Page 102 of Blood of Dragons

“All we’re asking is for the chance to speak with them. That’s all. If they say no, then so be it.”

He looked away and stared into the tree line. “I can ask the queen if one of the guardians can plead your case.”

“It needs to be us,” I said. “They need to see who they’re fighting with.”

“That will never happen, Calista.”

“Uncle Ezra…” It was the first time I’d called him that, and I felt the love in my heart as I referred to him with such affection. “Please.” I looked into his eyes and pleaded. “I understand you can’t tell me where they are, and I would never want to put you in that position. But just get me an audience with the queen so we can speak with her…please.”

Affection burned in his eyes as he looked at me, but there was also strain, strain caused by the request. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thank you.”

“Will you return to the forest?”

I wanted to show Talon the beautiful forest, my tree house where our minds had touched, show him the fireflies in the dark. But Iknew he would never be welcomed here. “No. Not unless he can come with me.”

I left the forest and approached the campsite.

Khazmuda had returned, his scales brilliant in the dying light.Pretty.

I missed you. I moved to one of his massive legs and hugged it, my head resting against his smooth scales.

He dipped his head and rubbed the soft side of his snout against my head, handling me with the utmost gentleness.And I you.

I pulled away and saw Talon sitting on a log by the fire, looking at me with that same look he always gave me.

He patted his thigh and beckoned me toward him with a nod.

I walked over and felt him grab me, position me across his lap and hold me close. His kiss moved to my hairline, just above my ear, and his strong arms cocooned me against his chest. He didn’t ask how the conversation went, just sat there with me, his lips resting against my temple.

My arm circled his neck, and I leaned against him, closing my eyes because I felt such peace when I was with him, when he held me like this, when we were this close, our souls almost touching.

We sat like that for a long time, his eyes on the fire, my eyes on the dark horizon.

Khazmuda lay in front of the fire and closed his eyes once twilight arrived.

Talon broke the silence. “What did he say?”

“He said he would try.”

He gave a slight nod.

“But she’s ferocious. I’m not sure even her husband can persuade her.”

“We’ll know soon enough.”

“He said he might be able to get a guardian to share our message with the dragons, but I told him I wanted the words to come from us. But that can be a backup plan if we need it.”

“You can’t ask someone to serve you if they’ve never seen your face. That’s not how it works. And someone else would never convey the urgency in the matter. They need to see me—and Khazmuda.”

“Yes.” My fingers moved through his short hair, feeling the strands I only touched when we made love. We’d never shared affection outside of intimacy, but now we held each other fully clothed, under the starlight.

“Let’s go to bed. Perhaps we’ll have our answer in the morning.” He rose to his feet and lifted me with him, carrying me with our chests together, making me feel like a feather on the wind.

“I’m not tired.”

He smirked slightly as he looked at me. “Neither am I.”

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