Page 39 of Draekora

Thirteen

The Meyarin royal family was staring atAlex with unveiled surprise. But then, tohersurprise, Astophe and Niida rose to their feet and bowed their heads in a clear sign of respect, with Roka and Aven mirroring the gesture.

Baffled, Alex wasn’t sure what to think, not until the king spoke.

“Great Aes Daega,” he said in his deep voice, speaking the Meyarin tongue. “You honour us with your presence.”

“High King of Meya,” Lady Mystique greeted, no longer speaking her foreign, lilting language, but instead using Meyarin words. “Thank you for your welcome. I shall not intrude upon you for long, I merely wish to return someone who I believe, for now, belongs with you.”

Lady Mystique nudged Alex forward and she stumbled up a step. Both Aven and Roka were studying her closely, their faces openly intrigued.

“This is Aeylia,” Lady Mystique said, concealing her real name. “She was abandoned in the forest as a babe and grew up amongst humans, only recently finding herself bonded to a draekon, as you can see.”

Alex ignored the woman’s false abandonment claims and just clenched her teeth at the reminder of her circus-freak skin.

“I believe she may have had a somewhat…traumaticepisode which was witnessed by the young princes earlier today,” Lady Mystique continued, nodding towards Roka and Aven. “Please be assured that won’t happen again—she was merely overwhelmed by her unexpected surroundings after having been through a recent personal upheaval.”

Alex coughed lightly into her hand. It was either that or snort with incredulity at the overly simplified description of recent events.

“Due to her upbringing away from Meya and its denizens, Aeylia has had little experience with your kind,” Lady Mystique said. “I believe it is time to remedy that.”

King Astophe looked at Alex thoughtfully. “What would you have us do, Aes Daega? You need only ask and it shall be done.”

Alex was amazed by what she was hearing. Who, exactly, was Lady Mystique, and how did she command such respect from both Meyarins and Draekorans alike?

“She has no knowledge of what it means to be one of you,” Lady Mystique said, clueing Alex in to where she was going with all this. “She needs to be taught—your language, your history, your physical prowess. I wish to leave her in your hands so that you might teach her how to be who she issupposedto be. It is time for her to embrace the Meyarin blood in her veins.”

Goose bumps rose on Alex’s skin and she fought the urge to rub her arms.

“We will consider it a privilege to take the youngling in,” Queen Niida said, surprising Alex with the soft, compassionate look she offered her. With only that one glance, it was clear this queen was nothing like the cold, harsh Meyarin of Alex’s time. “My sons will see to her education personally, making sure she receives the best instruction available.”

Alex felt her blood freeze. Roka, she was okay with, but Aven? How could she possibly handle spending any length of time with the future murderer without giving away how much she detested him? As it was, she struggled just to look in his direction, let alone fathom the idea oflearningfrom him.

“That is very kind of you, Queen Niida,” Lady Mystique said. “I’m certain Aeylia will be a quick study. As soon as she is competent, she will leave Meya and return to Draekora to be with the draekon she is bound to—the Heir of the Sky Kingdom.”

Alex had to admit, that was a pretty cool title for Xira’s position. It didn’t even matter that the old woman lied about Alex’s eventual return to Draekora. She of all people understood why Lady Mystique didn’t explain to the Meyarin royals where Alex would truly be returning to. Or rather,when.

“She’s bound to the Draekoranheir?” Aven asked, his tone full of wonder. Alex tensed automatically at the sound of his smooth voice, but she quickly forced her body to relax. “That’s a powerful claim. No wonder she shines as brightly as she does.”

“I’m sure our sons will be adept teachers,” King Astophe cut in, spearing his youngest son with a look Alex couldn’t interpret. “Across all areas of her training.”

“Of that I have no doubt,” Lady Mystique said with a wrinkled, knowing smile. “In fact, I can think of no one better to instruct her.”

Queen Niida clapped her hands together and beamed at Alex—actuallybeamedat her. “Then it’s settled. Aeylia shall stay with us while she learns how to be—well, one of us, I guess we can say.” She appeared flustered for a moment at her clumsy statement but then sat up straighter. “Roka? Aven? Will you kindly show Aeylia to her room? It’s nearly dinnertime and I’m sure she would like to freshen up before joining us.”

Alex’s stomach lurched at the idea of enduringanothermeal with the Meyarin monarchs—not to mention at the thought of being alone with Aven and Roka so soon. She sent a pleading glance to Lady Mystique, but the old woman only smiled at her in encouragement and, with a token farewell to the king and queen, the great Aes Daega disappeared in a blinding flash of light, leaving Alex on her own in what she truly believed to be a den of wolves—immortal, deadly wolves.

Despite her trepidation, Alex willed herself into a state of pseudo-calmness when Roka and Aven gestured for her to follow, silently trailing after them as they led the way from the throne room.

“Are you all right,LasaAeylia?” Roka asked as they walked up a Myrox and gold-lined spiral staircase.

Surprised by his unexpected use of the common tongue, Alex almost missed a step. His pronunciation wasn’t quite as eloquent as the Roka she knew of the future and he had a slightly lilting accent, but she appreciated his effort more than she could say.

“We were all concerned when you fell from the tower,” he continued, “even after you were rescued by your draekon.”

“I’m fine, Ro—uh, Your Highness,” she replied quietly, almost forgetting that she technically didn’t know him yet and should therefore remain formal. “Thank you for asking.”

He bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement of her gratitude.

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