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'The return of the dragons is a myth,' said Veau, 'nothing more.'

'How can you think that?' she said, rearing back from her brother.

'Do you think every fairy tale is true?' he asked. 'Will the sea serpents return to wreck the ships of the damned, and the rivers turn to flame? Will the sky turn grey when the clocks turn black, and the fish throw themselves on the land? Will the north turn green as the ash rains down, when the dragons cast their shadows?'

'Maybe not all of it …' said Fyia, defensively. 'Not every song verse speaks the truth.'

Rouel coughed.

'Then why are you so certain the dragons will return?' said Veau, his features set in a smug arrangement designed to enrage her.

'Because I can feel them,' she hissed. Her brother was the only being capable of bringing out her inner child with quite such aplomb.

'What do you mean?' he said, his features losing their teasing edge.

Fyia knew Veau was open to most things, including the return of the dragons. He was pushing her buttons on purpose, because that's what brothers did, and she was reacting like a dream because she was tired and cranky, and preoccupied by thoughts of men with shaved heads.

But Veau had always fixated on her magic, magic that, like his, no one in their old lives had understood. If she could feel the dragons, her magic was surely at play, and that had piqued his interest.

'When I sleep, I feel their scales under my fingers. Sometimes they're angry, and I have to flee their fire, sometimes sad, seeking comfort. They don't feel like normal dreams.'

'It never happens when you're awake?'

'Sometimes, when I daydream.'

'Is it like with your Cruaxee?'

'No. I can control my Cruaxee. I can't control the dragons. The one time I tried, they nearly roasted me alive.'

'In your dream.'

'Yes, but it's visceral.' She dropped her voice, so only Veau could hear. 'I once woke after getting too close to the flames in my dream to find my skin red and blistered.'

'I've heard of dream walking,' said Veau, 'but never like that … never in a way that could hurt.'

Fyia shrugged and reached for a cardamon swirl. 'Maybe seeing the dragon egg will help.'

'They're going to show you?'

'Axus said they would if I could stay awake through last night's party.'

Veau stared at her a moment, then grabbed a swirl of his own.

They ate, Fyia mostly silent as Adigos quizzed Veau about his life with the Fae'ch. Veau was tight-lipped, saying only that he was learning a lot, his magic had calmed, and he was glad he'd found his true place in the world.

Fyia was dying to ask him about Essa, about what was still between them. What could be, now Veau lived here? But she knew he wouldn't tell her. Even before he'd renounced his title and come to live with the Fae'ch, Veau's relationship with Essa had been off limits.

They finished breakfast, and Axus came to collect them. 'The dragon egg awaits, Your Majesty,' said Axus.

Fyia sent him a flat look, trying to determine if he used her title out of respect, or if he was mocking her. Axus returned it with a smile that had Adigos stepping protectively to her side. Veau cocked an eyebrow, and Fyia avoided his gaze, following Axus through a small door into a dimly lit tunnel.

'What was that about?' Veau asked, holding Fyia's arm to slow her, so they fell a few paces behind the others.

'It's none of your business.'

'Are you and Adigos … after everything?'

'No.'