Page 26

Asha

Asha’s stomach knotted at the thought of what Rath could have waiting for him. It could have been anything—gold, a new servant, clothes. His were still being made with the tailor’s, but Slath was such a close fit to him that it mattered not. And his soon-to-be brother-in-law didn’t mind sharing.

For good measure, and because nobody told him he couldn’t, he brought a book with him, clutching the tome under one arm while his tail swished idly behind him.

Walking with it got easier by the day, pleasant, even.

He could only wish for more of his draconic features to come in as easily.

Even in his sleep, he dreamed of more of his dragon self to come.

And he yearned to see Rath’s dragon, though Slath had shown him paintings of all the brothers.

Even with his considerable skill, Asha couldn’t imagine what it would look like in person.

When he approached his room, he tapped on the door, peering in uneasily. Jeron sat in the window well with a book reading idly and glanced up with a smile. “Pardon. I should be—”

“Should you be? I don’t need for anything.

Feel free to relax.” Asha offered a smile before taking a seat by the window, too.

He liked seeing the sky, all blue and near cloudless.

Looking down only gave him view of mists and peaks of the mountainous valley below.

The window would be shuttered in a few hours to prevent Asha from seeing the moon, but until then—one did as they pleased.

Jeron eyed Asha uneasily for a moment before placing a bookmark in his tome and clearing his throat.

“I’m aware Rath has a surprise for me.” Asha tried to focus on his book but couldn’t. He found himself trying to read the same sentence a half dozen times.

“I’m not sure I would call it a surprise , but it is rather shocking—if not scandalous.” Jeron snorted and stared at the book in his lap before leafing through to his bookmark once more, feigning reading.

“It was shocking enough that Rath thought to tell me I could send it away if I didn’t care for it.” Asha frowned. “It’s not another servant, is it?”

“I’m afraid so. Once Nadi has them clothed—it’ll be up to you to keep them or not.” Jeron wrinkled his nose and resumed his fake reading.

“Rath hasn’t shared a bed with this one, has he? No offense.” Asha held up a placating hand as Jeron gave him a soured look. “I meant nothing by it!”

“I’m flattered you feel so threatened by me, my lord, but what I did for Rath versus what you will do for him are two very different things.

I was a necessary evil, and I enjoyed it.

I chose to, and Rath picked me for the role.

I no longer am needed.” Jeron waved a hand dismissively.

“But no, Rath most certainly has not lain with this woman.”

“Meh…” Asha sighed. “I apologize. I shouldn’t be so defensive. I feel this need, like I want to crawl out of my own skin. And the one thing I very-much-so want, I cannot have. And you already have had it. I’m jealous, and I apologize.”

Jeron gave Asha a sharp stare that melted after a few moments. “I’ve not known many nobles to apologize. Dragons are piss-poor at it, but they do, and it’s a sign of good character and leadership. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I hope we can continue to be candid with one another.” Asha wasn’t certain if Jeron was allowed to be so forward, but his worries were cinched when he tossed the book aside and sighed.

“I’m not supposed to be so forward, but I was trained as a bedservant.

I’m a glorified dragon nanny and I know a thousand ways to curb a dragon—amorous or no.

They’re also training me to deal with hatchlings, so that will be fun.

Little lizards will be so full of themselves and prideful from birth. ”

“They are very full of themselves,” Asha said before halting. Jeron gave him a long stare that conveyed his point. You are a dragon.

“Uh—huh.”

“I’m not full of myself!” Asha huffed indignantly.

“Yet.” Jeron enunciated the t with too much enthusiasm.

A polite knock interrupted their banter, a curt tattoo of sound that Asha recognized as Nadi. “Come in!”

Asha turned his head toward the door in time for Nadi to step in, chin held high, as a ghost stood behind her.

“I’ve been instructed to bring this woman to your chamber, my prince.” Nadi flinched as Lyss balked.

“Prince? That’s Asha! Less’n he’s one of them dukes now…” Lyss, hair much shorter than Asha recalled, stood in the dimness of the doorway and barged in, halting as she laid eyes upon him.

“You… What did that flower sniffer of a dragon do to you, Asha?” Lyss, a head shorter than Asha, bowled forward, wrapping her arms around his chest with a crushing squeeze.

“Oof! Nothing. I’m—” Asha wheezed and patted her back, his heart swelling with happiness. He missed her so sorely. “I’m a sort of dragon.”

“Sort of? You are a dragon. You are an Ashen, born of man,” Jeron said, standing to attention before Nadi and the guest. “And you should address our prince as such.”

“I’ll address him how I see fit. I didn’t scour chamber pots ’n sew wounds closed for as many years as I did without getting to be familiar. Now why didn’t you tell me you was a dragon?” Lyss shoved at Asha and glared.

“If I knew, I would have told you! Why didn’t you tell me you were alive?” Asha grabbed her shoulders and stared her down.

“It wasn’t like you were there to tell. I snuck around for days before I figured out you were gone.

Been working my skirts hard since you left, trying to get up here.

You know Earl Rodent had half the staff beaten and even took a few swings at the boys?

And to hear you was the lady’s son. My word.

The gossip was juicy . Your man didn’t seem keen on chatting me up, though.

