Page 16 of The Dragon Queen (Ember: Queen Of Dragons #6)

EMBER

After, we all lie there together in a naked, sweating heap. My mates tell me more about their time away--about the people they've sent to join us and the reception they received in their native kingdoms.

About how dark the world outside our safe little enclave has grown.

"The undercover Shadow Dragons have been coming out of the woodworks," Jianyu says gravely. "In the military, the guard, the council."

"My father's advisor isn't even hiding anymore." Rafe's voice drips bitterness. "And he wasn't alone. There were a dozen others in the royal court."

"My mother has tightened her fist." Malik swallows, his jaw flexing. "My father must be rolling in his grave."

Quietly, Storm plays with my hair. "Not that much has changed in Wynrath Crest, honestly. It's gotten a little worse, but..."

"Things were so bad in the Air Kingdom already. There really wasn't that much farther down for them to go." I nestle more deeply into him, pulling my mouth to the side. "I just don't understand how the rest of the kingdoms are pulling this off, though. Isn't anyone revolting? Are they all just taking the return of the Shadow Dragons lying down?"

"There are pockets of resistance," Jianyu allows.

"Which is where we found the new recruits," Rafe agrees.

Deep lines form between Storm's brows. "But people are terrified--same as usual. You know how heavy-handed my father can be."

"After everything she's done to protect us, the Water Dragons trust my mother implicitly," Malik says. "Some question her, but they are few and far between."

"But there are tremblings, deep beneath the surface." Jianyu traces his fingertips up and down my leg, the soft gravel of his voice stirring something within me. "Even the most cowed would welcome a new leader."

Rafe rises, propping himself up on his elbow and fixing me with a smoldering gaze. "They'll welcome you. Their queen."

Inside, I quake.

In the battle against the Shadow and Air Dragon forces, I embraced that destiny--along with my Shadow Dragon nature. But I've been brought low since that. Forced into hiding. Stripped of my power.

I'm working hard to claw my way back. To rebuild.

But I'm not ready.

I wasn't ready last night, and let's be honest: I'm even less ready now.

I put a hand over my abdomen.

As confident as I was earlier about fighting for my hypothetical child, there's a fatigue in my bones that hasn't been eased with the return of my mates. People feel awful all the time while they're pregnant. Even if I have the will to keep training and to take on the Shadow King--will I have the strength?

Sensing my disquiet, Malik places his palm over mine. "You don't have to do any of this alone, you know."

"I know." I meet his liquid blue gaze and try to absorb some of his calm.

Softly, from my other side, Storm asks, "Do you want to tell anyone?"

In case I was confused about what he means, he grazes the backs of his knuckles against my midsection.

"Good gods." Chuckling, I exhale in a whoosh. "I hadn't even considered that."

"There's no rush," Malik assures me.

Of course. But... "I may have to at least tell Rook and Rhiannon." And the half dozen other mentors who have started attending our training sessions to guide me in my progress with my other forms of elemental magic, but I don't feel like getting into that now. I pull my mouth to the side. "One of their favorite teaching methods is to basically fly around and take potshots at me."

"Yeah." Rafe sits up straighter. "That's not okay."

Ever the voice of reason, Jianyu rolls his eyes. "Maybe let's at least try talking to a medical professional about this first."

LATER THAT MORNING, we find Unity's doctor--a middle-aged witch with light brown skin and dark blue hair--attending to Mariutza in her rooms. After knocking and getting the go-ahead to enter, I push open the door and poke my head in.

I've been to see Mariutza a few times in the past couple of weeks, and she's been steadily improving. For the first time since the battle at Unity, though, she's out of bed, sitting in a chair near the fire. The windows are still covered with gauzy drapes, but the heavy, light-blocking curtains have been pushed aside, allowing a little bit of sun into the room.

I'm not the only one visiting. Delaynie is knitting quietly in the corner with Rhiannon, and I give a little wince of apology while catching the doctor's eye. "Sorry--didn't mean to interrupt. Just hoping I can grab you for a minute when you're done?"

"Of course," the doc agrees.

I start to leave when Mariutza's voice rings out. "Faltine? Is that you, dearie?"

My heart squeezes. Every time she calls me by my mother's name, it hurts a little less, but it still smarts.

"Ember," I remind her gently.

Her face falls for a second before smoothing back out. Recognition lights her eyes. "Oh right, right. Come in."

"Oh, I don't want to intrude--"

"I insist." With one hand, she waves me over, while with the other, she steadies herself with the arm of the chair and starts to rise.

I glance at my mates, but they nod, motioning me forward. I don't like being even a few steps away from them right now, but I don't want to overwhelm Mariutza. Apparently, they agree, because they stay in the hallway outside.

"Don't get up," I beg Mariutza.

Delaynie's on her feet, too, her yarn and needles cast aside. "Grandma--"

"It's fine," Mariutza promises, as if she hasn't been all but bedridden for the past couple of weeks.

The doctor frowns, but doesn't stop her. "Careful not to overdo it--it'll take some time to regain your strength. But at this point, I don't see any reason you shouldn't be up and about."

"See?" Mariutza rolls her eyes as if everyone's being silly, treating her like glass. She totters toward me and takes my hands. "Besides. I can't help you take on Erembour and that nasty little witch of his from my bed, now can I?"

"Grandma," Delaynie admonishes, more harshly this time. She shoots a panicked glance in my direction, like she's expecting me to talk some sense into the old woman.

"Don't you worry about King Erembour or the Sorceress." I give Mariutza's bony fingers a gentle squeeze.

She cackles. "I will stop worrying about them when they're six feet under--and even then. I'll kick the dirt every day to make sure they stay down."

I smile despite myself. It seems absurd that she'd square off against the Shadow King again after the toll the last battle took on her health, but I'd be a fool to count her out.

As if she can read my mind, she fixes me with a gaze that's as clear-eyed as I've ever seen it. "This is my fight as much as it is yours."

"I know, but--"

She's not hearing any protests. "You have your destiny," she says enigmatically. "And I have mine."

Then she blinks. She shifts her gaze lower, confused for a moment before her vision sharpens again.

Smiling, she releases my hands to press her palm to my belly, and I suck in a rough breath.

"And so do you," Mariutza says to my midsection. "Don't you, Princess?"

From the door, there's a strangled noise, and then a crash. I jerk my gaze to the side to find Amy standing there, a tray and an overturned bowl lying at her feet, the carpet staining with what looks like it was chicken noodle soup.

Staring at Mariutza's hand on my flat belly, she covers her mouth with her hands before whispering, "Oh my fucking Gods."