Chapter 2
Chapter Two
NISSIA
“You’re late!”
Ari is furious with me, and for good reason.
I showed up dirty and mussed after my stint in the training yard, and we’re already running out of time before the banquet.
At least we did a trial run of what I’ll wear tonight and how she’ll do my hair and makeup, so it should be faster for Ari to get me presentable.
She throws me into the bathtub, keeping my hair tied up on top of my head and covered because there’s no time to wash, dry, and style it.
She scrubs me all over and then drags me out again, helping me dry off before she demands I get into the dress I’m supposed to be wearing.
Father had it ordered special for the occasion, which seemed foolish to me.
It’s not like the dragon king will turn around and walk out if I’m not up to snuff.
He’s already bought me with the treaty. He has no choice, and neither do I.
I try not to move too much as Ari pins my hair back, then sets to softening my skin with powder and hiding my eyes behind black kohl. I am so much taller that while I'm sitting, she barely leans down much to do my makeup. Her movements are practiced and fluid, and so familiar.
“You’re coming with me, aren’t you?” I ask.
“For the millionth time,” Ari grumbles, “of course I’m going with you. They have a horse for me and half my trunk is packed.”
I’m asking again because I am wracked by guilt over her decision, and I want to give her the chance to change her mind. Ari will have to leave everything behind to come along to the dragon’s country, including her own father, and yet she’s treated it like it was never a question.
Of course I’m going with you. How many times has she said it, and I still don’t believe it? At least I’m not going into this alone, but Ari and I will only have each other. There are a few humans among the dragons, or so I’ve heard, but not many.
“I’m sorry,” I murmur as she helps me up to my feet. There, she produces the shining leather shoes I’ll be wearing tonight. “That you have to give up everything.”
“Stop it.” She has on a familiar look of concentration, one eye closed, as she laces them. “I made this decision on my own. I’m not letting you go alone, Niss.”
My eyes get misty, but I pledge not to ruin the makeup that Ari just finished. Then it’s time to go.
I leave my changing room, and one of my father’s guards takes up position beside me. We weave down corridor after corridor, toward the ballroom, and my inkling of dread grows teeth.
What will the dragon king look like? How will he speak? Will he be kind to me, or cruel?
They’re all questions I’ve asked myself a million times, but now they’re coming faster, rapid fire, and I have no defense. My pulse quickens as we reach the threshold and step through into the ballroom.
The high ceilings here give me vertigo as we enter, and my guard leads me around the main table toward my seat. The dragon king doesn’t appear to be here yet.
My father nods as I sit beside him, and on the other side is my older brother, Roylan.
My father’s dressed in his most regal finery, which I’ve always thought looks awful silly with its high, frilly collar, but he reveres tradition above all else.
Roylan takes after our mother, but isn’t much taller, and wears the same gaudy outfit as our father.
I think whoever the dragons are, they will be making fun of us behind our backs.
Then there’s clanking at the entryway, and the guards part to allow someone through.
The dragon king is not the tallest among his soldiers, nor the most grandly dressed, but it’s obvious which one he is.
He carries a commanding presence as he walks at the front, and the long line of his mouth along his snout is clearly turned down.
His scaly skin is a bright green-blue, and he has a pointed snout with visible fangs.
White horns circle the crown of his head, and his brows are ridged and severe.
Yellow, reptilian eyes peer out from under them.
His body is slender but strong, and his long, elegant hands end in claws.
He strides confidently into the room, pausing to survey all the humans gathered before he turns his attention to our table.
It’s clear which seat is his, across from my father.
He makes his way there, in no rush at all, and pulls out the chair.
The dragon who I’ve gathered is his personal guard stands behind him—a much larger male, with bigger horns on his head and brownish-red scales.
It’s the dragon from the courtyard, the one I cheered on.
He’s dressed so much nicer than the king that you would think their roles were reversed.
But I can tell by the disgusted look on the blue dragon’s face as he gazes upon me that he’s my future husband.
VIZARIOS
It’s all rather horrifying, really, that I’ll be chained to this woman now—to this pathetic, tiny, weak, and thin-skinned creature for the rest of my life.
What’s even worse is Ragnakor being here, seeing what I’m seeing. This is my future.
Her face is flat, with only a bump for a nose and swells for cheeks.
Wide eyes dot the expanse, with furry, expressive brows above them.
Most of her curly black hair is pulled up behind her head in a tiara, while some ringlets are left to fall around her face.
