Page 37 of Enchanted Crown
I cocked my head. “Yet you are here. What do you want?”
He opened his mouth. Shut it. Opened it again. “I know she is here.”
I said nothing.
“And I understand and know why the queen has called off any more healings for the dragons now. Because Oziel, Morana, and Jagen look suspicious as hell right about now.”
I noted the order he put them in but still said nothing.
“I came to ask, beg, crawl, whatever you would like me to do, to heal me.”
I again said nothing, this time from surprise.
“I do not know if it was Oziel, Morana, or Jagen. All haveproper motivations, and at times, both Morana and Jagen seem suspicious. But I do know that if I had my dragon form back, I could help run patrols. Help end this.”
In yet again an absence of my words, Zaire blurted out, “You still don’t think it could be me, do you?”
“And do you think it wasme?”
He let out a sigh. “You have been gone for both of the last two attacks. So no. I do not think it is you. Also, why would you kill the very people you just worked to heal?”
My eyes flicked to Dex’s and back. “So it is possible for you to think logically.”
“Keir.Please.”
I let out a sigh that seemed to come from my very bones. “I am not your king. Ask Esta, but not tonight. She needs to rest.”
I moved to head back in, but he stopped me by reaching for me.
Dex moved in to stop him from touching me and he dropped it right away. “Look, I know we have had our differences, but we both want what is best for Dra Skor. Someone is trying to get Esta off the throne, and I want to help prevent that. You heard her. She needs her army back.”
I hated to admit that he had a point. “So talk to her tomorrow. One of the others can heal you if she gives the okay.”
He shook his head. “It has to be you.”
“Why?” Dex blurted out. “That seems suspicious as hell itself.”
Zaire held up his hands in surrender before dropping them. “I want it to be you. You are more powerful.” He dipped his chin toward Dex. “No offense.” He looked me directly in the eyes. “And I want only the best.”
“Why are you even asking me this?” I snapped.
“Because I know you have sway with her. She respects what you think.”
Dex huffed. “So you want him to manipulate her into changingyou back? Right after she gave the order for no more dragon healings?”
“No.” Zaire shook his head. “Look, I am sorry for how rude I was to you when you got here. I see now that you are the reason we are healing. The reason Dra Skor has a chance to build back stronger. Dra Skor needs you. And Esta needs her army. Ask anyone in Dra Skor, Malachi and I are the best generals she has. Having both of us back will send a strong message.”
And Zaire wanted his dragon form back. His confidence back. “I will speak with her about it in the morning. It will be up to her if she trusts you enough to heal you given everything that has just happened.”
Zaire leaned in and lowered his voice. “Just heal me and then send me to my lair or my rooms. No one even has to know I have been healed.”
Another spy. A spy in the form of my biggest enemy since stepping foot in Dra Skor?
Zaire put out his hand for me to shake. “Thank you for listening to me, Prince Keiran.”
He even used my royal title. I shook my head as I took his hand. “No guarantees, Zaire. I’m still not entirely sure I trust you.”
He gave me a nod and a tight smile. “Man to man, I would expect nothing less.”