Fancy you with a Saurian. Didn’t you say you was keen on the swarthier men? ”

“I did. I fancied them, yes.” Asha cleared his throat before Lyss patted his sides and circled him, her face alight with curiosity. “I don’t much care for dragons, but they’ve treated me better than me own countrymen so far.”

“They have. I’ve come to quite like them. So much of what we knew is fabrications and slander.” Asha dodged Lyss’s curious prods with a half laugh. “Now, back on topic, Lyss!”

“Oh. Rafi put a crate under me feet on the hanging platform and swapped me body for a dead boar. Were the funniest thing watching people pretend to cry. And I heard you had some grandiose speech about where I hid them combs.” Lyss snorted. “Pawned them on the way, I did.”

Asha laughed, and they hugged once more, catching up on what seemed like a lifetime of missing memories.

“And they says I can have a job here if I want. I guess. Scullery or chamber pots, I guess unless there’s a man around that needs his bed warmed.” Lyss nodded succinctly, and Asha rolled his eyes.

“Actually, we thought you’d best work the laundry when not in Asha’s service.” Nadi cleared her throat. “Unless she needs to attend Jeron’s lessons.”

“No!” Asha fumbled over the word. Jeron raised a brow, and Lyss reciprocated. The two made prolonged eye contact that had Asha cowering. The two would be his undoing.

“What classes? I can read, if’n that’s what you mean.” Lyss sniffed indignantly.

“If you read as well as you speak—” Nadi quieted herself with a glare from Lyss.

“I’m being educated in manners of rearing hatchlings. For when Asha and Rath eventually—” Jeron furrowed his brow when Asha coughed loudly and interrupted.

The news flew over Lyss’s head and for a moment, Asha thought he wouldn’t have to explain.

“I’m not sure why it’s some big secret. When Asha eventually becomes pregnant, he’ll need all the help he can get, especially if there’s multiple eggs.” Jeron glared at Asha, and Nadi swore under her breath. Lyss’s face scrunched up at a sudden realization.

Asha winced as her eyes widened, that age-old look of her finally coming to a conclusion. She wore her expressions far too openly. “Listen, Lyss.”

Lyss balked. “Pregnant? What is that dragon doing to you?”

Asha held his hands up, shushing her as Jeron and Nadi made knowing and unamused eye contact.

“Dragons don’t really… Gender doesn’t…” Asha fumbled.

“Dragons have two genders, their outward appearance and their inner organs. No two dragons who unite know their internal gender very often. In rare circumstances, there’s some dragons that you can tell by color alone—like with Asha and Slath—that they’re bearers.” Nadi waved her hand dismissively.

“That pearlescent color that shimmers on his scales is a dead giveaway.” Jeron rolled his eyes and glanced at Lyss with a note of challenge in his expression. Asha would need to nip that in the bud. “Not like a Monsmount commoner would have any idea where to begin.”

“Jeron, this is my childhood best friend that I spoke of. Lyss. I am not replacing anyone. She doesn’t need to be educated on how to raise hatchlings. I can barely trust her not to burn food.” Asha held a stern finger out toward Jeron, who shrank in utter humiliation.

Lyss huffed indignantly.

“Now, what you do here on out is up to you, Lyss. I’m ever so happy to have you back. You have no idea. And I never want you to have to work your skirts again.”

“‘Less I want to.” Lyss huffed.

“Unless you want to,” Asha agreed, and that point seemed to satisfy Nadi at some level. She had a certain kind of hurt in her eyes—shame? Asha couldn’t tell.

Lyss certainly didn’t have any shame. She’d given up on it so long ago.

Vierbalt hurt both of them in different ways, but they were stronger for it.

More certain of all the things they wanted.

Uncertain in others. If Asha hadn’t thought Lyss dead, he’d have put up a fight with Rath.

He might not wanted to have left at all.

Emotions rose and Asha grabbed Lyss, bringing her in for a tight hug. Tears stung his eyes and he let them flow. “Rath made them promise you a whitestone grave marker.”

Lyss laughed and returned his hug. “’E’s givin’ that pig the greatest funeral ever. Wonder if he noticed the lack of bacon.”

Asha laughed and shook, hiding sobs in every breath. His world had changed, but he had Lyss and that was fine.

“But I’m not wrestlin’ your crotch spawn. That’s all Red over there’s doing.” She gestured at Jeron who sniffed indignantly. “Prolly better at it than I am. One of us had to have kids, yanno?”

“I didn’t think it’d be me, that’s for certain.” Asha cleared his throat and snickered.

“Never saw myself as a mother. Not really. Maybe I’ll be a better auntie?”

“Deal.” Asha invited Lyss to sit, extending an invitation to Nadi that, surprisingly, she took.

“So, laundry maid it is.” Lyss dusted her hands off and flopped into a chair. A crooked grin slashed across her face. “So, does I get a bed, or am I sleepin’ with the horses?”

Nadi’s face wrinkled. “In this part of the keep, we have wyverns. Nobody sleeps with the wyverns. It’s barbaric. We’ll have you a room—and if there’s one not made up, I’m sure I could make accommodations in my apartment.”

Asha’s heart squeezed, his cheeks warming.

Jeron glanced toward the window and stood, walking over to shutter the windows.

The dimming sky outside didn’t give Asha a hint of moon, the celestial body that would eventually spell his undoing. He missed being able to look at it, but perhaps it was best.

He longed to see the moon, if only for what it would mean. He’d want Rath and be brave enough to have him.