Chapter 10 #3
“Not exactly.” Rylana felt encouraged that Killaynia seemed somewhat reasonable—she was, at least, not hostile—and said, “Look. I don’t want to create a rift between Jildarin and his family.
I never even wanted— I mean, I didn’t plan to get involved with a dragon.
That’s a crazy idea. It’s not like we could ever be…
I mean, as he’s informed me many times, it’s not logical for a human and a dragon to be together.
” Some of her ongoing frustration with the matter—and the fact that all these dragons wanted her dead for being a distraction—made the words burble out faster and with more passion than she’d intended.
“He doesn’t believe in recreational mating, and it’s not like I could give him babies or hatchlings or whatever.
Even if I could with magic or something, it’s not what I’m looking for.
Despite my father’s most recent concern, I have no plans to make babies to carry on the family shipping dynasty. ”
Two hells, that was far more than she’d intended to share with a stranger. Especially a dragon stranger. She was glad the people waiting nearby had loaded, and the ferry was departing, heading back to the city.
“You are drawn to him because he’s a powerful dragon and has allure.
” Killaynia shrugged, not appearing moved by Rylana’s impassioned sharing.
“There is nothing surprising about that. What is more surprising is that he is drawn to you.” She shrugged again.
“But I accept that it has occurred and that you, for whatever perplexing reason, have some sway over him.”
“I’m not sure how much sway I have.” Rylana didn’t want Jildarin’s family to think they could talk her into trying to manipulate him in any way. That would feel like a betrayal.
“Much, I believe.” Killaynia’s eyes narrowed. “I believe that if he mated with the Sunclaw females and perhaps a few others when they flew into the area, they could forgive you your existence.
“Forgive me my existence?”
Killaynia might seem more reasonable than the others, but that was one of the more condescending things a dragon had said to Rylana.
The mating suggestion didn’t surprise her—Zilek had told Jildarin to do that when she’d been eavesdropping on their conversation—but it was hard not to find it all offensive.
“Right now, there’s a lot of outrage that Jildarin is allowing a female human to share his lair, mate with him, and ride on his back. It’s so unheard of among our kind that it has prompted wild speculation about how you’ve gained power over him. Even dragons in other clans are speaking of it.”
Rylana groaned. There was little she wanted less in her life than to be the subject of dragon gossip.
“I believe the potion hypothesis was born out of that,” Killaynia added.
“The female dragons need an explanation for Jildarin’s mystifying behavior.
How could he prefer your company over theirs?
Certainly, they believe, if he were not ensorcelled, he would be eager to sate himself with them.
” She bared her teeth. Was that a smile?
Or a threatening gesture? Her eyes looked more amused than threatening, but, if shape-shifting wasn’t familiar to her, who knew how much control she had over her elven body?
“Certainly,” Rylana murmured.
“Tell him to mate with them. As powerful as our mother is, even she cannot control females who are not from our clan, and she’s not currently of a mood to try to stop those who want you dead, regardless.
To save your life, tell him to mate with them.
Soon. Then they’ll care less about what goes on in his lair at night. ”
Her message delivered, Killaynia stepped back and spread her arms. Magic rippled in the air around her, and the pillar blasted indignant gongs as she shifted forms on the dock.
Indifferent, the golden dragon sprang into the air and flew off across the lake. Maybe she wanted more glowing eels before departing.
“You might want to consider dating someone less complicated,” Sylin observed blandly.
“No kidding. Any suggestions?” Rylana shook her head at the joke. She hadn’t meant to develop feelings for Jildarin, but now that she had them—and he’d admitted that he cared for her—she couldn’t imagine walking away from him.
“Captain Tassani is handsome with elegantly pointed ears, and he likes you.”
“Nicely pointed ears excite you, not me.” Rylana started up the road toward Avandar Castle.
“Humans are strange.”
“Maybe I’ll suggest to Zilek that he shape-shift into an elf the next time he sees you. An elf with particularly elegant ear points.”
“I’m not sure why I continue to spend time with you.”
“You’re entertained by the fallout from my unwise decision to fall in love with a dragon?”
“The development of your relationship is somewhat intriguing to watch from a safe distance.”
“A safe distance? You’ve been standing five feet away from me when a lot of these aggressive dragons have shown up.”
“I can spring away quickly if need be. Why do you think I run so many miles each day?”
“So you can keep stuffing scones into your mouth.”
“I do love those.”