Page 75 of Claimed By the Dragon King

“You cannot judge an entire race by the actions of only a few,” Inara states. “If you do not help us, Florin may well fall. If it does, then Ithylian could be next. Eventually, the Wraiths will come for your people, King Aurdyn, and I believe you know this.”

“I have considered it, yes.” But I do not think it is a certainty as she seems to believe, and I will not risk the safety of my people or my T’kara by involving them in a conflict that does not directly affect us.

We lost so many during the Last Great War, and I will not allow such a thing to happen under my rule. “My great-grandfather trusted the words of a human king long ago, and it led to his doom, nearly costing my people everything. My kind were hunted mercilessly, and it almost caused our end.

“We survived only because we made our homes in the Ice Mountains, where most others would perish. So, you will understand why I hesitate to repeat the same mistakes as my ancestor.”

“And what of Ithylian?” Varys asks, reminding of the aid the Dark Elves gave my people in the past. “If you refuse to help the humans: to fight for Florin if they stand against the Wraiths… My people have helped you before. If I call upon you, will you honor the history between us?”

I narrow my eyes. “You, I will help. The humans, I will not.”

“Fine,” he replies in a clipped tone, obviously unsatisfied by my answer. “Then, you’d best hope the humans do not fall to the Wraiths, because if they do, onlywewill be left to face them, when there could have been more.”

“I will take that chance,” I reply darkly. “If this is the only reason you wished to meet, I have said what I came to say.”

I’m eager to leave and return to my T’kara, but as I dart another glance at Varys’s human queen I recognize an opportunity to obtain insight from another Otherworldly being on how to convince a human to become my mate.

I meet his gaze evenly. “But I would speak with you alone a moment before I go.”

He dips his chin and then turns to his queen. “I will return shortly.”

I’m shocked when she makes it a point to kiss him before he leaves with me. Dark Elves are often considered rather cold in their interactions with others, and yet… it is promising to see the obvious affection his human mate has for him.

It seems he has not only taken her hand, he has won her heart as well. And I am eager to learn how he did this.

I follow him toward the ruined castle. Even in its ruined and crumbling state, it is still an impressive structure. It is a shame they never restored it after the last Great War. Now they make their homes so deep in their mountain, I wonder how often they ever see the sunlight. “Your ancestors created things of not only beauty but strength.” I smooth a hand over the gray stone wall and tiny sparks of energy ripple across my skin. “Even the magic of these stones still lingers. If I remember correctly, this was the last building left standing, sheltering your citizens during the last Great War.”

“That is true,” he replies, a hint of sadness in his tone.

“If anything had been left of my great-grandfather’s kingdom, we never would have left,” I say soberly. “We would have rebuilt to honor the memory of those lost and to preserve the culture of our people.”

Varys cocks his head to the side to regard me. “What is it you are so cryptically trying to tell me?”

“You should not hide inside the mountain. Your people are not Orcs. If you stay too long in that place, you could end up buried in it, like they were.”

He flinches slightly at the reminder of the Orc stronghold of Gryndyn. Unlike our home in the Ice Mountains, the Orcs lived like Varys’s people do now. They had no easy access to the outside; not even any windows.

When the Orcs were overrun by their enemies and their only means of escaping the mountain were cut off. Nearly half of their people died, and the survivors are now scattered throughout the seven kingdoms, struggling to rebuild.

Varys studies the ruins before him with an assessing gaze. “Perhaps you are right.”

My head snaps to his in shock. In all the years I’ve known him, I can count less than a handful of times he has ever conceded this to me.

“But that is not what you wanted to speak to me about, is it?” Varys says pointedly. “So, tell me what it is you wish to discuss.”

As reluctant as I am to ask a Dark Elf for help, I do not have a choice. Varys is my last hope. “Your human mate… How do I win a human’s heart?”

“Win?” He arches a brow. “I thought Dragons were conquerors.”

I huff out a laugh. “My female is strong of will and exceedingly stubborn. She will not be conquered.”

“Yourfemale?”

He is right. She isn’t mine. Not yet. I run a hand roughly through my hair, shaking my head in frustration. “She is my T’kara—my fated one. I saved her, yet she will not yield to me. And I do not understand why.”

“That is where you are going wrong, Aurdyn.” Amusement dances behind Varys’s eyes. “You cannot treat her as you would another Dragon. You must woo a human to win her heart, not fight her until she yields it to you… because I guarantee you, she never will. They are stronger than they appear.”

“I know this,” I grumble. “But how do I…wooher?”

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