Chapter 10
Ten
Their pastries tasted better than they looked. Thankfully, as long as sugar was involved, children didn’t care about appearances.
Jasyn and Esi had four large baskets filled to the brim with goodies. Mych and Bron helped lug them as they distributed items to the children and families. As soon as the children saw them coming, they stopped their games and sprinted over.
Jasyn was now down on one knee, smiling so much, his cheeks had begun to ache. The children said their thank yous but didn’t bow or treat him like a prince. He was just another person to them.
Throughout the whole afternoon, Esi was at his side. She constantly checked on him without even using a word, her eyes communicating her concern and comfort, soothing him.
Even when there was a gaggle of children, Jasyn remained calm. He breathed through it and distracted himself with passing out more of the rolls. Esi had been right. He was most at ease when he was preoccupied with doing something.
It made conversations with adults easier too.
And when he began to feel a rush of panic, Esi was there to take his place.
She spoke about the beauty of this court and the royal family, how generous and kind they had been in the short time she had been staying with them.
What stood out most of all: she expressed her excitement about seeing Jasyn thrive in the Undertaking and marrying him.
Though the kiss was reassurance enough that their feelings were mutual, her words were an added layer.
When everyone had their treats, Jasyn packed up a few for his parents, who were returning tonight, just in time for their party in two days’ time.
Esi came up to him, and he could see how relaxed she appeared.
“I think this was successful.”
“Very.” He nodded. “I have you to thank.” He wiped at her cheek where there was a small smattering of glaze. He brought his finger to his mouth and licked it clean. He loved the way her eyes followed his movements.
She cleared her throat. “I am told I must head to the seamstress, a final fitting for my dress for the party.”
“You’re not coming back?” He hated how weak he sounded.
“I’ll be back,” she promised. “By tomorrow morning, I’ll be back.”
He kicked a pebble around. “I never asked if you would be my honored guest at the party.”
“I didn’t realize there was a choice.”
“You value freedom,” he said sincerely. “Of course you can make a choice.”
She didn’t hesitate as she replied, “I’ll be your honored guest.”
There was so much relief that came with her statement. Even in this short time together, he couldn’t remember his life without her. She completed him in a way he didn’t realize.
“Then I should let you go to make sure you have something to wear.”
She inched closer and pressed a swift kiss to his cheek. “Good night, Jasyn. Today was lovely.”
Then, she was running off with her guard. He was mesmerized at how breathtaking she was, silhouetted against the setting sun. He wished he could follow her.
When she was far enough away, Jasyn lightly stroked his cheek. As he turned around, Mych clapped and whistled.
“Look at you go,” he teased. “Winning over her heart so quickly.”
“Don’t be an ass.”
“I’m being sincere.” Mych bumped his shoulder against Jasyn’s. “You both look happy. I feared you would never allow yourself to open up to someone, with the amount of death you’ve faced.”
“Are you happy?” Jasyn asked, wanting to turn the subject away from him.
There were times Jasyn thought that, just like him, Mych was lonely.
He had left his family right as he turned eighteen to join the royal guard.
As the youngest member, he had been at the bottom of the hierarchy, but he had quickly moved up the ranks to Jasyn’s personal one because of his compassion.
During one of Jasyn’s panicked moments, Mych had been there to bring him down with care.
“I would be happier if Bron wasn’t a stubborn brat.”
“Oh? Why do you say that?”
The two started trekking back to the castle. It had been a long day, and Jasyn’s back ached, but he wouldn’t trade the pain for the sun itself. It meant he had filled his day with Esi.
“I think Bron holds some affection for Lady Esi.”
“I had come to the same conclusion.” Jasyn sighed, unsure of what that meant for him and Esi. Did she and Bron ever act on anything before? It wouldn’t matter to him what she did in the past, but…did any feelings linger?
“It’s going to make working together once you’re both married very complicated.” Mych snapped Jasyn out of his unraveling doubt.
“What’s your solution?”
“Turn that affection in my direction.”
Jasyn stopped in his tracks. “You’re joking.”
“Of course not, Jasyn. It’s the perfect solution. I’m attractive. He’s attractive. We would make the most attractive couple, even beating the future king and queen.”
