Page 12 of Fated for his Flame

“This is the palace. Where the Sovereign of All Dragonkind lives and conducts the business of ruling the Dragon Isles.”

“Isles?” Chloe asked, perking up. “There are more than one?”

“There are five,” I said. “This is the main. There are four smaller outlying islands to the west.”

As we descended, my brain wandered as I desperately tried to come up with a way to get us home from the palace without killing us by diving into the ground as my body stopped responding. Just picturing her straddling my dragon’s neck, her legs spread to either side so she rested right against me was enough to drive my dragon into a fresh frenzy.

“Shit,” I muttered as figures rounded the corner ahead of us.

“What? Are you okay?” There was a tinge of what sounded like true concern in her voice.

“I’m fine,” I said, pulling myself up straight as we slowed to a halt.

The figure and its escort slowed as well.

“Sovereign,” I said, saluting sharply.

Chloe jerked in surprise but recovered with impressive quickness, dropping into a curtsey. “My apologies, Sovereign, if that is not the proper form of greeting among your people, but in mine, it’s how one greets royalty.”

“That is more than acceptable,” the sovereign said, glancing up at me, jade eyes twinkling.

She was enjoying it. I glared at her through narrowed eyes, but there was no heat to the look, and not because she was my sovereign. But because I knew it didn’t matter. It would wash off her like nothing, and it would do so because she had been right about bringing me into her plan. And a woman who was right was impossible to derail.

“Sovereign, may I introduce Chloe,” I said, giving formal introductions.

The pair shook hands, and the sovereign offered some generic words, welcoming her to the island. They did not directly address why she was there but instead danced around the subject. Then the sovereign continued on her way, but not without one more knowing glance at me, to which I snorted before saluting.

We watched her go. When the entire entourage had rounded a corner, Chloe leaned over. “What was that all about?” she asked.

I raised an eyebrow, not sure what she was alluding to.

“There was a lot passing unsaid between you two,” she remarked.

I smiled. “Nothing serious,” I assured her.

“You two seem close.”

Gesturing ahead, I restarted the tour. “I’m not sure anyone is close to her, except perhaps her son, Vicek. She’s a good ruler, but she keeps everyone at a distance. Does her best to never choose favorites, giving an ear to all parts of the kingdom, even those that don’t support her or are less than reputable. She rules evenly, even when many think she should choose the ‘good’ side more often than not. But she knows every society has its different parts, and she chooses to try to work with all of them, so none become an obstruction to the rest. As a result, she’s alone. But I see her often.”

Chloe nodded in understanding. “So, you work for her?”

“No, not directly at least. Though I suppose you could say as one of her subjects, we all work for her. But no, I’m not part of her government. But my family …”

I trailed off, suddenly uncomfortable about how to explain it. Everyone else just sort of knew. I’d never had to say it out loud before.

“Your family is what?” Chloe asked, looking up at me with emerald eyes, a softer, lighter shade than the blazing jade of the sovereign’s.

Beautiful.

The thought struck me like a lightning bolt, rocketing through my mind, tossing all my well-organized thoughts aside.

“We’re, how would you say …”

“Powerful?” she suggested. “Influential? Minor royalty?”

“There’s no other royalty beyond the ruling line,” I said. “But close enough, yes. We’re fairly well-connected and involved in many aspects of the Dragon Isles.”

“Well, that sounds suitably vague.”

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