Page 18 of Dragons Of Shadow and Sea

"She can never leave. This may be a shock to her."

My stomach dips. "It's true. But in time, she will see that this is right."

"Will she?"

Doubt threatens to rock me, but I swallow it down. "She must."

"And her 'friends'?" She lifts a brow.

Does she know?

Does it matter?

"Your law..." I'm the one to falter this time.

All these years of isolation, hiding away behind the magical veil that protects our kingdom... After everything we've lost, everything--and everyone--we've sacrificed...

My mother has ruled the kingdom with a soft touch but a firm hand. Her one, most absolute rule is that no outsiders may set foot on Water Kingdom soil. Anyone caught within our borders is to be interrogated and put to death.

Surely, she's expressed such joy at me discovering my mate, she will be willing to make an exception for her. But for Prince Rafe and Prince Jianyu?

Guilt tugs at my conscience--but so does jealousy, thick and poisonous and eating away at my gut. My mother's law would have them put to the death, and that would be convenient indeed.

But I can't forget the way Ember's entire being lit up when she was with them. She glowed, even more radiant and beautiful than before. Watching her with them filled me with envy, but there was a nagging sense, somewhere deep inside my chest, that this was meant to be. She was always destined to be mine and theirs and ours.

She can't be, though. My mother's law will not permit it.

I still can't send them to the gallows--no matter how much a selfish part of me would enjoy it.

"It would break her heart," I tell my mother. I'm speaking the truth, and yet concealing so much.

"As you said. In time, she would come to see that it is right."

"She wouldn't." The reply is automatic--too harsh. Too sharp for a son speaking to his mother, much less a prince addressing his queen. "I'm sorry. But." My throat bobs, and it hurts to swallow. "She would be so betrayed. She'd never trust me again. Our relationship... It would be forever tainted."

My mother's eyes narrow, and her voice becomes strained. "What would you have your queen do?" She flits a hand through the air. "Allow these trespassers to run free?"

"No, of course not."

"Fire and Stone Dragons let loose in the Water Kingdom would be a catastrophe. Your father..." Her voice cracks. "Your brothers..."

I blink hard against the way my vision wants to blur. "I know, Mother. I know."

I see it all in flashes. The carnage of the Great War. I was so young, then, but it haunts me to this day. There's a reason we've given up so much, turning our backs on the world the way we have. And it's worth it.

But is it worth these two men's lives? Now? A decade into our seclusion? Is it worth my mate's devastation?

"Please, Mother. Have mercy. Give me time to sort this all out."

"I don't see what there is to sort out." She shakes her head, but there are cracks in her resolve.

These last ten years, there are so few things we've disagreed on. Certainly, there's been nothing I've felt this strongly about. She's the queen, and ultimately, the decision rests with her, but I can sway her. I have to--for Ember's sake.

"There must be another way."

My mother stares at me with somber, appraising eyes. "These two men can't live in the Witch's basement forever."

She's echoing Ember's words. They're both right.

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