Jasyn threw his head back and laughed. “Perhaps you’re right. Bron could use someone as easygoing as you.”
“Because he always acts like there is a stick up his ass?”
“Exactly.”
They neared the castle, and he saw a carriage parked there. His parents.
A guard was lifting his father into his wheelchair when they reached them.
His mother was right behind him, a warm smile on her face.
Jasyn wondered if his mother was relieved now that his father would no longer be putting himself in danger, though those fears were shifted towards Jasyn, no doubt.
He wished his mother could live without that burden weighing her.
“You’re home,” Jasyn said as he wrapped his arms around his mother, holding her extra tight. He passed over the basket with the rolls, and his mother immediately took a bite with a satisfied sigh.
“Jasyn is in love,” Mych said cheekily.
His parents snapped their attention to him.
“Truly?” his father’s gruff voice asked as he rolled up closer. “I knew you two would be a power match, but it is a gift from Slone if it's a love match too.”
“Lady Esi is caring. She has taught me things about myself I didn’t even know,” Jasyn said.
“You are in love,” his mother said, her excitement palpable as she squeezed his shoulders. Her dark curls were adorned with gold decorations that framed her face beautifully.
“We should pop open a bottle of sparkling wine,” his father announced.
“Let’s not celebrate too early. I have an Undertaking to get through first.”
“Even more of a reason to open the alcohol,” Mych muttered under his breath as they entered the glass castle.
The appointment with the seamstress wasn’t for another hour, but the way Bron yanked her onward, one would think they were running late.
The lively streets were busy with townspeople decorating for the party.
Flags and ribbons hung from tree branches; flower beds in front of windows were being watered.
Children ran around with chalk in their hands, coloring the streets with their drawings.
It made Iskra smile, but that quickly disappeared.
“You have explaining to do,” Bron huffed. “You and that owner of yours, Kryth.” He said the minister’s name like it was a curse.
“He’s not my owner.” The words were fruitless. No matter how much she wished they were true, they weren’t.
“He’s the minister, and you’re nothing but his pet.”
Iskra flinched at the words, like they were a blow to the gut.
They were at the shop, and this time, Bron went in through the back, Iskra right behind him. Esi was studying the cages closely, reaching toward the other dragons. They nipped at her finger, and instead of swiping her hand away, she laughed lightly.
“That tickles,” she said quietly. Kryth raised a brow at her and shook his head. She was an enigma, but she turned to Bron and asked, “Why did you bring us all here?”
“Start explaining,” Bron ordered both Kryth and Iskra.
Kryth snorted. His appearance was as the minister, and Iskra thought she hated that more than his shop owner form. Iskra crossed her arms, her eyes on the empty cage.
Esi slapped her guard gently on his shoulder.
“Don’t be rude,” Esi chastised. “We still need them.”
Everyone in the room stilled.
Esi eyed each of them but stopped on Iskra. “This isn’t over just because you transform into a dragon.”
“How about that she lied to us? Not just about her being a dragon, but about Jasyn,” Bron pushed.
Although Iskra’s eyes were entirely focused on the two bickering, she could feel Kryth’s stern gaze on her.
She heard the sizzle of fire, and then the air began to fill with smoke.
Kryth didn’t say anything as he smoked from his pipe, as if waiting to see how this conversation would turn without his input.
“It was an omission of truth,” Esi reasoned as she braided her hair and tied it with a white ribbon.
“What have you learned that had to remain such a secret?” Kryth asked.
“Nothing,” Iskra snapped.
“His power,” Esi replied.
“His light,” Bron corrected.
Kryth bounced his attention between the three of them then took another puff. As he blew out the smoke, he looked at Iskra.
“An interesting revelation. He should be an easy kill if he has no flame.”
“How does that work?” Esi asked. “I mean, don’t dragons have fire within them? So how does fire kill them?”
“He doesn’t mean an easy kill for me,” Iskra explained. “He will be easily killed by the others competing. The only way to kill a dragon is to pierce their heart.”
