Page 31 of Crown and Dragon

At the base of the stairs, the guard veered right, and they snaked their way down to a row of doors.

“The second one is mine,” the guard said. “It’s open. Locks from the inside. Stay there until we come for you. No matter what you hear. I stashed some corncakes in the dresser if you’re hungry.”

“What do you mean no matter what we hear?” Tahlia asked.

“I have to go.” The guard left without a backward glance.

Tahlia went ahead of Marius and opened the door to a small chamber. Marius quickly surveyed the space, checking for watch holes that could have been carved into the walls and if any runes had been etched into the simple bed, dresser, or desk.

“All clear.” His heart was beating too quickly. Having his mate here was undeniably distracting—he could no longer fool himself that it wasn’t—and though he knew she was quick, smart, and quite capable, he couldn’t help wishing she was back at Dragon Tail Peak, in the safety of the castle walls.

“Are we supposed to have a change of clothes in here? I can’t remember,” Tahlia asked.

Marius flipped the quilt on the bed back to reveal two stacks of dark clothing. He handed one to Tahlia. “You seem to really enjoy this tomatina nonsense,” he said, trying for a casual tone even though the words meant more. What exactly, he wasn’t yet certain.

Chapter 14

Tahlia

Tahlia studied Marius’s face as she set the dark clothing on the end of the bed. She undid her belt, set it on the ground, then removed Fara’s letters from where she’d stashed them—tucked neatly into her trousers. She set the letters on the bedside table near a bowl of water, a candle and flint set, and a stack of clean cloths.

When she glanced back, Marius wasn’t looking her way. Something was off. His shoulders were tense and pulled up toward his ears like he was bracing for a strike for which he had no defense.

“It’s throwing vegetables, listening to music, acting like fools, and drinking ale. What’s not to love?”

“Humans. And it’s a fruit, not a vegetable.”

Tahlia’s heart cinched. “Marius, look at me.”

“If you need help with washing your hair, I’m happy to?—”

She tugged at his arm and finally he met her gaze. “Of course I’m enjoying this festival.”

“You are enjoying being around humans.”

“So? I’m half-human. What do you expect?”

His throat moved in a swallow and he held her gaze. “Full humans are terrible creatures.”

Her chest caved, and she set a hand on his tomato-stained tunic. “Marius…”

“I mean,” he said, looking away, “generally. Not all of them.”

“You still believe that nonsense after choosing a mate with their blood? After working with a queen who is human?”

His lip curled. He turned away, running a hand over the back of his neck. He had tomato bits in his hair that she longed to comb away.

“Tahlia, I, no, I don’t think I do believe humans are worse than Fae. Not anymore.”

She sagged, leaning her hands on her knees. “That’s basically the opposite of what you just said.”

She expected him to whirl around and smile, to kiss her and apologize. But instead, he focused on the wall, his silence deafening.

“Marius, what is it?” He had to be thinking of his sister and how human pirates were the ones to end her life. But those humans were bad ones. There were horrible Fae too. He knew that, but his demeanor said he was having a hard time feeling the truth of it.

“I don’t know,” he replied quietly. “I truly don’t know. Seeing you here, among these people, it makes me angry. Maybe I am worried I won’t be enough for you. That you might want to leave the Fae realm someday and live among humans. They’re more relaxed than us. I know that now.”

“They are a blast, honestly. Do you think they’d accept a dragon rider and her scary Seabreak?”

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