Page 32 of Crown of Slumber

I cleared my throat. “What?”

“This blush right here will tell the lie for us.” He stroked my cheek once more.

I slapped his hand away. He was only pointing out my blush. Nothing more. “Even if Ididgo along with this ludicrous plan, what about my dragons? You really expect me to just give you one?”

“Not me,” Fenn said. “My kingdom. And I’ll be safely escorting you to my court, introducing you as my bride, deceiving my peopleand my family, all to give you your precious stardust. Not to mention I’ll be bringing you to the only person who has connections to the Dream Mage. I will need quite a big favor in return for all this, Aurelia.”

My gaze slid to Mal, who still stood behind Fenn, his golden eyes fixed on me as if asking if I was all right. A hard lump formed in my throat, and I found it hard to breathe.

Not Mal. I couldn’t give him up. Icouldn’t.

“Which one?” My voice was strained, and I couldn’t take my eyes off my dragon.

Fenn’s eyes softened. “We need whichever dragon has the strongest fire.”

My chest swelled with relief, though I hated myself for it. I loved all my dragons. I really did.

But Mal held my heart.

“That would be Jorey,” I said. “His silverfire is the most powerful flame.”

Fenn’s eyebrows lifted, and the corners of his mouth tilted up in a genuine smile. Not a teasing smile or an arrogant smirk, but a soft, gentle smile that seemed to transform his features into someone else.

Into someone who resembled that stranger I met in the woods.

“Good thing he already seems quite fond of me, then,” Fenn said.

I nodded once. Yes, I could do this. Joreydidlike Fenn. He could be happy with him. I straightened, squaring my shoulders. “You need to swear that you’ll protect him. No chains. No cages. No whips.”

Fenn’s expression sobered. “Yes, of course. I will ensure he is protected and looked after.”

I chewed on my lower lip, my stomach in knots. This still didn’t feel right.

“Aurelia.”

Fenn had his hands on my shoulders, forcing my eyes to meet his. “I will swear by my blood if I have to. Not one of your dragons will be hurt. Not on my watch.”

I exhaled, my breath shaky. Tears blurred my vision, and damn, but I didn’t want to cry in front of this man. I blinked rapidly toclear the fog in my gaze, trying to focus on mundane things to distract myself. The lush leaves of the trees. The smell of hydrangeas around us. The shuffling and groaning of Kade as she shifted her position, making the ground rumble.

“All right,” I said at last. “Let’s strike our bargain.”

Fenn released my shoulders and took a step away from me. “Very well. In blood?”

I nodded. Verbal bargains were binding, but I wasn’t taking any chances. Blood was the only guarantee. A bargain in blood was the most dangerous kind of magic because it resulted in instant death if broken.

Technically, a verbal bargain also resulted in death. But it was slower, and it began with a burst of pain in the mind, slowly increasing with every passing second.

If Fenn betrayed me, I didn’t want him to have any time to save himself. I wanted him to die immediately.

Fenn drew his short sword from his belt and offered it to me, but I shook my head.

“I’ll use my own.” I pulled it from the sheath at my thigh.

Fenn dragged his blade along his palm, and I did the same. Then, we clasped hands together. Already, warmth bloomed along our hands, making my skin tingle.

“I’ll go first,” Fenn offered. He took a deep breath and said in a steady voice, “I, Fennick Mardion of the Court of Midnight, swear by my blood to uphold this bargain with Aurelia Perdis of the Summer Court. I swear to escort her to my kingdom under the pretense of our royal engagement, to protect her to the best of my ability, and to supply her with as much stardust as she needs. I swear to assist her in locating the Dream Mage. I also swear to do everything in my power to protect the dragons of the Summer Court, and to ensure that whichever dragon is given to my kingdom lives the most comfortable life my people can offer.”

I mentally sifted through his words, ensuring they were to my liking, before I said my part. “I, Aurelia Perdis of the Summer Court, swear by my blood to uphold this bargain with Fennick Mardion of the Court of Midnight. I swear to travel with him to his kingdom as his intended and to play the part of his future bride… at least until I acquire the stardust I need or the Dream Mage islocated. I—I vow to gift the Midnight Court one of my dragons…” I stopped to clear my throat, finding it difficult to breathe again. “…to gift the Midnight Court the dragon with the strongest flame, only after his part of the bargain is fulfilled.”

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