Page 80 of Exquisite Monster

Varílaunched from his shoulder and came to mine, rubbing against my cheek. He wore a brand new pouch for his coin, created with the remnants of some long-abandoned clothing. Belleo had made it. “Hi there.”

Of everyone here, my little dragon friend had found the most joy. He went anywhere and everywhere, curling up in the sun and playing hide and seek with anyone who would indulge him. And of course, he found bowls to sleep in.

“Would you like a distraction?” Zovai asked.

I glanced outside at the fading sun. Almost set, but not yet dark enough to actually go to bed, and I was too restless to partake inthatkind of distraction.

My mate chuckled. “It delights me that fucking is where your mind goes first, love, but I have another distraction in mind.” He held up a small slip of parchment.

“What’s that?”

He came closer and leaned in, inhaling the mixture I was brewing. “When Idroal left, I asked them to make a stop on their way to Doro Eche.”

I added three drops of river lily to the mixture and stirred itsmooth. The liquid was pale, silvery, and hopefully wouldn’t let the nightmares break through. It was a much milder version of the potion that would render someone unconscious until they were woken. “Where?”

Zovai caught my chin with his fingers, pulling my face to his gently, like he knew I was avoiding looking up and letting everything in.

“Sythal Itur.It is a city not far from here. Well, more like a town. Even among dragons, they’re known for keeping to themselves and away from any… entanglements.”

I frowned. “Why ask Idroal to go there?”

“To see if it was safe to take you there.”

My breath stilled in my chest. I wasn’t sure whether that made me afraid or hopeful. “And what did they say?”

“They sent a flier. Smaller dragons not unlikeVarí. They’re a little larger. There aren’t enough dragons with a skill like Idroal’s for all communication, and the smaller ones enjoy it. One arrived from Doro Eche, and Idroal said it is safe. The dragons there are barely aware of what’s happening in the capital, let alone the conflict with the humans.”

Idroal wouldn’t say something was safe if it wasn’t. Not after everything they’d done to rescue me and my mates. And still, my heart stuttered with nerves.

Zovai tugged me closer with an arm around my waist. “I don’t mean to take you there and flaunt you. But I thought you might like to see some of our life without questioning everyone who sees you.”

“They won’t know who I am?”

“They might know you’re a human if they get close enough, but not who you are.”

I looked back at the mixture and pulled it away from the small candle that was heating it. “It’s still a risk.”

Zovai watched me as I poured the mixture into some empty bottles I brought with me. Only then did he pull me away fully. He tangled a hand in my hair and made me look at him. “Yes,” he whispered. “It is a risk.”

“Then—”

“There will always be risk, Lena. And I will not resign myself to a small life with you, no matter what the rest of the world has to say about it. We don’t know what will come, no. But we must live in spite of it.”

“I don’t want to think that this might not end.”

“Neither do I, but we cannot do anything until Idroal returns and we know what the Elders know. And your mind is running itself ragged. Do you trust me?”

“Yes.” My answer was instant. Yes, I trusted him.

“Then come with me. Let me show you that our world isn’t all bad.”

My chest pulsed with an ache. I didn’t think the world of dragons was bad. I never had. But through the bond we shared, I felt all his regret that I had only seen the worst of it. Had been exposed to all of it with nothing but fear and no joy.

“All right,” I whispered. “Let me put better clothes on.”

I still wore the oversized clothes I’d found in their chambers while Belleo cleaned the ones from Gleym. I told her she didn’t have to, but she waved a hand and claimed that controlling water made it easy. They were currently spread in a puddle of sunlight on one of our balconies, drying, though I supposed that had been this morning. Given the sun was almost gone now, I hoped they were dry.

Varístayed on my shoulder as I climbed the tower, purring in my ear. “Are you coming with us too?” I asked.