Page 87 of The Dragon Queen Complete Series Collection

Chapter 86

"I’ll go and see what Ada has,” I said, getting to my feet and nodding to the prince and our host. “My curiosity always gets the better of me.”

No, it didn’t, but I couldn’t sit at that table for one more minute and I think most of those around it knew that. My life, Glimmer’s, had been discussed so cavalierly, as if these veritable strangers had a right to do so, and I hurried towards the door to get the hell away from them all before I said something stupid.

“Pippin,” Ged said in alarm, as all four of them watched me go. No, five. Draven set his napkin to one side, but I shook my head.

“Continue with your meal. I’ll be back shortly.”

I didn’t stop to see if they listened to me. Instead, I walked swiftly out of the dining room, then down the hall, past the many grand rooms until I reached the front door. I undid the latch and stepped out into the cold night air.

The wind seemed to pick up at night, its eerie moans often rattling against the windows when we were nestled down in bed. As I walked towards the dragons through the darkness, I was hit by its full force. I wrapped my arms around me, my consciousness questing out until I found Glimmer.

I reached the pile of male dragons, thankful that their size provided something of a windbreak, although the ocean air currents still wound around me. Glimmer looked up at me sleepily as I stood in the gap between Cloudy and Wraith. She blinked as I hit her with a barrage of questions.

If any man approaches you, you’ll tell me, right? The moment anyone comes?

Why? No one can hurt me, not when I’m with my mates , she replied with a dismissive sniff.

I need you to promise me that. When we go back to the keep, will you sleep in our quarters still, or in with the male dragons?

I cannot gather them together like this in the queen’s territory , Glimmer replied. She would see this as an act of aggression and deal with all of us. She has too many dragons of her own currently for us to fight.

Currently? I shoved that aside. What about food? You won’t ever accept food from anyone but me or the wing, right? I need you to promise ? —

You won’t have to bring me food for much longer , she asserted. My mates are taking me out on the ranges tomorrow to hunt wild grouse. I will find my own food, untainted by anything any human might want to put in it . Her eye ridges shifted slightly. You are worried for me?

I’m always worried for you , I told her, ashamed of the violence of my feelings, but unable to stop them. Except when I’m too cock-drunk to think straight.

You are in the first flush of mating fever, she told me. Your bodies and theirs are surging with hormones to create enduring bonds. I will ignore you for some time when I rise to mate. Even after my heat is over, I will mate with my males over and over ? —

Right, so I probably don’t need to know that . I rubbed at my temples. I just… I let out a sigh, and it was like the pain that came rushing out was snatched up by the swirling winds and then whisked away. I just don’t want anyone to hurt you. You are my heart, and if anything ? —

“There you are.” I whirled around to find Ada standing a short distance away, her shawl clasped tight around her with one hand, a small basket in her other one. “Gods, how do you stand being out here? The wind feels like a knife’s edge.”

“Ah…” I stepped closer to the male dragons, and Wraith opened one eye to stare at Ada. “I guess we get used to it. The air is terribly cold at high altitudes.”

“I guess it is, being a dragon rider.” She looked the dragons over with almost a covetous eye. “They are glorious creatures, as colourful as precious jewels. If I had one of my own, you wouldn’t catch me at the dinner table either.” She stepped closer and, while Wraith watched her closely, he didn’t do anything in response. “I brought you a traditional Harlstonian wedding gift.”

“Oh, you needn’t?—”

“It’s just something small, but…” She shrugged. “I thought you might like it.” She stepped forward and placed the basket in my hands, her fingers just as cold as mine. I took hold of it and gave her my thanks before peering inside. “They’re wedding biscuits,” she explained. “It’s a tradition in this duchy to make them and give them to the bride and groom. They’re made with plenty of butter and sugar to keep the newlyweds’ strength up.” She shot me a lascivious wink. “And they’re made with ground Kashian nuts for… obvious reasons.”

Kashian nuts were a delicacy from Harlston with known aphrodisiac qualities. They were much harder to get in other duchies, as the trade of them was strictly controlled by the duke, so what I had in my hands was probably worth quite the sum of money back in Skane. I flushed and looked up from the basket to search her face for some sort of motive.

“You think that’s something we’ll need?”

“Oh… Look, I’m sorry about before. I had a chat to Charles about the conversation and he helped me to realise there was probably a tiny bit of overprotectiveness going on. I knew I would never have anything long-term with His Highness, but Brom? He was mine and Draven’s all throughout our childhood and, when he bonded with Obsidian, it seemed somehow right. He’d never have a sweetheart or a wife or even a mistress to get between him and his duty and that made him… still mine on some level, forever more.”

She shook her head, then shivered against the cold air.

“Though not really, of course. I’m a married woman now, with a family. Brom left whatever we had in the past when he was still a lad, newly bonded with a dragon. Whenever he came to visit his parents, he never went out of his way to see me or rekindle our friendship, so I shouldn’t have behaved that way.”

She shot me a sheepish smile.

“And whatever is between you and your husband is no business of mine. As if I haven’t enough to worry about with my own household.” Ada walked towards me, offering me her hand, although she stopped when Wraith lifted his head to peer at her. He snuffled the air, staring down at her, but when he didn’t move forward, I took her hand and shook it.

“Friends,” I agreed.

“Well, if we’re to be friends then take a bite of one of the biscuits and tell me it’s the best thing you’ve ever tasted. Flattery will get you everywhere with me and I’m not ashamed to admit it.” I chuckled at this, feeling some of my tension leach away. “Well, go on. I await your exclamations of adulation.”

It was her teasing manner that had me reaching into the basket to retrieve a small round buttery biscuit covered in powdered sugar that smelled rich and sweet. My mouth watered just at the sight of it. When I lifted it up and the scent hit me, I couldn’t help but take a bite. Rich, spicy like an expensive exotic old perfume, but somehow tasty at the same time. I let out a little cry of pleasure as my taste buds went into riot.

“Good, yes?”

Ada’s voice had changed somewhat, becoming a low purr. When I offered her the basket, so that she could have one as well, she just shook her head with a feline smile. Then she fished out a pendant that had been hidden in the bodice of her dress. As her hand went around it, the dragon stone gleamed in the moon.

“No, these were made just for you, Pippin. You need to enjoy them.”