Page 30 of Dragon Heir

I blinked at him and pointed at myself. “We?”

He grinned. “Unless you don’t wish to accompany me, but I’m sure my people would be very eager to meet their new lady.”

My heart dropped into my stomach, but I swallowed the lump in my throat and managed a shaky smile. “That sounds like a great idea.” All those pairs of eyes staring at me with opinions and judgment. What was there not to like?

We returned to the dining room and finished off the lukewarm meal. Will led me upstairs afterward so we could change out of our travel-worn attire.

“What should I wear?” I wondered as I burrowed through the many dresses Will had purchased for me.

“Your usual traveling attire,” he suggested from his seat at the foot of the bed.

I paused and turned to him with a raised eyebrow. “But isn’t that jeans and a blouse?”

He nodded. “It is, but I believe my people would prefer to see the real you rather than the figure fit only for a ball.”

I only too gladly took out the suggested attire and slipped them on. Or rather, I had one leg in my pants the change when I paused and glanced at the bed. Will had his arms draped over his bent knees and was watching me with an intense look in his red eyes.

“We don’t have time for that,” I scolded him as I hurried into my pants.

He heaved a great sigh. “Unfortunately, I must concur. The pub has already opened and we’ll no doubt be expected as soon as the horses can manage the trip.”

I admired myself in the full-length mirror and Will’s reflection was also represented behind me. A thought struck me that gave me pause.

“I know this is a little silly to ask after this long, but do Vargas and Ware have mates?” I asked my own mate.

Will shook his head. “No, though if the full truth is to be known I doubt they have ever looked for one.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “Why not?”

“They have been companions for so long that I doubt they would prefer someone else,” he told me as he leaned his head back and stared up at the bed canopy. “They are of the same generation of dragons. That is one above mine and the same as Allard’s. The pair grew up in the wilderness of many lands and shared many adventures. Rumors have always floated around that they fancied each other over anyone else.”

“Can dragons mate with other dragons?” I inquired as I plopped myself down beside him on the end of the bed.

He furrowed his brow. “That is one question I cannot answer because it has never been done. We have always found mortal mates to increase our population, though some unmated dragons insist we not count our brides among our number.”

I wrinkled my nose. “That’s not a very nice thing to say.”

He turned his face toward me and smiled. “Those of that opinion are generally not pleasant company. As for dragons mating other dragons, to take another dragon as a mate would prevent any further population increase.”

“But what about love?” I countered.

“Vargas and Ware have always been sticklers for the rules of the Council and one of them is not to wed another dragon,” Will told me as he wrapped one of his hands around mine. “Though if you have shown me anything it’s that love finds a way. Perhaps one day they may admit that the rules are rather pointless if they never intend to find a mortal mate, anyway, and should be set aside in favor of their own desires.” He sat up and pulled me to my feet. “But we should get going. The night is upon us and we may have a long evening ahead.”

Chapter Eighteen

The woods appeared so foreign, shrouded as they were in the cover of night. I wouldn’t have been able to recognize the road if the stars hadn’t been twinkling so brightly above us. The fresh scent of pine mingled with the heavy dew of night, and I took a deep breath of satisfaction.

I turned around and smiled at my sole carriage companion, Will. “You’ve shown me so many wonderful sights, but I think the best one is the view of your lands.”

He grinned and looped his arm around my waist, drawing me against his side. “I think the best view is in here.”

I snorted and swatted my hand against his chest. “Do you practice these when I’m not around?”

He leaned down and rubbed the tip of his nose against mine. “Whenever will that be?”

“When you’re plotting with Raines to keep me out of the trouble you’re trying to get yourself into,” I retorted.

“I am merely giving instructions to my servant to maintain some semblance of normalcy during these turbulent times,” he countered.

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