Chapter Twenty
Hand in hand, the Dragon King and I strolled through the streets of Two Rivers, smiling at everyone who called out a greeting to us.
The celebration sprawled through the city, the roads clogged with massive metal grills, tables laden with barrels of beverages, banquets of fresh fruit and vegetables, and portable dining sets.
A few knights trailed behind us as we navigated the celebration, moving around people dancing to lively music.
I munched happily on a grilled vegetable skewer while the King sipped an ale.
It was perfect.
“Dance with me.” The Dragon King handed his mug to Sir Lohawk and then took my skewer to hand off to Sir Neriver.
I looked at the people moving with bouncy steps. “I don't know this dance.”
“Neither do I, but I'm the King. I can dance however I want.” With a grin, he wove us in among the dancers, leading me along the circular tide.
I laughed as he spun me, my wings lifting.
The night couldn't get any better. With a star-filled sky overhead and the Dragon King holding me, I knew this was a moment I'd never forget.
My heart sped up as my feet learned the movements from the King, following him as I would forever. If the Gods allowed.
My joy dropped an inch with the thought that, despite all his certainty, I might not be the King's mate.
How odd to go from fearing his touch to craving it so badly that I knew my life would be over if I couldn't have him forever.
Immortality made forever real. I had always dreaded marriage for that very reason.
How could I commit myself to one man for that long?
It was terrifying. But with Raven, the terror came from the opposite. Being without him would destroy me.
It was baffling that I had reached this point so quickly. A few weeks. That was all. And there I was, over the evil of Bara and clutching at the paradise that the King offered. He was everything now. No other man would do.
Raventar's expression stuttered and then settled into awe. He pulled me closer and swung us. “You look so happy, my foundling.”
“I am!” I cried to the sky. “I'm happy!” It felt almost defiant, as if I were shouting at Bara's ghost.
Chuckling, the King bent his head to kiss my neck, and then drew me away from the dancing.
Smoothly, he shifted us into a stroll, his knights there a second later.
My skewer and his mug were returned to us, and we carried on as we had before, although I may have pressed a little closer to him while my heartbeat slowed.
“Your Majesty.” Turinoca stepped into our path with Tara. They bowed to us, and Turinoca held out a leather-wrapped parcel. “We've brought you a gift.”
“That's not necessary.” The Dragon King held up his hand. “You are my subjects. It's my duty to protect you. Rescuing your wife was merely righting a wrong.”
“Still, please accept this. It's nothing. A small offering of gratitude.” He lifted it again.
“Thank you.” The King took it and unwrapped the leather.
He inhaled sharply at what was revealed—a silver eagle with turquoise eyes lay on the leather, a thick silver chain coiled around it.
About the size of my thumb, it was a heavy pendant and crafted with exquisite detail.
“It's beautiful.” He lifted the eagle by its chain and handed the leather to one of his guards.
Without hesitation, he secured it around his neck.
“I'm honored. I know these pieces are precious to your people.”
“I crafted this for you myself, and I'm the one who is honored that you are wearing it.” Turinoca bowed.
“My father is Chief of the Lamatoka, Your Majesty.
I will tell him what you've done for us. We will make an offering to the Sky Gods in your name and pray that your reign will be long and peaceful.”
“That is an even greater gift.” The King inclined his head. “Please join us.” He motioned forward.
Turinoca settled on the King's left while Tara moved to walk on my right.
As we strolled, the two men talked about the Lamatoka tribe and why Turinoca had brought his bride to Two Rivers.
There was a gathering of the local human tribes to encourage goodwill among them.
I tuned them out, more interested in Tara.
I sensed that Turinoca cared for her, but I wanted to be sure that she was happy with him.
“Are you well?” I whispered to her. “Truly?”
Tara bent her head. “I am better.”
“Tara, if you don't want to be with him, tell me. I'll talk to the King. He can help you.”
She jerked her head upright. “With Turinoca?”
“Yes. Is he good to you? You don't look happy.”
“We've been married only a few months. He says he loves me, but I'm an alliance to him.”
“Then do you—”
“No, don't. I'm happy enough. He's a good man, and this marriage is important to my people. He is not the reason for my melancholy.”
“I see.” I squeezed her hand. “And I understand. All I can say is that it will get easier. If you can, let him help you heal. You need to remember that the act they forced on you is supposed to be beautiful.”
She nodded.
“Are you sure you want to be with him?”
“Yes. He's kind to me, and in time, I think I will come to love him.”
I grimaced. Lelurra didn't arrange marriages. We believed in love matches only. But I understood why some races still practiced them.
“Don't worry about me, Eliel.” Tara offered me a smile that I knew cost her.
“I wish you a happy life full of love, Tara.” As I spoke, I realized that I pitied her. I had endured more, and I knew she would heal, but she'd never have what I would have with Raven. It saddened me. But at least Nahel didn't have her. She was safe.
Which reminded me. “Your Majesty?”
The Dragon King shifted his attention from Turinoca to me. “Yes?”
“Will you be questioning the Okon tonight?”
Turinoca tensed. “I would like to be of assistance, if I may.”
Tara flinched, and I realized what those men might say to her husband. I squeezed Raven's hand urgently. He looked from my widened eyes to Tara's terrified expression, and then to her husband.
“I'm sorry, Turinoca, but I can't allow that. I may have to use some . . . rigorous techniques, and although I'm sure I can rely on your discretion, I can't have any witnesses.”
Turinoca looked disappointed but also approving. “I understand, Your Majesty. And I'm glad you do not shy away from violence.”
“I am a Dragon,” he said simply.
Turinoca grinned. “Then I will rest assured that the men who took my wife will be brought to justice.”
“They will be dead before morning, Turinoca. But it will be a long night for them. I promise you.”
Turinoca stopped to bow deeply to the King. The Dragon King patted his shoulder. I looked at Tara and rolled my eyes. Yes, it was good that our men wanted to avenge us, but they didn't understand that they also stole something from us when they did so. That justice should belong to Tara.
As we began walking again, Tara patted my arm and whispered, “I had my vengeance. Those men hurt more than I do. I don't begrudge the King his piece of them.”
I looked at her and saw the healing already setting in. Smiling, I nodded. “You're right and very wise. Your people should have allowed you a choice in your husband.”
Tara shrugged. “Who is to say that my choice would be better than Turinoca? By his side, I will rule the Lamatoka one day. I can make a difference for both of our tribes. My voice will be heard. I wouldn't have that without him.”
I blinked and thought of Raven's words, how he worried that I wanted him for what he could offer me, not for himself. But for Tara and Turinoca, it worked. They accepted that they were strangers bound by duty and still hoped for more. In fact, I believed they already had it.
“I don't think you should discount his vows of love,” I whispered back. “He seems to genuinely care for you.”
Tara glanced across me at her husband and smiled. “Maybe you're right. Maybe losing me has summoned love in him.”
I considered that. “When the King was injured recently, I was faced with the possibility of his death. It didn't summon love from me, but rather made me confront what I felt for him.”
The Dragon King's hand tightened on my hip. My gaze shot to his. I'd forgotten that Dragon hearing was excellent. Our whispering did nothing to stop him from overhearing our conversation. Only Turinoca remained in the dark.
Raventar bent his head and whispered in my ear, “Remind me to thank Nahel for wounding me . . . right before I kill him.”