The Flame King’s Queen (Fire and Desire #3)

Chapter 13

13

Zabriel

T here’s a workshop in one of the castle’s courtyards, and it’s there I take my future queen one sunny afternoon. My hands are covering her eyes as we enter, and she’s smiling and holding my wrists so she doesn’t trip, though I would never let her fall.

“Zabriel, what is it you want to show me?”

“You’ll see.” I nod for the craftsperson to remove the cloth covering Isavelle’s surprise. As soon as we’re alone, I take my hands away from her eyes.

Isavelle gasps in pleasure at the sight before her. Standing on sawdust-strewn wooden boards is a gleaming gold-painted throne, ornately carved with dragon scales and dragon wings to match my own. While mine has red stones embedded, hers has turquoise ones to match her dragon.

“I didn’t know what to expect. It’s beautiful,” she breathes. Carefully, she touches the precious stones. “It feels far too grand for me.”

I pick Isavelle up in my arms and place her on the throne, and I go down on my knees before her. Like this, we’re almost eye to eye. “How proud I am. How beautiful you are. We haven’t yet defeated Emmeric, but I won’t keep our lives on hold a moment longer. Your family and the villagers of western Maledin are safe. The south has been recaptured. All my lands are my own again. Will you do me the greatest honor of becoming my queen?”

“Yes, Zabriel, of course I will,” Isavelle says with shining eyes. “You make me feel like your queen every day.”

I groan and press a kiss to her lips. “I can’t wait to show you off to all of Maledin on your coronation day.”

Isavelle rests her hands on my shoulders. “I think I will feel so shy with everyone’s eyes on me during the coronation. I remember how full the Great Hall was and how many people crowded within the castle walls to see you in your golden armor.”

“I was looking for only one face in the crowd. Only you mattered to me that day.”

“Will it be like a wedding day?” she asks.

I consider this. “We are already mated, but I like the idea of human marriages as you once described them to me. What do you think about promising ourselves to each other by the Font of First Flames on the morning of your coronation? Those we are closest to can be present, and we can ask the Temple Crone to lead the ceremony.”

“That sounds wonderful,” she says, stroking my face. “I love to see you smiling again.”

“I have been reminding myself that a bad-tempered king can’t serve his people well. I was disappointed after the battle to secure the southern border. Emmeric was so close, and he slipped through our fingers. I thought that meant we failed, but the people of Maledin have shown me differently. I have seen that they feel safer, so I will embrace that until the signs show that it’s time to finish Emmeric off once and for all.”

“Things feel more hopeful,” she agrees. “Ravenna returning to us has been the latest happy surprise.”

I heard all about Ravenna’s surprise arrival the previous day. “Is she well?”

“She looks well and says she is unharmed. I don’t know if she speaks the truth, but it’s all she wants me to know.” Her turquoise eyes are bright with anger. “I trust that she is able to protect herself.”

“I have no doubt that she is a formidable witch, but we will protect her as well. She’s not alone in the world anymore.”

“It pleases me that Kane has no more leverage over us or Ravenna. If he does show up, he won’t be able to blackmail her into returning with him.”

Which means that the only option left if Kane wants his mate back is brute strength and dragonfire. I hope the same thought has occurred to Stesha and he’s ensuring that the flare is prepared for an attack by Auryn and the other wild dragons. Auryn’s sisters looked vicious.

On the other side of the workshop, Sundra is having a piece of armor repaired. She smiles and comes over to us, greeting my mate with a respectful nod.

“Lady Isavelle, I’m very much looking forward to your coronation day. Ma’len , as you are to take a queen, have you thought about hosting the Dragon Games? I was a little girl the last time the games were held, and I have been itching to compete in them ever since.” Her smile is hopeful as she looks at me.

I had not thought about the Dragon Games. The last time they were held was when my parents were married, so of course I was not around to see them. I heard many tales of them over the years from the previous generation of dragonriders.

