Chapter 27
Aurelion
As we move into the small chamber, I have to turn my snout away from Yalina so the rich sweetness of her scent doesn’t overtake me. My control is fraying every moment I’m near to her without securing my claim on her. The best way to do that would be to plant my youngling in her womb.
I thought I had secured my prize last night in giving her the mating bite, but even now she fights me—as well she should.
A dragon’s mate should be nothing if not fierce.
I rushed my best manoeuvre, got carried away in the heat of my desire for her and bound myself to her whether she likes it or not.
My life now relies on me accomplishing this bargain.
Just the memory of last night—of her in my arms—is enough to rouse my cock to half-hardness. My mouth floods with mating venom even now, and I have to close my eyes and turn my face toward Noreth to draw a deep breath in to try to clear my senses. Even that does surprisingly little.
I should have stolen her away last night. Taken her back to my homeland to perform the ceremony and make her mine. Why is she still resisting me?
Vahn is talking, and I fix my attention on him as he gives me a meaningful look down the table. “Light of the Sun, you saw my note. I’m certain you can be in no doubt as to what we are meeting about. The city’s wells are dry. We are out of options. I believe we must act.”
All the faces of the men and women sitting at the table turn to Yalina. “I think you are right, Master Vahn. But what shall we do? The last time we met, all our options had been exhausted save restrictions. It seems to me that restrictions and rationing are now our only hope.”
Master Vahn turns to me as if we had practiced this scene ahead of time. We almost did. I blink, remembering the plan.
“I believe there is one more option, Highness. Why not ask our neighbors for assistance?”
I shift my wings as their heads turn and they focus on me instead. “May I speak, Light of the Sun?”
Next to me, Noreth narrows his eyes but remains silent. Poor fool. He still refuses to accept he’s lost this contest.
Yalina tips her head to the side. “Go ahead.”
“Tarquenor can be of assistance to you if you wish it.”
“At what price?”
A fair question. In a region like ours, fresh water is never free. It is the most hotly contested commodity for all the city states along the eastern coastline. “Light of the Sun, you dishonor me. It would be my gift to you. My wedding gift.”
Noreth lets out a grunt, and Yalina draws back then seems to compose herself. All of them are watching us, waiting with bated breath to hear her response.
“A generous gift that is difficult for me to refuse.” Her words are perfectly polite, as is her tone, but there is something clipped to the way she pronounces them that tells me she is not happy about my method of securing my victory here.
A shame. I do not like to displease her, but the prize is worth the cost. She will forgive me eventually. I will make sure of that too.
“Indeed. Perhaps you should not refuse, Light of the Sun,” Master Vahn adds when the tension in the room thickens.
“Then let us not delay,” I say quickly. “I have a convoy of wagons awaiting my instructions for delivery as we speak. I can deliver you enough to see Vathira through until our wedding. After that we’ll begin construction on my second wedding gift.”
“Almost as if you planned this,” mutters Noreth.
I turn to him with a civil smile. He would do better to concede gracefully, but I know enough of him to know that is not how this will play out.
“I do not know how your people manage things. Perhaps you have magic I am not aware of.” I leave just enough of a pause here to remind Yalina of his deception at the duel.
“But dragons do not control the weather. We do, however, know how to construct mighty dams and transport vast quantities of water.”
“Construct dams?” Yalina speaks, and my attention snaps back to her.
“Ah, yes, rhkash. My brother King Tharael built a mighty dam on the river Fynister which allows us to control the annual floods and ensure they cause no damage to our fields and infrastructure. It would be a simple thing to build a channel between rivers, diverting some of the Fynister’s water to the Vaal.
That should ensure Vathira’s continued survival even if water levels in Vaal never recover. ”
“Generous. So generous. We are lucky to have such a wise and noble friend.”
It is a battle to keep my expression smooth at Vahn’s obsequious display. Rather than respond, I incline my head and keep my gaze locked on Yalina.
“I see.”
I am about to ask her to pick a day on which we are to be married when Noreth butts in. “May I speak, Light of the Sun?”
She looks to him, surprised. “Of course.”
Of course? Why has he not seen himself out? And why are we giving him the time of day any longer?
He gives me a suspiciously charming smile, and immediately my hackles raise.
“You are very kind to take such good care of your neighboring kingdom, but I have to ask how on earth you had all that water ready at the perfect moment. Of course you are right that no one can plan a drought, but where did all your water come from?”
I stare at him. “I told you, the river Fynister flows as strong as ever. Tarquenor has more than enough.”
He frowns. “How can that be so?”
I let out a little huff of annoyance. Why is he still talking, and how dare he question me like this? “When levels get low, we release more water from the dam. It is not complicated.”
“How do we know the dam is not cutting off Vathira’s water?” He turns to Yalina, arrogant in his stupidity. “They have dammed the Vaal River. That is why Vathira has no water.”
A growl rises in my throat but before I can roar at him to shut his mouth, Vahn jumps to his feet. “Light of the Sun, we must be cautious. We would not want our guest to think we are dismissing such a generous gift or casting suspicion where none deserves to lie.”
I puff out my chest. “Exactly. What right have you to question me?”
Noreth meets my glare. “The solha asked us for our council. I have given mine. I do not trust you.”
“You only say that because you do not like to lose, but you must face the truth. She has chosen me.”
Yalina’s cold statement cuts through the rising heat of my temper. “I have chosen no one yet.”
We both turn to her like scolded boys.
She waits until she is satisfied she has the attention of the whole room before speaking again. “However, I will marry you, Aurelion—”
Noreth opens his mouth to protest, but Yalina lifts a finger to silence him.
“—I will marry Aurelion and gratefully accept his gift of water after I have seen this dam for myself. Noreth is right, there is something strange about the entire thing.”
“You cannot just visit the Fynister Dam,” I splutter. “The site is a highly guarded area. My brother would never allow it.”
“Your brother need never know. I need go only to the border on the Pamarna Ridge. From there we will be able to see the whole valley and the source of the Vaal. We will travel simply, without the trappings of state. Just you and me…”
I find I am not so opposed to this plan.
“...and Noreth and a few servants.”
“Noreth!” I leap to my feet, nearly knocking over my chair behind me. “Why would we take him?”
“Because until I see with my own eyes, I have not chosen. And if I have not chosen, the competition continues until I say it is over.”
I ball my hands into fists, but I see her logic.
She wants something to hold over me until she is sure I am not being underhanded.
I knew she would be angry, I just did not foresee her outwitting me.
Still, I have nothing to hide. I might be taking advantage of the situation, but I have as much power to cause a drought as I have to hold back the night.
I sigh. “Very well. Let us make plans and be gone so we can return all the sooner. I doubt any of us will enjoy this bride moon, rhkash. I shall give you another one after we are wed.”