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“You can start training alone. Just stay away from flight classes until you meld.”

Nyx nodded, not thrilled but not putting up any resistance. Besides, we’d flown anyway; his permission wouldn’t have stopped us. At least now we could afford to be seen if we did it again.

Rakan said nothing more and resumed making notes, effectively dismissing us.

Lovely.

THIRTY-FIVE

NYX

“It’s been two weeks since her magic awoke. What’s the holdup?” the King demanded.

“Your Majesty, I’m not prepared to risk an entire class of trainees with such a powerful and inexperienced ryder. They will continue to train separately until they are melded. I’m just following the advice of the experts and the way we’ve trained ryders for a century,”Octavian said.

I cringed, feeling caught in the middle. Both fae had been like family to us, and I owed them both a debt for the concessions made when I was unable to take the place of my father, having no ryder at the time of his death.

“With respect,” I addressed Octavian, “I don’t feel the meld is necessary to progress. Zaria is working hard. She’s listening well, and we have her power under control. I believe we pose no risk to the rest of the trainees, and if you give us the opportunity to complete flight training, we will do so quickly. She’s a natural ryder. We just need to complete the program.”

“With. Respect,” Octavian seethed, the first show of anything other than familial warmth he had ever displayed. “We have unknown enemies attacking outposts, dragons disappearing, fewer hatchlings every year, and I will not risk an entire new crop of capable flyers just so you can claim status and become the General. And the truth is that you do not have her magic under control. If you two had full control, you’d be melded.”

I reeled. He acted like this was some moral failing of mine. Where had this come from? Had the power of the position gotten its claws in him? I’d never seen him so possessive over it before. He’d always referred to it as my position, which he was guarding for me. The regency works because it’s an unrelated dragon filling it in name only, so the hereditary roles do not pass as they would, father to son. Was it possible, after two years in the position, he was taking on alpha characteristics, regardless? I didn’t know how it would be, but two years was a long time with that kind of power. Perhaps he’d forgotten that it was not really his. Would I have to challenge him?

“We’ve done in weeks what most students take years to do.” I studied him. My father’s friend. My father trusted him. The King trusted him. Was I being paranoid? “This is not about status,” I refuted. My tone was little more than a growl.

Octavian disregarded me and addressed the King. “We can’t be certain they can control her magic without the meld. Dragons will be at risk. You don’t want that.”

“What I want is for the succession to take place. I need an Asar back at the head of the Dragon Council.” The King banged his desk. Octavian’s lips formed a tight line, but the King continued. “The dragons are restless. They need stability, and that is Nyx.”

No one had ever verbalized in front of me that there was unrest in the council because the position had not passed to me. I was under the impression that Octavian was well-regarded.

“No one wants to see an Asar back at the head of the council more than I do,” Octavian said through gritted teeth, but for the first time, I didn’t buy it. “But if stability is so important to the council, the meld is even more important. Nyx will have responsibility for all dragon kind. We can’t hand that over when his bond with his ryder is not yet complete. Melds have been known to fail. What then? More uncertainty while we go back to having a proxy? Or would we have to hand over to Kol?”

The way he spat the suggestion got my back up. He might not want the job, but Kol was every bit the Asar I was and would lead admirably. They didn’t see that because he was too carefree, but he had it in him.

The King pinched the bridge of his nose. “Well, it’s been two weeks since her powers awoke. How long is it going to take?”

“These things can’t be rushed, Highness. Melds come when they come, not when we desire them. I will admit that, typically, we see them happen soon after bonding, but long bonding periods are not unheard of.”

“And there’s nothing they can do to encourage things along?” the King asked, grasping at any hope he could find. “Because if we can’t get him out commanding the flyers soon, with all this uncertainty, we may need to consider putting Kol out on the front just to appease the council.”

A knot formed in my chest. It was an unspoken agreement that until I could fly, Kol wouldn’t be put out on the front. He was my only surviving family, and I knew the King had always kept him close to the First Kingdom for my benefit. But now? Was it a threat or simply motivation? I didn’t know.

“We are doing everything we can,” I assured him. “We are spending as much time together as we can, working in every discipline, power sharing as often as possible. We can’t do more. Our connection is strong, but please remember the upheaval Zaria has been through. Her whole world has changed. She needs time to fully adjust to all the changes.”

“Well, for the love of the Goddess, think of something else you can try,” he boomed. “And keep me updated daily.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Dismissed.”

I dipped my head and left the office, breathing out a heavy sigh.

Then I looked up and found Zaria standing there, and from the stricken look on her face, I knew she had heard the conversation. She was getting good at small magic, like projection and amplification, so she could listen in easily.

I sagged. She’d wanted to go to the meeting, but I’d wanted to protect her. I should have known she would come anyway.

“Sol…” I reached for her.