Page 116 of The Dragon Queen

“That’s nice, sweetheart.” I kissed her on the forehead before she climbed back to the floor and ran back to her mother. “Mommy, are we going to make those cookies now?”

She chuckled. “I think it’s time for you to take a nap.”

Lily stuck out her tongue. “I’d rather eat a cookie.”

“I bet you would,” she said with another laugh.

I came around the desk, picked up Lily, and threw her over my shoulder.

She giggled and kicked her legs like she was swimming. “Daddy!”

“I’ll take her swimming at the waterfall. You rest.”

“Talon, you’re working?—”

“My priority is to you. And your priority is to grow that baby.” My hand moved to her distended stomach. “Rest for the day. I’ll see you at dinner.”

Lily and I swam together in the pool of the waterfall, the view of the ocean on the horizon, as beautiful as it was when Calista and I had looked at it six years ago. I’d taught Lily how to swim, but she still needed to practice to remain strong. We rarely went out on the ships, but I wanted her to be prepared in the event something happened.

“Daddy?”

“Yes, sweetheart?” She was a handful, a child so inquisitive about the world, about everything, who had more energy than I had in my prime. But no amount of exhaustion could dull how much I loved every moment with her, how much I appreciated her every single day. My bliss with Lily could never mask my pain for Lena, but it did help. I was grateful that I got to experience the joys of fatherhood—especially when I’d thought I would never be so lucky.

“Do you like being king?”

“I do.”

“Will you always be king?”

“No.”

“If you aren’t king, then who becomes king?”

“Your mother is queen, so she could continue to rule if she wishes. But if she doesn’t, it would go to you.”

“Even though I’m a girl?” she asked in surprise.

“That doesn’t matter, Lily.”

“I just thought it was something only for boys.”

“It’s for anyone.”

She swam to the opposite side of the bank before she swam back to me, holding on to one of my arms so she wouldn’t have to swim any longer. “What if the next baby is a boy? Would it go to him?”

“Only if you don’t want it. You’re the firstborn.”

“What if I don’t want to do it?”

“That’s okay too, sweetheart. But you have a lot of time before you have to decide. A lot of time.” I scooped her into my arms and held her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead, feeling her brown hair against my lips. I closed my eyes and treasured the moment, all the little moments, all the joys I’d thought I didn’t deserve.

Talon!

I’d been walking through the courtyard when I heard his voice, a frantic tone that I hadn’t heard in a long time. I came to a halt beside one of the olive trees, the splatter from the fruit permanent scars on the cobblestone.What is it, Khazmuda?Then I saw him in the blue sky, his black scales so distinct against the pastel colors it was impossible to miss him. I watched him soar to the courtyard, his powerful wings making him move quicker than the wind. Then he dropped down in front of me, making the foundation and the castle shake.They’re hatching!

Once the fear passed, an indescribable joy burst from my heart. “Now?”

Yes. We must hurry.

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