Page 106 of Exquisite Monster
KATALENA
Dragons approached.
I chewed my lower lip as my stomach flipped.
My mates had distracted me brilliantly, but I couldn’t help but be half terrified, half hopeful. If three of Viria’s kingdoms didn’t want any part of this war, it would weaken Andaros. But it didn’t change the fact that the Elders wanted all humans dead.
Sirrus’s lips brushed my bare shoulder. “Don’t forget to breathe, Princess.”
“I’ll try.”
My shoulders were bare in this dress, and I didn’t mind. It was beautiful. All the clothes Erryn had delivered were beautiful, and there was something intangible that clicked into place when you could dress in confidence. I looked the part, even if it wasn’t wholly my part to play anymore.
Idroal was a few paces away, but our other companions were elsewhere. We weren’t the ones in danger here. The visiting royals were. There was no need to overwhelm them with a show of force.
The dragons that slowly descended towards where we waited—on the shore directly opposite Syrsi—reminded me of the dragon Endre had killed on the beach at Skalisméra. Scales that weren’t shiny but dull, like camouflaged rocks. If they were the same dragons watching the barrier, I understood why. They would be nearly invisible to someone who didn’t know where to look.
The three dragons landed heavily, shaking the ground. Endre angled his body in front of mine while the others shifted slightly as well. Even now, there was a chance these dragons couldn’t be trusted. My mates were tense with alert energy waiting to spring.
As soon as the humans dismounted, I recognized the princess of Denao and who I assumed was the prince of Trutis. He’d been the one who sat next to their king and spoke to me. The third man was so blond his hair was nearly white. He must be the prince of Zastea.
They walked toward us together, close enough that I could feel their familiarity. Romantic? I couldn’t tell. But the woman walked close enough to them that I did not doubt they had known each other longer than this venture.
Silence reigned when they stopped a few feet away from us. Who was supposed to start speaking first? There wasn’t any protocol here.
A subtlenudgeof encouragement from Zovai made me clear mythroat. “When I spoke in Caelora I did not expect anyone to seek us out.”
“Anyone who was not either intrigued or horrified by what you said should reevaluate their priorities,” the princess said before inclining her head. “We thank you for meeting with us.” The princes bowed their heads as well.
“Forgive me,” I said. “I was not kept well informed about the royal houses in the south.”
The blond man spoke first. “I am Dalas, of Zastea. This is Isaelle of Denao and Arris of Trutis. I will dispense with the long names and titles.”
“Thank you,” I said with a laugh. “Do you speak for your kingdoms?”
Arris shook his head. “No. Not in the way you might hope. We have no power to declare war or promise you aid. Not on the scale you would wish. The kings do not know we are here.”
My eyebrows rose. What state were their courts in if they’d fled in secret?
“Then why are you here?” Sirrus crossed my arms. “Why put yourself at risk for nothing?”
The three of them shared a look, and Isaelle took a small step forward. “Is it true? The human lands can be healed?”
Endre nodded. “It is.”
She blew out a breath. “That is why we come. War is not our way. For any of our kingdoms. But we have been left with little choice. More land dies every year along with those who live on it. War sounds reasonable when you have nothing left to lose. And these lands…”
I recognized the way she looked around us. Everything was lush and green. It still shocked me when I stopped to think about it.
“If there is a way to heal the lands, our courts will happily retreat from any battle. And we do not have to speak for our courts to know it.”
“What did Andaros promise you?”
“That we would want for nothing,” Dalas said. “That there would be nearly infinite space for anyone who had the bravery to take it.”
I smiled. “And what did he make you promise him?”
“Fealty.” Arris’s voice was dark. “Which is why the alliance is tenuous at best. But how were we to say no when Craisos has food to offer and the weapons we needed to make us whole?”
