Page 7 of Crown of Slumber

“I don’t see why I must choose a husbandnow.Surely, it can wait.”

“Surely not. The instant you take the throne, you will be targeted as a young and naive monarch. You need a strong and capable king to rule by your side, and a kingdom to ally with. I am sad to say we have few allies because…” She trailed off, her lips clamping together.

“Because of what?” I prompted, my eyes narrowing.

“Because of how sensitive you are about the dragons.”

My head reared back. “You would prefer we trade the dragonslike… likecattle? They will be weaponized! Enslaved. Tortured for sport!”

Mother sighed and waved a gloved hand. “You don’t know that. And it’s careless of you to assume as much without even being willing to negotiate about it. What if there is a court out there who would treat the dragons with as much care and kindness as you? But you refuse to see it because you won’t even entertain the idea, Aurelia. You must think of our kingdom and our people as you do the dragons. They are not your subjects. And when you take the throne, you will have an entire population to consider.”

“I know that,” I snapped.

“Do you?” Mother stepped closer, her blue eyes flaring wide. “Your father did not make this decision lightly, Aurelia. But if you prove to us you are not ready, then we will delay the abdication. Show me you will sacrifice for this kingdom.”

“Sacrifice the dragons?” I asked, my heart plummeting to my stomach. If Mother forced me to choose between the dragons and the throne, I wasn’t sure what I would say.

Mother sighed. “No. I’m not asking you to give them up. But please be more open. It is natural for other kingdoms to be curious about them. Surely, there is no harm in showing them to your suitors? You did say that a dragon is the best judge of character. Perhaps they can help you make your decision.” A small smile lit her face.

I opened my mouth to object, but before I could, a figure bounded toward us, her tight blond curls bouncing with the movement. “I saw Sir Levin leaving in a carriage,” said Gigi, my younger sister. “That must have been less than five minutes. A record for you, Aurie!”

“Hush, Giselle,” Mother chastened. “It’s no laughing matter.”

“It is abitof a laughing matter,” Gigi protested. “The man looked like a walrus.”

I snorted, then covered my mouth as Gigi’s giggles rang in the hallway. Mother swatted at her arm, but a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

“And what does your ideal suitor look like, Gigi?” I questioned. She was sixteen, and it wouldn’t be long before she would be looking for a match, too.

Gigi stroked her chin in contemplation. “Well, he must be handsome. If he looks anything like a walrus, I will turn him away at once. He must also have a sense of adventure. And he must be kind to animals.”

I gestured to Gigi with a pointed look at my mother. “I have similar requirements. Although it isn’t necessary for him to be handsome.”

Gigi elbowed me. “But it would be nice, yes?”

Ignoring her, I turned to Mother. “Sir Levin was complaining of our pine trees and refused my offer to go riding. And I saw the greed in his eyes when he asked of the dragons. It was not out of curiosity or kindness. It was purely for his own gain.”

Mother cast her gaze to the ceiling as if praying for strength. “And you are using your sister’s judgment as your defense?”

“I resent the implication that my judgment cannot be trusted,” Gigi said with a huff.

“I am merely stating that regardless of my… overprotective tendencies toward the dragons, Sir Levin wasnotan ideal match. But I promise that, in the future, I will try to be more open to others.” I nodded to reassure myself I could do this.

When the next suitor asked about the dragons, I would not downright refuse. I would entertain the idea.

If only for a moment.

Desperate to escape after Sir Levin’s departure, I decided to forego wearing my riding leathers. It wouldn’t be as comfortable, but at least I was wearing a simple cotton dress instead of a stiff ballgown. It had been days since I’d taken Mal riding, and I knew he was restless.

He wasn’t the only one.

I was making my way to the entrance doors when I rounded a corner and ran straight into Father. He grunted, and I stumbled backward, barely catching myself before falling over. With a sniff, he adjusted his royal blue tunic, surveying me with irritation brimming in his dark eyes.

“I know I taught you better than that, Aurelia,” he said. “Do watch where you’re going.”

“Pardon me, Father.” I bowed my head submissively.

He sighed. “Why are you in such a hurry? Aren’t you meeting a suitor today?”

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