I get to my feet, energy and excitement bursting through me. “The Dragon Games? By the stars, you are right. We must host the biggest, most glorious Dragon Games that Maledin has ever seen. A royal wedding wouldn’t be complete without them.”

Sundra is practically bouncing on her toes as she hears this. “May I tell the other riders that we will celebrate the new queen with the Dragon Games? It’s been our dearest hope ever since you were mated.”

I should probably consult with my inner circle, but I’m tired of the endless meetings and weighing pros and cons. This celebration belongs to Isavelle and me. “What do you think, sha’lenla ?”

“What are the Dragon Games?” she asks.

“They are an Old Maledin tradition.” Instantly I regret my choice of words as Isavelle tenses. The last time an Old Maledin tradition was brought back, she was nearly killed, I was sent mad by my rut, and we almost didn’t get to spend her first true heat together.

“A harmless one,” I hasten to assure her. “The games are held right here in the capital, and no one will attempt to separate us.”

“Well,” Sundra says, scratching the side of her cheek. “From what I remember, I wouldn’t say that they’re harmless…” She smiles at Isavelle. “But they are great fun, and they bring all the people of Maledin together.”

“There are risks every time dragons are competitive, but the events are about fun and extravagant displays more than anything else,” I assure my mate. “There will be events and games and a great deal of food and drink. The Dragon Games last many days.”

Isavelle smiles hesitantly. “It sounds like a carnival, and I always loved carnivals. Do people from the villages and towns come to watch?”

“Oh, yes,” Sundra tells her eagerly. “Many people travel from far and wide to watch the Dragon Games, and they camp in the fields outside the city. All were welcomed when the last king crowned his queen.”

“And they will be welcomed again,” I say.

Isavelle’s face brightens. “Then I think it sounds like a wonderful idea.”

That’s all the approval I need. I turn to Sundra. “Tell the dragonriders that we will host the grandest Dragon Games that Maledin has ever seen.”

“Yes, Ma’len ,” Sundra says, with the biggest smile on her face, and she hurries out of the workshop to spread the good news.

“I will look forward to my coronation day now that I know a wonderful carnival will follow it. Dad and Anise will enjoy it. Especially Anise. She always loved games and competitions. Will you and Scourge take part?”

“Take part? We will best all the other dragons and win the golden laurels that will be bestowed by the queen.”

My queen looks thoughtful, and then she smiles at me. “Tell me, during the Dragon Games, does the queen also compete?”

Stesha’s sour face and dark glower greets me as soon as I step into the courtyard by the Great Hall that evening. I try to sidestep him, but he moves in front of me and blocks my way.

“Zabriel. I’m delighted that I was the very last to know that my dragons are going to be competing in the Dragon Games while all of Maledin gawks at them. Silly, dangerous games while we are still at war, and when we most need our dragons uninjured and fit. What an inspired idea.”

I grin and lightly punch Stesha on the arm as I move around him. “I’m glad you and I are in agreement, dragonmaster.”

There’s a huffy silence, and then Stesha follows me. “You might have consulted with me, or at least told me that you’d decided to hold Dragon Games to celebrate your queen’s coronation. I felt like a total fool in front of our dragon army. Everyone knew about it except me.”

“I couldn’t contain the excitement. Word spread before I could speak with you.”

When Isavelle asked me if the queen herself could compete, I had to admit that she could if she wanted to, but I pointed out that it wasn’t necessary, especially seeing as she’s pregnant. She might prefer being the guest of honor than a more active role, but she replied that Esmeral would bite me if she was told she had to sit out. In that case, we must choose some safe events for smaller dragons and pregnant queens.

“I hope you will help me plan the events.”

Stesha chews on this for a moment, and then finally concedes. “I suppose I must, or the games will be a farce from beginning to end.”

“You are right, dragonmaster. I’m grateful for your help. Do you remember the games the last time they were held?”