Her dress is pleasing enough to the eye, in a powder blue that sets off her deep brown skin, and her bountiful breasts are visible at the bodice.
Hmm. I was aware of human anatomy before, and I have seen humans in passing, but when it’s put on display like this, I’m repulsed. She’s so different. And the very worst part is that I’m going to have to put my cock inside her.
My face must have scrunched up at the thought because the human king asks, “Does the meal displease you, King Vizarios?”
We’ve been eating in silence for some time while I take stock of the royalty. They’ve gone out of their way to serve us meals they think we’ll like, from beef roast cooked extra bloody to rare lamb. But the food tastes like ash in my mouth, knowing what this all leads to.
The human king is a ridiculous-looking man, his son somewhat less so. They both appear to be pompous royals who have lived behind walls all their lives, and I have no reason to believe my new bride won’t also be a spoiled child.
“Thank you for making the trip to visit us,” the human king says, and I think he’s been talking for a while now, but I’ve tuned him out. “I hope you’ll take good care of my daughter.”
I don’t answer, but I do grunt in what I hope is affirmation.
I will do what I need to do, what needs to be done for my kingdom, but nothing more.
I will sow my young in her belly, and then we will have no further use for one another.
She can gallivant about as she likes, being queen, and sleep with whomever in the castle she pleases. It is no business of mine after that.
I doubt my advisor will like it, as my queen’s unfaithfulness may make me appear weak, but that’s a price I’m willing to pay so I don’t have to maintain a relationship with her.
That’s when I notice that the princess, whose name I can’t remember now, has been watching me intently, pushing her asparagus around her plate. She has her head cocked as I chew up my lamb.
“How long is the journey?” she asks me pointedly and directly, like this is her second time asking.
“It will take us two weeks.” Hopefully faster. “It is a long way across the plains toward Selvumrrest.”
The princess studies me. “Do you play cards, King Vizarios?”
Her father turns to her, bristling. “This is not the kind of thing you ask in polite company,” he says sharply. “Princesses do not play cards.”
“I’m simply trying to figure out how we’ll pass the time.”
I cross my arms. “I spend my time riding and enjoying the scenery. I hate to tell you that you’ll be alone in your carriage.”
I intend it as a barb, but the princess perks up instead.
“Oh, then I’ll ride, too. I’ve never ridden north, and I bet it’s beautiful.”
I shrug, though I am irritated to learn she might demand conversation with me. I had hoped to leave her in the carriage and not have to deal with her.
“It’s no concern of mine how you travel.”
But clearly it’s of concern to her father, who chastises her for even suggesting it, and then turns the conversation toward matters of trade.
We have much in the way of iron, silver, and lumber, while the humans specialize in farming and animal husbandry.
I hate to admit that our trade agreements are necessary, though dull to discuss in depth.
My advisor, Syzari, takes over the conversation, allowing me to drift while the talking goes on.
Ragnakor gives me a chastising look as I lean on one hand, sticking my fork in a rather large piece of meat before shoving it into my mouth.
My fangs tear through the beef, mincing it to bits before I swallow.
The princess is watching me again, clearly as uninterested in the discussion as I am. I ignore her, focusing on a point on the wall while I eat instead.
“...the ceremony tomorrow,” the king is saying.
I interrupt him. “We will have the wedding ceremony in Selvumrrest.”
His brow furrows. “It is tradition here, when a member of the royal family marries, to have a wedding—”
“I will not participate in such a tiresome thing.” Though I’m not quite finished eating, I am very finished with this conversation, so I rise to my feet. Syzari tries to pull me back down, but I resist her. She can stay and continue talking politics if she wants, but I’m tired.
The princess has no visible response to this except for a twitch in her eye. Perhaps she is going blind young.
“But—” the king begins.
“That’s all.” I wave him off as I put down my napkin and step away from my chair. “We will leave in the morning tomorrow and execute the ceremony in Selvumrrest, among my people. You can come or not. I cannot delay being away from my kingdom any longer.”
The human king nods as if he understands, but he’s clearly unhappy about it. I gesture to Ragnakor to follow me, and though he tries to mask it, I can see the disapproval on his brutish face. Together, we stride out of the room, the eyes of the royalty and their courtiers following me as I depart.
“An interesting first impression to leave your new queen,” Ragnakor says as we head down the hallways toward our rooms.
“She will learn some time or another.” I wave a hand dismissively. “This is a political arrangement, nothing more.”
My captain of the guard nods in understanding, but I can still feel his judgment.
He has no right to judge me, as he is the one for whose sake my heart is hardened against her.