Page 78 of Bound By Roses

For just a moment, I think it’s Jade, but it’s Merrick’s face smirking down at me. “Did you forget about our dance?” Thewings that had been spread wide during the ceremony are gone, but he hadn’t bothered to find a shirt.

We’re moving to the center of the dance floor before I can object. And that’s just it. I can’t object. I knew a single dance with him was part of the deal, but it’s just as stomach-twisting as I’d expected.

“No,” I mutter, aiming my gaze just over his shoulder.

“But dancing with me is the last thing you want to be doing right now.” He spins me out and then pulls me back into him. I’m surprised that he can dance at all, so I didn’t expect him to put so much effort into this. “You’re angry with me. If this is about Jade—”

I cut him off. “Not everything is about Jade. No matter how much he wants it to be.”

Merrick laughs, more boisterous than I’m used to. His apparent joy makes this so much worse. “That’s probably true, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’ve done something that upset you. Which is strange because you haven’t yet thanked me for ensuring Quinn is safe at night.”

“Thank you,” I say quickly, deciding it’s not worth it to point out that Quinn, in fact, did make it into the forest in his wolf form. If Jade hadn’t been there, I don’t know what would have happened. Merrick had nothing to do with that, but he deserves credit for using his influence on the other dragons. Even if they would have agreed on their own.

Merrick rolls his eyes and then spins me around again. “Just tell me. If we’re going to war, I’d rather not have animosity between us.”

I plant my feet, forcing us to come to a stop. I allow him to sway us side to side, but I’m done being towed around the dance floor when all I want to do is hit the man I’m dancing with. “Petra told me.”

A look of confusion crosses his face. “Petra told you what?”

“Who’s it going to be? Ory? Wyatt? Jade?You?”

“So that’s it.” He sighs. “You will never understand what it’s like to be the last of your kind. Two hundred years ago, humans drove us to the edge of extinction. The only way my kind could survive was to meld our blood with that of a human’s and become this thing that is neither dragon nor human. Only for Lunae to slaughter us again.”

“That doesn’t give you the right. They have to do what you tell them or they die. You can’t—”

“I’m not.”

What? I can’t speak, so I wait for him to continue.

“I’m not going to force any of them to do anything. Nuri volunteered to carry my heir. An heir was necessary. We all knew that. Either our salvation is in Dragoria or our species is already lost. Petra is free to do as she wishes. If she weren’t, I would have never approved the union.”

“But then why…?” I don’t know how to finish the question, or maybe I’m too shocked to do so. I was fully prepared for an argument, but it’s suddenly not needed.

“Why did Petra mention it? Probably because she and Teagan want a child. Did you ask them?”

I didn’t. I assumed this wasn’t their choice, but if I read this wrong, then I’m the one who should be apologizing.

Merrick continues before I can. “To answer your question, I suspect if she makes this choice, it will be Wyatt or Ory. She wouldn’t want Jade’s child, and I only need one heir.”

“She said as much about Jade,” I say with a laugh, finally able to relax.

“Speaking of Jade,” he grumbles. “Has Quinn made a decision about his prisoner?”

Jade’sprisoner.

That’s such a harsh word to describe a boy who only joined the army to ensure he had enough food to live. He may bea Guardian, but I can’t think of him as anything other than the young man who always looked away when someone was whipped. I made a point of remembering the faces of those who seemed to hate the cruelty as much as I did, and there were so few of them that it was disappointingly easy.

“I think the better question is, what are we going to do about Jade?”

Merrick snorts a laugh. “Fair point. He’s still my heir until my child reaches the age of ten, so I can’t just kill him.”

I stop swaying to the music and take a step back.

“I’m sorry,” he says, sounding like he means it. “That was in poor taste.”

“It was, but sometimes I wonder. Do you think we’ve lost him for good?”

He blows out a heavy breath. “I hope not.”

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