Page 21

Mezerath

Rath stared at a list of menu options, none of the offered items standing out to him in any way. All of it sounded bland, his appetites more focused on a certain Ashen one who he’d spent a lovely evening nesting with. The warmth of him and scent clung to Rath even still.

“Focus, my lord.” Nadi thumped the paper in his hand, making him startle and bleat. Papers scattered, and he clawed around, trying to catch them before they moved from his reach.

“Fine! You choose. I cannot decide.” Rath threw the papers down on the desk and sighed. His eyes wandered to his right where a jacket lay, a few sizes too small for his broad frame. The beginning of small flower embroidery adorned the collar, a spool of gold-twined thread sitting atop it.

Nadi sighed and gestured toward him. “Do your needlework, if you must, sir. I was mistaken to think you could keep your head clear. I have half a mind to suggest you ask Jeron to service you until time.”

Rath hissed with distaste and sneered. “And disrespect my mate?”

“You’re the one who chose to keep him around like some sort of consolation prize, my king.” Nadi held a paper out for Rath to glance over, earning a curt nod before she stamped it with his seal.

“He asked to stay and tend Asha. And I gave Asha a choice.” Rath twisted his lips as he sulked, focusing all his energy and magic into his stitching.

“Make sure you get ongoing consent on that, sir. Your Ashen one may have given his approval so as not to aggravate you.” Nadi licked her finger and turned a few sheafs of parchment before holding out another page for Rath’s seal.

He glanced it over. Some widowed male wanting to marry another widow. He scrutinized ages and assets and shrugged. “Send them a letter of my congratulations.”

At their ages, it had to be love. They were equally matched in finances and heirs, beyond the ages of childbearing and residing in a summer villa as they were divesting inheritances early to abdicate their positions.

His careless glance cost him as he pricked his finger with the needle and swore. “Drat.”

He sucked his finger as Nadi gave the stamp of approval and pulled a generic writ of congratulations from a box of stationery to give his seal to.

Rath signed it politely and went back to his embroidery.

He had limited time before their ceremony and the magic needed time and focus to weave in with intent.

It’d be so much easier if he knew Asha better, if they’d had more time. If they’d fucked.

“The stonemasons to the east are requesting a dragon’s aid for one of the mines. They’re hearing strange noises and want to see if someone more in tune with the earth can mark the right tunnels before they collapse.” Nadi glanced over the document and flicked her gaze to Rath.

“Ghreid or Draenvir… The value of stones speak to him, but Draenvir is better with land…” Rath hummed to himself.

Pryd was better at socializing, and Galatan wouldn’t be out of hibernation for some time.

He had a way with stone and earth. Slath was better with design and efficiency.

Falustus… If someone was fucking the cave, marrying it, breeding it, or uniting households with it, he’d be a solid bet…

“Ghreid. He could use some time outside of the castle. Draenvir is still investigating the aqueducts.” Nadi wrote a quick note and handed it to a nearby attendant to run the letter off.

“Ghreid so does hate stepping away from his numbers.” Rath finished a rather pretty swirl of gold before beaming at his work with pride.

Nadi rolled her eyes and continued rifling through papers. Occasionally she made a note to the side on a slate, summarizing things Rath needed to know.

“I do hate stepping away from my numbers, but I hate losing vested interests as well. If the country’s mines aren’t producing—we’re not profiting.

” Ghreid strolled into the study and glanced around, eyes narrowed at every detail.

He had that in common with their father.

“Have a dozen songbirds in wait for me and by the time I get there, I’ll be prepared. ”

“Noted.” Nadi wrote a missive and passed it off to a messenger to be sent off by a bird.

Ghreid glanced Rath over, eyes narrowing at his work. “Steady your hand, Brother. Your Ashen one deserves your best.”

“I’d be far steadier if we’d bedded one another, I promise you.” Rath stabbed a needle into the rich wool once more.

With a grunt of understanding, Ghreid turned his back, pacing. He did that when he had other things on his mind. “Asha is a lovely male, Rath. Pryd deserved worse than the beating Slath gave him.”

“I didn’t much think Slath capable of beating anyone,” Nadi said, earning a snort of laughter from Ghreid.

“I was upset, but it woke his dragon, so I’ve been more distracted by that particular aspect than I have been angered.

” Rath buried the urge to smile while focusing more intently on his embroidery.

Whoever had said embroidery was a womanly art, had never seen a tenacious dragon before.

The art was practically a sorcerer’s task.

Every stitch had purpose he pushed his magic into.

Though, if he focused any more on Asha’s beautiful scales and his thick, warm tail, the magic he’d be weaving would end up being fertility blessings and virility charms.

“I heard he’s a white.” Ghreid’s thin lips quirked into a half smile. As swarthy as Rath was, taking more after his father, Ghreid was the opposite, all pale hair and untanned skin. He looked every bit the Monsmountian noble.

“Fire opal,” Nadi corrected him, earning a hum of approval.

“None expected you to be the bearer, but it’s always relieving to hear when you know your partner’s designation prematurely.

” Ghreid leaned over Rath’s desk and stared down the handiwork, fingers traversing a few heavy sheafs of parchment with a frown.

“Brother? Do reject this trade agreement. I rather think he misunderstood when I told him he’d never sell his wares in our kingdom again.

He thinks he’s clever by using his wife’s name. ”

Rath double-checked the paper and frowned. “I want to be spiteful and let him cross the borders with wares to seize his assets, but that looks like a lot of work. Send him a response in turn that says we’ll reinstate his original merchant permits if he pays restitution and fines.”

