Page 69 of In the Embrace of Dragons

Clarity dawns on him. “I see. You hope to catch up.” He touches my arm, slowing me down. “But consider another plan.”

I pause. “What is it?”

“Prepare for her return. Let’s arrange with the kitchen for a fine dinner. Open that beer you were gifted a few moons ago by Orgrin.”

The ogre-people do like their beer, and gave us plenty of it, though we never asked.

He’s probably right, and this is the best way to proceed. Let my queen have her time alone with her friend, then welcome her home with pomp and circumstance.

“All right.” I exhale a long breath. “Let’s do it your way. Perhaps a show to go with dinner?”

Ragnakor gives me an approving nod. “You could bring in Verdaza dancers. Give her a chance to see a traditional event.”

Oh, I do like the idea of a performance as sensual as Verdaza.

“Perfect.”

Now I ought to decide what kind of meal might sway my queen’s heart.

RAGNAKOR

I have instructed the stable boys to take the queen’s horses once she reaches the castle and bring the two humans in through the front doors. There, they will be shown into the great dining room, where one side will be decorated—in arather hurried fashion—for the Verdaza dance. The head of staff was able to find a troupe that could perform tonight for the right amount of money, and the king was happy to pay it.

He has spent the afternoon in the kitchen, overseeing the meal.

“She likes the dark meat cut of chicken,” he’s telling someone when I peer inside. “And sweet potatoes. We have those in season, right? With nuts, too.”

I can’t stop him from overmanaging the staff, so I stay silent and chuckle under my breath. We move on to checking the decorations, and then the stage is set.

Just before sunset, the front doors open.

“What’s going on?” the queen is saying as she follows a guard into the hall. “Why can’t I untack my own horse?”

“My apologies.” Vizarios approaches her and extends a hand. “I wanted you here.”

Suspiciously, she takes his offering, and the king pulls her toward him. “You wanted me for what?”

“To welcome Ari properly to Selvumrrest.” He tucks Nissia’s arm around his elbow, then glances at the queen’s even shorter human companion. “Will both of you come with me?”

I follow along behind as he leads the two of them into the hall, and everyone sits for dinner. The stage is empty, but the sight of it catches Nissia’s attention.

“What’s this?” she asks, gesturing at the paper lamps and traditional decorations.

“For later.”

I watch as the meal is served, and the queen’s surprise grows as her favorite foods are all brought out.

“I didn’t know what Ari would like,” Vizarios says, “so I picked what I know you like, and hoped maybe she shared it with you.”

Nissia doesn’t speak, and she looks frozen to the spot.Then, her hand lifts and gently lands on top of his. I can’t hear them from where I stand, but I can read the words on her lips:Thank you.

I close my eyes and exhale. All is going as it should.

NISSIA

I still don’t believe that Vizarios would do something so selfless, something that is purely about caring for me. He did it in secret to surprise me, and it is the most glorious, lovely surprise to see Ari again. I’m devastated that it’s under such circumstances, and that she’s lost the only person she had left in this world, but I’m glad that we can grieve together.

Dinner isn’t all that my husband has planned for us. Soon, the candles around the dining room are put out, and those on the stage are lit. We all turn our attention to it as dancers glide in, and I’m shocked by what they’re wearing. The males have little more than a scrap of leather covering their groins, and the females are dressed in feathered tops that don’t do much to obscure their breasts. Ari gasps as they emerge, and I think that she, too, is a bit scandalized. But I have learned that dragons are much more open about sex and their natural bodies than we humans are, and besides, they are beautiful.