Page 100 of I Dream of Dragons

My throat closes up. “Jai?—”

“Go. I’ll see you later.”

“No.” I shake my head. “I’m coming with you.”

He looks torn. “It’s not safe.”

“I will fight by your side.”

“You would, wouldn’t you?” He smiles. Then his smile falls. “What’s going on?”

Two guards are coming toward us. “We have been charged with delivering Lady Rae to the king.”

“No. I’m coming with you.” I reach for Jai. “Take me with you.”

But his jaw clenches and his dark eyes glitter. “Go with them,makhair. At least you will be safe with him if there is an attack. Idon’t think he’ll hurt you, not since he put his mark on you. If he tries to harm you, call for me.”

“Call, how?”

“The bond,” he says, joining Arkin and the group of guards.

The bond… I’ve felt it so many times.“Do you feel the bond?”he’d asked me and I’d said no.

But the two guards grab my arms. “Come with us, my lady. The king awaits you.”

“No!” I look around for the page boy, but he’s gone. “Let me go!”

I don’t give a rat’s ass about the king waiting right now, but they don’t give me an option. They drag me away from Jai, down hallways where fae laze about, shooting us curious looks.

“Let me go,” I mutter over and over, struggling to break their hold. “Take your hands off me.”

All the way to the royal apartments.

By the time we enter the opulent room, I’m seething, not even paying attention to the food set out on the table or the vases with flowers set on podiums all around.Star flowers, the blooms favored by the fae.

All my focus is on the king who is standing in front of the fire, a goblet in his hand.

“Release her,” he says without glancing around, “and close the door.”

I yank my arm away from the guard the moment he releases me and turn to face the king. “There’s an attack on the sacred palace! A sea drak attack! We have to go out there and help!”

“There is no need. My guards will take care of it.”

I study the long pale plait of hair hanging down his broad back, the white and gold tunic, the matching pants and satin shoes. As I watch, he takes a sip from his goblet, the flames dancing against his face, and my fury grows.

“Take care of it? Athdara and your guards put their lives on the line and you sit here, drinking wine?”

“I am the king. Not the general. Athdara has that title and that responsibility. After all, he isn’t called the King’s Sword for nothing.”

“But you said… you’d lead your men into battle.”

He finally turns around, his gaze undecipherable. “This isn’t my battle.”

“This is your sacred palace! And you are the king of this world. You don’t give a damn, do you? If your people live or die. And speaking of which. I saw Lynn. Why is she still here?”

Pale brows knit. “Lynn?”

“The human girl whose place I took in the games!”