“Excellent idea, Brother.” Ghreid tidied the collar of his shirt before taking his orders from Nadi. “And when is the ceremony? I’ll rush this.”

“Five days. I’d be wedding him tonight, but it’ll take that long at least to get some of the council to show up.” Rath sighed heavily.

“Have you any invitations? I’ll deliver a few while I’m out. Give them time to bring a gift .” Ghreid leered and Rath rolled his eyes.

“We have plenty.”

“Could always have more, Brother.” Ghreid strolled toward a box of addressed letters that Nadi pointed to. He thumbed through them a few times and plucked half a dozen from the stack. “And I’ll see to their delivery.”

Rath waved him off and tied off the end of a thread before nipping it sheer with his sharp teeth.

“Do try to at least relieve yourself before then, Brother. Making oaths lightly isn’t something you usually do.” Ghreid swung by a bowl of fruit seated on Rath’s desk and plucked a particularly fat, ripe pear free. His dark nails shone in dark contrast to the lighter green of the wax skin.

Rath held his breath and went still. With any luck, he’d bite. He could practically feel vibrations of joy rolling through him.

“Oh, do watch out. That’s wax fruit.” Asha’s sweet voice rose from the doorway, and Rath growled.

“Did I do something wrong?” Asha recoiled from the doorway, his face pale and lit with alarm.

Ghreid slanted his golden gaze toward Rath and placed the wax pear down with a sneer. “I’ll be heading out. And thank you, new brother. You’re kinder than your mate.”

Rath slouched and stared at the embroidery in his hands as Ghreid left, patting Asha on the shoulder as he did so.

“Were you about to let him eat that?” Asha turned his head to watch Ghreid strut out, frowning as he did so.

“He was,” Nadi said, confirming Asha’s suspicion.

“That was mean.” Asha frowned but still approached, keeping a polite distance from Rath. He’d been remarkably considerate of their mounting desires.

“That was the intent.” Rath tied off a stitch and folded his work up before setting it to the side.

“Any particular reason you were attempting to deceive your brother into eating decorative fruit?” Asha pulled a seat up and settled down gently, sweeping his tail almost gracefully around to cover his feet.

Rath extended a foot to stroke ever so gently along the white scales, earning a shiver from Asha.

“My own amusement.”

“Would he resort to violence if he’d succeeded?” Asha pursed his lips.

“Maybe.” Rath offered Asha a hapless smile.

“I see.” Asha picked at a spot on his pants. “I’d rather not break up another fight.”

“Fights between brothers aren’t meant to be broken up; they’re meant to be enjoyed.” Rath took a moment to settle himself before studying Asha. His beautiful horns swept free of his hair; his eyes full of unrealized flame. He’d breathe true fire, where some would breathe ice and lightning.

As his thoughts ran away with themselves, Asha’s expression changed to one of unease, his shyness rising as evidenced by the way he shrank under Rath’s gaze. “I rather enjoyed breaking up the fight the other day.”

“Probably for the best. Slath isn’t the victor very often. Then again, he does care very much for you.” Rath averted his gaze and studied some more papers to do with the nuptials. “I meant to ask. It’s customary to gift something to our mate upon being wed. Is there anything you’d like?”

“I thought that jacket you were embroidering was my gift. I cannot get you anything, I apologize. I don’t have money…” Asha squirmed again; his shame palpable.

“The jacket is a gesture. A gift. And I need nothing from you but your dragon, your affection. You’ve given up your life for me already.

” Rath stared down at a guest list he’d studied a thousand times before.

His parents wouldn’t be awake to see him wed, and the thought made him sad, but it was how things were done.

In fact, his parents had prepared for the eventuality.

They’d written letters before their sleep.

The thought had only occurred to him just then.

“My father gifted my mother a wyvern egg for their nuptials. Though, she was hatching Ghreid and Pippin at the same time… Was a bit of a stretch wrangling her first child and her wyvern.”

“There’s nothing I really want. You stole me away from a personal hell. After the shame you put Earl Tippen through, I think I can wait on a wyvern if eggs are a potential…” Asha pursed his lips and curled his tail self-consciously. “Does it hurt?”

“Hatching a wyvern?” Rath blinked a few times.

“Birthing an egg.” Asha bit his lower lip and Rath studied his body, imagining the low swell of his belly laden with their egg. “I cannot imagine where it has to come from…”

“Has Jeron not discussed that with you as of yet?” Rath frowned in surprise. “Or Slath?”

“Slath tried to, I think. He kept wanting to use euphemisms, and I didn’t understand at all.” Asha squirmed in place.

Rath sighed. “Many things hurt. Birth is complicated and is painful, but we heal. Most bearers forget the pain in minutes.”

Asha pursed his lips, eyes wide. “And how do I know…”

“I’ll have Slath and Jeron be less kind to you.” Rath leaned down to kiss his head. “But it is not my place to educate a bearer on their laying.”

Asha nodded. “I will listen better, but it all confuses me.”

“Nadi. Asha and I are going for a walk.” Rath stood and stowed his work, offering Asha an arm as they strolled out.

“I thought we shouldn’t be together alone…” Asha took the proffered limb and lined his step up.

“I would ordinarily agree but consider this bonding time. We’ll avoid any beds.

” Rath had something on his mind and Asha would learn a valuable lesson.

He was a dragon, marrying into a dragon family, and the reality of what would eventually happen to them—and the parents who had ruled before them, needed to be witnessed.