Page 146 of I Dream of Dragons

But that’s the coward’s way out, and if the queen hadn’t ordered me here… Did I volunteer, or did she order me? Why is memory such a hazy maze?

Strange how I drifted in the deep for so long, despite the fury burning in my chest. Why didn’t I try this on my own earlier? Why didn’t I emerge from the waves and climb the walls of this palace, locate the king and end him?

The spell. I needed her aid to enter the games, get close to the king.

A hundred years with barely a memory to show for it…

“Your gown is here,” Daria says, her voice a distant hum slowly expanding into words, “sent by His Highness. We need to do something fancy with your hair, though first we need to untangle all those knots. All this salt. It’s crusted with it. A terrible mess.”

Another gown that feels familiar somehow.

A noise distracts me. A tapping. I half-turn away from Daria, trying to locate its source.

“Such an honor, to be marked by the fae king himself,” she is saying, now sounding bitter and introspective. “Is it because you befriended his general, the shadow man? Aren’t you ashamed of placing yourself in these men’s hands after all they have done to us? Or is there a hidden plan you’re not telling us about? Everyone is speculating?—”

“Daria,” I interrupt her low rant. “Something is knocking on the window.” I walk over there and start when I see the winged shape outside.

“Aethry,”he says in my mind.“Let me in.”

Look who’s here…

“A darakin!” Daria gasps, hands covering her mouth. “It’s right outside!”

“Help me open the window.” I struggle with the handle. It’s heavy.

“But, my lady!” She’s shaking her head, eyes like saucers. “We can’t. They are dangerous. If we wait, it will go away.”

“He’s my friend. He saved my life. Let him inside.”

“My lady! It’s a dragon!”

“A small dragon. Size matters.” With a huff, I let my bath sheet fall to the carpet and use both hands to unlatch the window, throwing it open.

“About time.”Remi dives inside, right past me, landing on the carpet and dragging long grooves into it with his claws.“I’ve been knocking for a while. Have you gone deaf?”

Daria screams and backs away toward the door. Opening it, she steps outside and slams it closed. I can hear her steps running away.

“What is wrong with her?”Remi huffs.

I sigh.No matter. I will dress myself.I turn back to Remi.So what’s all this fuss about?

The darakin folds his wings and stalks toward me. He keeps his head low, his wings folded in, and it’s oddly endearing.“Hey.”

Hey yourself. What happened?

“Nothing. I just wanted… I needed to be here, with you.”

Why?

“How should I know? It was a feeling. I want to… to curl up with you by the fire, tell stories?—”

Tell stories?

“Stop repeating my words.A pause.I felt… that you were upset. That you might need me.”

Aw. I…I’m still naked, I realize, and for some reason I feel uncomfortable with Remi seeing me in my birthday suit. Turning my back to him, I grab a robe Daria left for me on the bed and slip into it, tying the belt into a knot.I’m okay.

“Are you?”