Page 88 of Retrograde

Issa’s dragon seemed bored with the whole thing and that was pretty much how the man always acted. Something was offwith Natrix and I was pretty sure he was miffed he ended up going last.

Seriously? He was that petty?

Like… Yeah, that would work out. Someone impatient and having an inflated ego should absolutely mate the ruler of probably the most powerful nation in the world.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

After everyone else changed back, the guards called out to turn around and avert eyes. People weren’t fucking around about that anymore and calling anyone out who even tried last time. I was shocked no one even messed around, but then again the “adults” were there, not just me and my people.

How sad was that?

I thanked Maple when she had something ready for me to wear.

“You okay?” she worried.

“I would be crushed if it was me. Stall for me,” I mumbled and hurried off to go find the rock dragon who had left because… I cared about him too.

22

Sagan

“I’m sorry I walked away when you asked me not to do that,” he said when I found him sitting up on the castle’s outer wall. “And I’m sorry how—I didn’t even realize what was happening until my dragon was just—”

“I know,” I whispered as I moved next to him but didn’t sit down. “For the record, that’s how it happened for me. I just was—it was justhappeningand I was too stunned to like…”

He wiped his eyes and then reached back for me. I thought just for my hand and took his, but then I swallowed a yelp as he picked me up and sat me next to him, holding me against him.

“Why doesn’t your dragon like me?” he asked, his voice cracking.

“She doesn’t dislike you. You worry her,” I answered honestly, leaning my head against his chest. “She’s worried about how being with you would traumatize me after Kole. Your family—Vex. It won’t ever just be done or over.” I cleared my throat.

He figured it out and flinched. “She’s mad I failed you and your uncle handled things when I promised to.”

“Dragons aren’t always fair,” I reminded him.

“No, but she’s not wrong either. I did fail and—I thought…” He shook his head and kissed my hair. “I’ll accept him. I will. My dragon just—he wants to be loved by your dragon too and—”

“Onyx,please, you’re jumping ahead and…” I sighed and scrubbed my face before turning to see him. He wouldn’t look at me at first until I touched his face. “I shouldn’t tell you, but there’s serious shit with his family.” He frowned and I nodded. “I can’t gossip about the other families and—”

“That’s really not fair when everyone knows what’s working againstus,” he grumbled.

He was right, so I gave him a look that clearly it was between us, glad when he nodded.

“Berlinger’s—Berg’s motherhatedmine,” I told him quietly. “Like despised her, and there as a problem at the funeral because she kept saying Father was the only loss. She actuallystolestuff and Maple had to—we found out reviewing the security footage. She actually stole some of my mother’s stuff in her sitting room during the funeral feast.”

Onyx’s mouth fell open. “Well, for fuck’s sake. And then they had theirsonbe part of this? Not like a nephew or…” He sighed when I nodded again. “Yeah, that’s awesome for you.”

I snorted. “Oh yeah, even better when she had a lot to say about me being just as petty as my mother for starting problems over sometrinketslike she took the shampoo out of the rooms.”

“What did she take?” he wondered.

I opened my mouth but then closed it. “I honestly didn’t get into it all. I know it was worth millions.” I snickered when his mouth fell open again. “Yeah, she stole millions in stuff from Mother’s private sitting room that—she had a corrupt guard. She doesn’t think we know that yet, but some weren’t just in the elders’ pockets, but Alpha families’ too.”

“What a fucking mess. That’s an awkward introduction.”

“We said like two words,” I drawled, nodding yet again when he seemed hesitant. “I’m not even kidding that we basically greeted each other and I welcomed him to the castle and we ate. That was it. The tension was through the roof and he looked like he wanted to bolt.”

He hugged me tightly and kissed my hair. “I’m sorry I made this harder on you. I just…”