my dreams, but then I burst awake, like breaking the surface of stinging cold water.

“Easy, my Heilsi. It’s time. I’m here.” Kem’s voice tries to soothe me, but I know.

I curl into his warmth and breathe him in for a few moments before I slowly stand. Shaking off the last of my sleep, I duck my head under the small fall of water in the far back corner of my room. Relieving myself, I shiver under the cold spray and close my eyes as I step out, crossing the room. Kem follows without a word, but his silent presence gives me strength.

The second I step into my father’s room, I feel his impending death press in on me. His breathing is shallow and all his scales have leached of color. His gray body lays sprawled in his tangled nest, but his eyes slide open and land on me.

I lower my body to the floor and crawl to him. A soft smile curls up his lips, and I notice even his sharp teeth are gray. “My dear daughter. I love you. No matter your path in this life, know I’m proud of you.”

I lay my head near his, trying to find his comforting scent under the cloying sickness that clings to this room. “I’m not ready, father.”

“No one ever is. But you will be fine, dear girl.”

I feel Kem behind me, and my father shifts slightly to raise his gaze, though he’s not strong enough to lift his head. “I thank you for your time, your Majesty. Your presence is an honor.”

“It is I who am honored to be here for you, my friend.”

Father’s gaze shifts back to me, and I have to crawl closer to hear him. “Your brother is coming.” My brows furrow. “He sent word yesterday. He will be here for my Elevation.”

I shift on my haunches, trying to recall the exact shade of the yellow of Kogra’s scales.

My father’s quiet voice disrupts my thoughts. “I know that look, daughter. Kogra didn’t abandon you. He didn’t abandon us. He had another path he needed to follow. But he is coming home.” My father’s snout weakly shoves against mine. “I think maybe his experience outside of the clan will bring a much needed perspective to our people. My fear is that our clan is unknowingly suffering in our seclusion.” I can’t stop the frown that pulls at my lips. “Tatha, your Mate was less than a day’s flight from our Mountain.” I glance at Kem as my father continues, “This may be the ramblings of an old dragon at the end of his days, but there is so much life out there, we shouldn’t … we can’t continue to hide away from the world because of past pain.”

I blink several times, unable to process this shift in my father. He loves our Mountain. He loves the seclusion, the peace. These caves are all I’ve ever known—because of him. But he is right, my Mate was right here.

My father chuckles, reading the conflict on my face. “Darling girl, you would be a fantastic clan leader, and if you choose that path, our clan will prosper under your leadership.” His eyes flick to Kem before coming back to me. “But I think, if you look within your heart, your happiness lies along a different path.”

The floor vibrates as Kem lowers to his belly. “Tovra, whatever your daughter chooses, know I will support her.” His tail brushes against mine, and the pressure of my sorrow, my longing, my responsibilities, and my dreams pushes against my ribs. But then it all slides away with Kem’s next words. “I will be here for her for the rest of her days.”

My father exhales slowly. “And that is all I can ask.”

We sit in silence for a while. Father dozes in and out, occasionally speaking with Kem in soft tones, sometimes sharing light-hearted stories about my childhood and all my rebellious antics.

A sound at the entrance draws my gaze, and Kem shifts closer to me as the flash of bright summer-yellow scales passes through the door. I nod at my brother. “Kogra.”

“Sister. It’s good to see you.”

I want to retort that it took father’s impending death to bring him home, but I bite my tongue.

Kogra bows to Kem. “Your Majesty. You honor our family with your presence.”

Kem’s tail strokes down mine, and Kogra's eyes widen. Kem smiles. “Of course. Tovra is a friend. And I am here to support my Mate.”

I blush, avoiding Kogra’s startled gaze. How easily Kem announces our bond. There’s pride in his voice, so why ...

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