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Did he though? And was it fun and games? They met Ronan not even an hour ago and knew absolutely nothing about him other than he was almost six hundred years old and forgot his mother’s birthday. Layala shoved his hold off her waist and stepped to Thane’s side. His magic radiated again but only a whisper of it. “If he touches you again, break his hand or I will.” Then they’d really start a war, except Thane didn’t have the backing of his father’s military, but they didn’t know that, did they?

“If you insist on propriety, Vaper and I will go tell them you’re here. Dax will stay. The rest of you may go.” He waved off the other dragons who escorted them in like they were children. “Dax won’t say much. Poor Daxy lost his tongue about a century ago.” Dax lifted his middle finger at Ronan. The apparent universal sign for “piss off”.

Salt-and-pepper sighed and started for the castle. “I will go inform your father. At least if it’s from me, he won’t think it’s another one of your tales.”

“I resent that comment,” he said, stepping beside the shifter. “And you’re not taking credit for my discovery.” They disappeared into the massive doorway leaving the elves with Dax and another guard.

The guard in the blue-gray robe gestured to the left where a three-tiered fountain quietly trickled water over each golden lip into a bigger pool at its base. “You may have a seat over by the fountain while you wait.”

Thane took hold of Layala’s hand, intertwining his fingers between hers, and in a casual stroll they started for the fountain. Piper fell into step on Thane’s other side. Andthe triokept a close pace behind. The three Ravens looked around, eyes narrowed and bodies tense as if a threat might come at them at any moment. Layala felt much safer knowing they were around.

“Prince Ronan informed me he has a twin, Yoren,” Piper said. “I have a feeling they are more rivals than close allies.”

“Did he tell you anything else useful?” Thane asked. They came to the sand-colored stone edge of the pool and sat. Thane leaned forward with his elbows on his thighs waiting for Piper to answer. Layala placed her hand against his back and then slid her fingers along the leather straps that held his swords. A large pine tree offered shade from the afternoon sun though it wasn’t warm enough out here to need the coverage.

Piper nodded. “There is a ball tonight for his mother’s birthday.”

Layala’s eyebrows furrowed. “So he didn’t forget.”

“Nope.” Piper watched the entry of the castle acutely. “He asked me to be his date.”

His date? Already? Layala turned to see Fennan’s reaction. He kept chatting with Siegfried, acting like he didn’t hear but she knew he did.

Thane sat up tall and ran his hand over his stubble. “What did you say?”

“I said that it would depend on a lot of things. Like us being invited, and not to be the main course. He thought that was funny.”

“I’m sure the rumors that dragon shifters regularly eat elves and humans are exaggerated. We never see dragons in Palenor,” he held up a finger, “with the exception of Varlett.” Thane slid his hand around Layala’s waist then lifted her onto his lap. He rested his chin on her shoulder and hugged her around her middle. His lips grazed her ear. “Just in case they forget you’re mine.” He lowered his voice. “It makes me crazy when other males touch you.”

“I’m proud of you for not losing your temper,” Layala said with a smile.

“I contemplated ripping the heart from his chest.”

Piper looked over, bouncing her legs nervously. “And then we’d all be dead. I estimated at least five thousand dragons in the city with the houses I could see from the air. We are at their mercy.”

Thane grew an arrogant smirk. “You underestimate me, Piper.”

She scoffed and shook her head. “Oh, so you think you can take on an entire legion of dragon shifters by yourself? Ones that are clearly capable of magic. Need I remind you Varlett nearly got the job done all on her own.”

Ouch, even Layala winced at that one. Thane grunted and nuzzled his face into the nape of Layala’s neck. The scruffy hairs on his chin tickled and she laughed, pushing him away. “Stop it. You’re making me look like a lovesick teenager.”

He nipped her earlobe. “Oh, you definitely have Thane-fever. Maybe I should take you somewhere to see if we can cure it.” His wandering hands slid up and cupped her breasts.

“Thane.” Layala pushed his hands back to her waist. “Now isn’t the time to be thinking with your rod and berries.”

Piper let out a loud “ha” then slapped her hand over her mouth. “The public display of affection is a little disgusting,” Piper said, but she smiled through every word. “And yeah, keep the rod in check, would you? We have scheming to do.”

“I’d think a lot more clearly if—” Thane pushed up, arms still firmly around Layala, bringing them both to their feet.

Prince Ronan appeared in the massive doorway, leading a host of guards, effectively cutting off Thane’s statement. They all wore those same blue-gray robes, cropped pants and sandals. But these guards had their wings on display and spears in their hands. The prince held out his arms with a grin, rushing down the steps. “I hope you like to dance because you’re cordially invited to attend the royal ball of House Drakonan. Special guests of King Drake, himself. You’re going to need new attire.”

Chapter31

With damp hair from a bath and in only his undergarments, Thane stood on a raised sand-colored platform with his arms out to his sides. One male attendant held up a measuring stick, the wood point poked into Thane’s armpit, another held up different scraps of fabric of various colors, contemplating each one carefully then tossing them aside. He’d been fitted like this before, but this attendant was much more particular than those he had at home. There was a pile of color scraps on the floor now. Not a single one sufficed?

Ronan lounged in a scarlet velvet high-backed chair, pulling bits of raw, red meat and tossing it to a silky black panther. The giant cat snatched the food out of the air and licked its wide jaws. Thane couldn’t help but keep an eye on the predator. He’d never seen a panther before and couldn’t believe how large it was, bigger than any dog, even wolf he’d encountered.

One of Ronan’s legs hung lazily over the arm of the chair. “So why are you here, Prince Thane? Are you finally desperate enough to ask for help against the cursed elves? What do you call them?”