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He gave me a short, unfriendly glance and didn’t bow. Neither did he unbend in the least when he shifted his disapproving gaze to the cute little creature in my lap. He totally ignored me and looked back at the general.

“Marshal General Fortina, you’ve done well in obtaining the egg and overseeing the hatching, but I’m happy to say you won’t have to continue that service any longer.

I’ll be taking charge of the hatchling, and Lt.

Mythe here will relieve you of the burden of his further training.

” He turned to look at me. “As for you sir,” he said in a frosty tone, “I’ll ask you to put the hatchling down and stop interfering in his care.

Holding them like that spoils them terribly. ”

I was so shocked by his rudeness that I gasped aloud. “Now wait a minute,” I said, putting a proprietary hand on the little dragon in my lap. At the same time, the General shouted at him.

“Colonel Bentine! You forget yourself. You’re speaking to an honored guest and a royal prince.”

I wasn’t through yet either. “And I’ll have you know I have not interfered in any way whatsoever with this hatchling!” I yelled at him. “Which just so happens to belong to me!”

“Belongs to you? What do you mean?” Bentine started spluttering. He turned immediately to the general. “What does this person mean by that, sir?”

The little dragon snuggled closer to me and seemed to need comfort—which I gladly gave him.

Fortina stood, inserting himself in front of me, and he looked furious. “ This person, as you refer to him, is Prince Rylan of Moravia and my intended mate, so keep a civil tongue in your damned head!”

I tried to stay quiet, but I just couldn’t. I peeked around the big Horvathian standing in front of me. “I agree that somebody dropped the ball around here, but I can assure you it wasn’t me.”

The older man flushed an ugly red and shot me another glance. I thought I’d probably made an enemy there, but I didn’t care. “Ball, what ball?” He turned to Fortina. “What does he mean?”

“It’s just an expression—he simply means someone failed in their duty, and I have to agree.

We did fail this hatchling from the day we left to retrieve the egg and no one from your facility showed up to take charge of it, even though we notified you.

I’m a Rider myself, but not a trainer. This little dragon has had a poor reception from the Horvathians.

And I think it’s time that mistake was remedied. ”

“The vetami ,” the odious man said, emphasizing the word, “will do much better in the hands of a qualified trainer.” He glanced over at me again. “Not to mention someone who is an actual citizen of Horvath at the very least.”

Before I could reply, Fortina took a step forward, straightening to his full height, some inches above either of the two, and glared down menacingly at the older man.

“I’d like to remind you that I’m your superior officer.

I think you’ll agree that I have had some experience in training vetami, and I still have had very little success, because this little dragon is special.

He’s extremely intelligent and can communicate better than any dragon I’ve ever seen.

Furthermore, sir, might I remind you once again that you’re being an insubordinate ass.

I’ve a good mind to have you brought up on charges! ”

Bentine’s face flushed again, and he drew himself up and stiffly saluted.

“Of course, Marshal General. I-I’m very sorry. I apologize for any misunderstanding.”

“Prince Rylan also happens to be the grandson of King Davos of Tygeria and the entire Axis Forces. You will show him the respect he deserves for that as well.”

He looked a bit shocked, and his face paled, but I didn’t think he was one bit sorry for being so rude to either of us. He gave me a short, stiff bow.

“Naturally, I meant no disrespect to His Highness. I apologize. I’m sure his family must be worried about him and anxious for his rapid return.

His Highness has been most kind to the vetami, and we appreciate his untrained efforts, but surely, you’ve explained to him the impossibility of this situation.

Occasionally, a new Rider is lost because of disease or injury, and we’ve had to replace them.

It’s worked out well in the past and I’m sure it will again.

We still have time to change this young one’s behavior if we immediately impose a strict regimen on him.

But first we have to take charge of him. ”

“How many times?” I asked, interrupting him, my voice a little louder than I intended it to be.

He glanced at me in complete confusion. “I beg your pardon?”

“You said this had happened before, when a hatchling lost his intended Rider. I was wondering how many times this has happened in the past. Can you tell me?”

“Well, not exactly. Not off-hand, that is, but I assure you…”

Deliberately ignoring whatever he was about to say, I turned my back on him and faced the General.

I had asked myself what Blake, my omak-ahn would do in this situation.

He was well known in our family for being outspoken and saying whatever was on his mind.

If I channeled him, I’d know exactly what to say and do.

I was being incredibly rude and probably overstepping my status, and I was definitely trading on my grandfather’s name, but just then, I didn’t care.

“I’ll say goodbye to him properly then, shall I?

I certainly don’t want to interfere with his training.

But I do ask you to oversee the instruction this young animal receives, Marshal General Fortina.

I don’t want him to be mistreated either, and I’ll make sure he isn’t.

” I looked directly at the two men. “Not by anyone.”

“Your Highness,” the colonel said stiffly. “I assure you…”

I interrupted him. “I don’t need your assurances. I need to know he’s in good hands. Can you promise me that?”

“Most certainly,” he huffed.

I nodded and gave the dragon, who had by now nodded off in my arms, one last pat and hug and as he began to stir, I whispered softly in his ear. “You have to leave now, honey, but you go with these men and do as they say. I’ll come to see you soon.”

I picked the baby dragon up to hand him to the General, and he curled both forelegs around me and even wrapped his little wings around my arms. He was surprisingly strong. He nuzzled his hot, dry nose in my cheek. “I don’t want to go,” he cried. “Don’t make me. Please!”

I looked up helplessly at Quinn, who looked as surprised as I felt at the little dragon’s pleas to stay with me.

He knelt beside him and began speaking softly to him in his own language, but I could see it wasn’t working.

Quinn took him in his arms, pulling him gently away to give him to the older man.

The dragon cried out loudly and reached back toward me.

And I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t just turn my back on him and walk away.

“Stop!” I said, jumping to my feet, forgetting in the heat of the moment that I was too injured to be getting so excited. I paid for it with a sharp pain in my side that almost doubled me over. “Don’t touch him. He’s coming home with me.”