Page 52 of The Dragon King’s Claw (The Dragons of Serai #17)

“We should have done this at the castle.” Tor'rien crossed his arms and pouted. “You always pull my hair painfully when you comb it in the carriage.”

“Well, someone didn't get out of bed when I tried to wake him. So we had to do this on the way or we'd be late.” I pulled the comb through the last of his tangles and smoothed his hair. “There.” I tucked the comb in my jacket. In its usual place. I carried a comb now. For Tor’rien.

“I knew you weren't the kind of man to take care of your hair.”

“I could cut it.” He slid his brilliant blues my way.

I snorted. “No. You can't.”

“Why not?” The King's lips twitched.

“You know why.”

He leaned over to nuzzle my cheek. “Because you love it. You love my hair, you love caring for me, and you love me.”

“Yes, all right.” I rolled my eyes. Then the carriage stopped, and I went serious. “We're here.”

A few moments later, Sir Gilhu opened the carriage door for us.

The King climbed out first, straightened his clothing, and then held a hand in to me.

I actually enjoyed him helping me like that.

It was a way for him to show affection, and it was proper enough that I approved of it being shown in public.

I straightened my clothes as well. They were of better quality now that I was a duke, officially accepted into the Rushao Dread. But over my fine silk shirt, I wore my claw jacket. Because it felt right. A nod of respect and perhaps a bit of an apology to the man who was being buried.

The King of Rushao rarely attended funerals, much less the funeral of a human.

His appearance would have garnered a crowd if anyone had known he'd make one.

As it was, there was still a crowd, but not as many as would have shown up for him.

This wasn't about the King. It was about Kun-lo, his family, and all the other humans who had been cruelly left to die in the Hallax Mine.

We were giving them a proper burial today, courtesy of His Majesty.

Every talon and claw who wasn't on duty was there. In addition to them, there was a small gathering of humans. I hadn't expected that. Then I saw one I recognized—a gardener from the park where Kun-lo had worked. He inclined his head to me.

So, Kun-lo wouldn't have his family to bury him, but . . . wait.

A man walked up to us. He bore a striking resemblance to Katai, just not so delicate. More masculine in features. Older too, but not by much.

“Your Majesty.” The man bowed. “I am Kawong.

Kun-lo was my grandfather's brother. My parents are too old to make the journey, but he wanted one of us here to see Kun-lo to rest. And to thank you for all you've done for my brother. You and Claw Shinkai.” He bowed to me.

“Thank you for finding my grand-uncle and bringing his killer to justice. His disappearance and the deaths of his family have haunted my father and his father before him. You have given us peace.”

“You're most welcome,” the King said.

But I asked, “Are you Katai's brother?”

The Dragon knights guarding us went still.

“Yes. Is he here? I haven't been able to find him. He wasn't at the address he gave us.”

“Katai . . . he . . . he resorted to some criminal behavior to bring about justice. He had to flee the city. I'm so sorry, but he's gone.”

“What?” Kawong's expression filled with horror. “No. Katai wouldn't . . .”

“He did what he thought was best.” I laid a hand on Kawong's shoulder.

“Between us, I approve of what he did. Without him, we wouldn't have known to look into these cases and all these people would have been forgotten.” I motioned at the fresh graves in a line with coffins waiting beside them.

“We are not pursuing Katai because of this.”

“Your brother is a hero,” Tor'rien added. “Not that I condone such behavior, but that is how I see him. And you are most welcome here. Come, let's put your relative to rest.”

Kawong let himself be led to one of the many graves—the one with Kun-lo's gravestone set at its head and his remains in a coffin beside it. As the King, Kawong, and I settled at the foot of the grave, the rest of the attendants gathered around us.

I addressed them. “Thank you all for coming to help us lay these people to rest. They have waited a long time for justice and peace. I am honored to help bestow that upon them today.”

“These people were abused, murdered, and then forgotten,” the King added.

“As hard as we work to protect this city, there are always those fighting against us. These victims are only a few of the ones who slip past our notice. May this be a call to arms for us. Talons and Claws, I have charged you with upholding my law. I add now that you will do so without prejudice to the best of your abilities. I know you feel the weight of this responsibility, and I trust that you will carry out my commands with great respect for this city and the service you do it and me.”

The Talons and Claws bent their heads in unison.

“We've done our best,” I said. “But we know more now. That means we can do better. And we will do better in honor of these people here.” I motioned to the graves. “No one will be forgotten ever again.”

There was no clapping. It wouldn't have been appropriate. But the officers of the Talon Force nodded. That was enough for me.

“But today is not about us,” I went on. “It's about these men and women. These children.” I swallowed roughly before continuing.

“The humans of our kingdom have different traditions depending on the region they're from. Kun-lo was born and raised in Kochan, and his parents believed in the God Hing-Si. I have chosen to sing a song that is a prayer to Hing-Si. It urges him to take these souls into his keeping and see them to the heaven he has prepared.”

The humans in the crowd made a religious hand gesture and bent their heads as a guitarist started to play.

And then I sang.

I didn't have the best singing voice, but it was passable and it was full of reverence for the people and their god.

As I sang, attendants lowered the coffins into their graves and then shoveled dirt over them.

Maybe this was all a useless display. Or maybe my song would indeed help these souls find their way to their god.

It didn't matter. This was about fulfilling a promise I had made to a dead, forgotten boy.

A boy I had once failed. I hoped that wherever he was, Katai felt the spirit of his ancestor leaving this world and finding peace. I hoped that gave him peace as well.

One man who wasn't at peace and wouldn't be any time soon was Sir Vasren.

He had left the King's service to search for his lover.

I admit it surprised me. I had thought Vasren would grieve and let go of Katai.

He didn't seem to be Vasren's mate. But Tor'rien said that sometimes it could take months for the mating magic to recognize a mate.

But in such a case, the Dragon always knew to hold on.

Something compelled him. After all, a goddess' magic was infallible.

So perhaps Vasren was right to go after Katai.

I had hoped that they would both move on and that Katai would find someone better than Vasren.

But maybe that was hubris on my part. Maybe there was no one better for Katai.

Vasren clearly believed there was no one better for him.

And who am I to say that he's wrong? I rejected my own mate over and over again.

If Tor'rien hadn't been so persistent, I would have continued living my dull life, never knowing what beauty, adventure, joy, and love I had squandered. Love was not my area of expertise.

Accepting that, I finished my song and hoped for something different.

No, I didn't just hope. I prayed that the Gods would give Katai and Vasren a love like the one I had found with Tor'rien.

Love so real that it overcomes reason, crosses oceans, and tells time to fuck off.

Yes, I asked for a selfish and fantastic love for them, even if it wasn't with each other.

As I said, I wasn't an expert on this subject. So, I'd leave it to the Gods.