Esi furrowed her brows, as if Iskra’s destiny finally occurred to her. “Meaning he will be killing you… I had no idea the dragons were shifters this whole time.”
Iskra shrugged. No one did, but her whole existence had been leading to that moment. “We should discuss if we still plan to move forward with all this.” Iskra gestured at the air between them.
“Yes.” Esi nodded.
“No,” Bron urged, his arms extended toward Esi, as if he wanted to shake her. “No, Esi. It’s too dangerous. You should be the one at the party anyways.”
“I don’t want to lose any time with Dominik,” Esi pleaded.
“He’s right,” Iskra jumped in. “You should be at the party. It goes through the night, and I can’t be there during that.”
“Not even once?” That question was directed to Kryth. “You clearly have some magic within those bottles you house in front of your shop to transform yourself as you please.”
Kryth coughed into his arm. “Why would I allow that?”
“So there is a way?” Esi’s voice had pitched with excitement.
“I ask again: why would I do that?”
“Because the Gods love a show.”
Kryth laughed through his nose, and the sound made goosebumps rise on Iskra’s skin.
“That is true,” Kryth said. “They have shown me in my dreams that they have been delighting in the drama we’ve orchestrated.”
Iskra didn’t fail to notice that whenever Kryth spoke, Bron averted his gaze.
“See?” Esi said.
“One night,” Kryth warned.
Iskra whipped her gaze to Kryth. “How?”
But her question was drowned out by Esi’s cheers and claps. Bron looked like he wanted to chew Kryth’s head off.
“Oh, you’ll have the loveliest time. And the dress? Jasyn will fall to his knees,” Esi chirped. Esi linked her arm with Bron’s, and they began heading to the door.
Iskra turned to Kryth and repeated her question. “How?”
“The Gods work in mysterious ways. Just like I could change your hair and my own appearance, I could temporarily pause your shifting for a night. I don’t recommend doing it often, since it is painful, and it forces one to seek relaxing effects from other addictive ways,” Kryth puffed his pipe to exaggerate.
“But you’ll be dead in a few weeks anyways. ”
Emotions rushed through the surface. Iskra would have a night with Jasyn. She couldn’t believe it. Her body began to flame at just the thought of them being together for that long. And then she remembered—she wasn’t actually his bride. Esi was.
Iskra ran out the shop, thankful Kryth hadn’t stopped her, though the bluing sky indicated her time was limited.
“Esi!” she called, and the lady stopped and turned.
She let go of Bron, but he didn’t stray far.
“I—thank you. I’m sorry for all the lies.”
Esi grabbed her shoulder. “No apologies needed. I get to spend a night with Dominik.”
“You love him?” Iskra asked.
“Very much,” she responded, and there was sadness in her eyes. “I would give it all up to be with him, but I understand my responsibility to the court.”
“How did you know you loved him?”
Esi smiled, and it was the most beautiful thing.
“Love isn’t complicated. It was a sensation in my chest at first. Then, it was the realization of how much I would risk to spend any second I could with him.
It was taking that chance with you to continue fostering that love until our time ran out.
It was understanding that the best thing I can do once I marry Jasyn is to let Dominik go so he could find love again, even if it wasn’t with me. ”
Iskra wiped the tears in her eyes. “I kissed him,” she admitted.
“Jasyn?” Esi asked, so simply, so nonchalantly.
Iskra nodded. “I’m sorry. I understand if that is too far and you change your mind.”
But Esi shook her head. “You deserve to experience that all-consuming love too. Fuck him if you must.”
Iskra opened and closed her mouth at the vulgarity. “Are you not mad?”
“Honestly, I pity you. You have spent your life locked up with no opportunity to feel. Take this opportunity, grasp it, let it squeeze every emotion from your heart.” Esi tightened her hand to a fist. “Jasyn and I will never be a love-match. Plus, I’m not being so innocent right now either.
” Her eyes twinkled, and Iskra looked over Esi’s shoulders to where Bron’s eyes were downcast.
“I don’t know if we’ll go that far, but it has been one of the most freeing sensations to fall for this man. I appreciate you giving this to me.”
Esi winked. “Women are not meant for cages. We are meant to soar.”