Page 64 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

If we had greater numbers doing the jobs that were essential to keeping the kingdom going, those with the vital magic could have time to breathe. Or even have the choice whether or not to give their lives in service to the King. That was the biggest issue for me when I took the time to observe the kingdom and its workings, watching young fae left with no choice as they were drafted for their duties.

What of those who didn’t want to fight? Surely, not every dragon desired this life. It was unjust. I hated to even imagine how many were unhappy with their lot. My thoughts went to the flyers I’d found harassing Kiera and Luka. As much as I wanted to see them put in their place, I didn’t know their stories. Perhaps their behavior is the result of being forced into a life they didn’t choose.

I was determined to put an end to their bullying. No dragons in my ranks were going to harass the fae they were meant to protect, regardless of their reason. But maybe if they felt more heard, they would become better fae?

“What are you thinking?” Kiera asked, breaking into my thoughts with a yawn.

My mind was racing, but I would not give her another reason to resist the rest she so desperately needed. “Nothing.” I shuffled down to lay beside her again, taking her in my arms. “Try and sleep. It will help you heal.”

TWENTY-SEVEN

JAXUS

“What are you doing?” I demanded when I came in to find her sitting on the edge of the bed, feet touching the floor and hands braced on either side, readying to push off. “Goddess, I stepped out for one minute to speak to someone. Where do you think you’re going?”

“I was going to use the bathing chamber,” she replied indignantly.

“You should have called someone or waited for me.”

“Jaxus, it was bad enough you tried to spoon-feed me broth yesterday. This is going too far. I can get myself there.”

“Do you know that you can? What if you fell and you were alone?”

She groaned and made to stand. I stood near ready to catch her if her legs were still too weak to hold her. I’d had to carry heruntil now. She wobbled slightly and I took her arm, but the flash of anger in her eyes told me that was as far as I should help.

I stepped aside, her arm resting on mine to let her continue and putting more weight on me than she would probably like to admit, but she did slowly get herself to the bathing chamber. She let go of my arm and gripped the door frame, looking at me sternly. “I can take it from here.”

I nodded, letting her take care of the rest herself, but I didn’t leave my post outside the door until she reappeared, rolling her eyes. But she raised no verbal objection to me helping her back into bed. She was slowly getting better but not quickly enough for her liking and it was making her grumpy.

“Don’t do that face,” I said.

“What face?” she grumbled.

“The sulking face because you want to do everything for yourself.”

“Of course I want to do everything for myself! I’m not a child.”

I resisted telling her she was acting a little like one. “Well occasionally, that’s not possible, and you have to accept that some people care enough to want to be there for you when that happens.” The frustration that rose in my voice even took me by surprise.

She blinked in shock.

I sighed. “Look, I want you back on your feet as fast as possible too,” I said taking a seat beside the bed and taking her hand. “But only as fast as it’s good for you. And yeah, I’m not going to lie, being able to take care of you while you need it is something I want to do.”

“Because it makes you feel like you’ve done your duty,” she snarked.

“Because it’s an honor,” I corrected.

Her eyes met mine, taken aback by my sincerity.

I smiled. “Don’t look so surprised.”

“I am, though,” she admitted.

I shook my head. “Healers make the worst patients.”

“I just hate being idle, that’s all.”

“Now that you’re feeling a bit better you don’t have to just lay there, would you like me to bring you some books?” I offered.