Page 14 of Three Scorched Kingdoms

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ARIES

We talk and eat for another hour. As much as I want to discuss battle strategy and next steps in this war, I allow Leo and Mag to dominate much of the conversation, which means it’s more lighthearted than informative. My mother talks to Paige as much as she does me, but none of those from the library mention where we came from, and we aren’t asked any more about how we came to be together.

I don’t wish to lie, exactly, but the stress in both Leo and my mother is evident. I won’t burden them with news of more war and battle than they’re already dealing with.

“Are you a princess in your homeland?” my mother asks Paige over dessert.

Paige stifles a laugh. “Ah, no.”

“She had a leadership position,” I cut in.

“Very good.” This pleases my mother, although if she were to stop and wonder if that means Paige had been employed, she might not be quite so happy. “And you do want children?”

“Mother, please. The war is our focus now,” I remind her.

“I do want children one day, yes,” Paige says.

I’m surprised she doesn’t blush again, but instead, she seems self-assured, which satisfies my dragon greatly. Especially thinking about the undertaking of impregnating her.

Paige squirms slightly, squeezing her legs together, and I can’t stop smiling to myself at her arousal.

Thankfully, my mother being a fae means she most likely can’t also smell that. However, Leo and Blossom both can, and I hope they are too distracted to notice.

“Is your family back in your world?” my mother continues.

I tense, wondering if I should interrupt the conversation, but Paige answers before I can figure out what to say.

“My father passed away recently. The rest of my family is here,” she says, gesturing to everyone present with a wave of her hand.

My mother smiles at them all. “In that case, you are our family too.”

Conversation shifts as the gnomes are caught feeding Kitty under the table. Blossom fusses while Leo laughs. Bingo growls, probably out of jealousy, so Mag tosses him a large bone from the center platter.

Amid the hum of voices, my mother stands.

“Walk with me?” she asks, gesturing toward the doors that lead to the small balcony outside.

I nod and touch Paige’s shoulder. “I’ll be right back.”

She pats my hand. “I’ll be fine here,” she assures me.

I offer my mother my arm and escort her outside into the night. It’s a relief, the fresh air on my face. We can’t see much beyond the castle walls from our vantage point, and my dragon yearns to be set free to fly high above the clouds.

My mother says nothing, her hands gripping the banister.

“I know she isn’t who you would have picked—” I begin.

“Aries.” She clucks her tongue. “Claiming your mate was never about finding someone that I approve of or not.” She turnsto me with approval in her eyes. “The choice has always been yours, and she’s more than enough.”

“Then what’s wrong? And don’t tell me it’s nothing. I can see it all over your face tonight.”

She sighs. “While your father lived, we had peace. After that, I gave everything I could to hold onto that peace. It is my greatest disappointment that I could not…” She swallows hard before going on. “While I hope that you and Paige will restore that peace, for now, Astronia needs a much different queen than I can offer them. It does my heart well to hear she is a warrior.”

I warm at the compliment, but it’s not enough to distract me from whatever she’s holding back. “But,” I prompt.

“But the council may feel differently.”

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