“Barely. I was a child of three. There were crowds in the city, and it was too noisy.” His angry expression fades. “But I remember the dragons. They were magnificent, and it was the first time I saw Nilak.”

I feel the urge to needle Stesha a little more, and I ask casually, “Do you think Nilak will be excited by the prospect of the Dragon Games? Unless she’s feeling too old and tired for the competition.”

If Stesha’s hair could stand on end, it would. In tones of outrage, he says, “My dragon is in her prime, and you can be sure that we will not only be competing, but we’ll be winning each and every event. You and Scourge better be ready, Zabriel. I hope you will be competing.”

“Wild dragons couldn’t keep me from the games.”

A self-satisfied smile curves his lips. “Good. Nilak and I wouldn’t feel the same satisfaction about winning the event without a half-decent opponent.”

“You’re so certain that you will win?” I counter.

“To win, one must have strength, experience, and cunning. Sadly, you and Scourge possess only one of three.”

With that, Stesha turns away from me and heads down another corridor, walking tall as if the winner’s golden laurels are already resting atop his arrogant head.

It’s going to be that kind of Dragon Games, is it? Well, bring it on.

As the weather heats up, so does excitement for the Dragon Games. It feels wonderful to plan events instead of battles, and to see posters on the castle walls proclaiming the games rather than denouncing my mate as an evil witch with her claws in the king.

With help from the Temple Mothers, I consult the surviving records detailing previous Dragon Games, as well as speak with older dragonriders who remember the events from my mother’s coronation. I want to stand by my promise to hold the biggest games that the country has ever seen. We have much to celebrate in Maledin, and so far, we’ve had little opportunity to do it.

I’m told that the best games always had a variety of events that test which dragons are the fastest, strongest, bravest, cleverest, steadiest, most agile, breathe the hottest dragonfire, and test the strongest bonds between rider and dragon.

Isavelle finds me at the dragongrounds one afternoon, silently “talking” my plans through with Scourge. He’s particularly interested in the events that will test his strength, bravery, and our bond, which is certainly where we will excel, but winning the event is by no means a foregone conclusion. I’ve tried to be as fair as possible and include events where other dragons have the advantage over Scourge. Apparently, many believed my father stacked the last games with events that he was likely to win, and plenty of people were bitter about that.

“I thought I would find you here,” Isavelle says, slipping under my arm and hugging my waist. “Are you and Scourge planning for the Dragon Games?”

I kiss my mate and palm her swelling belly. Gods, she feels delightful to touch, and even more so now that she’s pregnant. “We are. I was just telling him about all the different events that we’re planning for the games.”

“Which ones should Esmeral and I enter?” she asks eagerly.

I hear a friendly trill behind me as Esmeral perks up at the sound of her name.

I hesitate. “Are you sure that you wish to enter? The Dragon Games are exhausting, and you’re carrying our child. No one will think less of their queen for being an observer.”

She pokes me in the side. “In my village, women work right up until the moment they go into labor. We can’t afford to sigh and take to our beds when there are farms to run and mouths to feed. I remember Ma climbing apple trees to help with the harvest and plowing a field with a pair of oxen while she carried my brother and sister. She was knee-deep in mud searching for a lost hen when her labor pains began.”

“And I commend her for all that, but, Isavelle, you are not required to work a farm or search for lost hens when you’re the king’s beautiful and beloved Omega.”

Isavelle smiles at me, but I can see that her determination is no less than a moment ago. “Yes, but I’m also a witch, and most people have seen me only as a witch. What better way to show people I am also a dragonriding queen? Esmeral and I will do that together.”

By my side, I feel Esmeral furiously butting her head against my shoulder. They’ve cornered me, the little menaces.

“How many events are there? My dragon and I wish to prepare if we are going up against Scourge, Nilak, and all the other dragons.”

I drag a hand down my face, imagining little Esmeral up against bad-tempered Nilak. “There are events that require agility and cunning, and you and Esmeral will have the advantage there, I promise you that.”