Page 62 of Ale Storm

“I’m not elven, beautiful, or aloof. I think I’m safe.”

The look that Zilek slanted over his shoulder at Rylana, proving he was listening as he prattled on about his woes, made her rethink that assumption. She made a mental note to ask Jildarin later if dragons truly experienced something called mating urgency. Zilek did seem more sex-obsessed than usual today. Would it be safe for them to ride with him? Probably. Sylin could take care of herself, even against dragons, and Rylana wasn’t above kneeing a guy in the groin, much as she’d done with the dwarf.

“I wouldn’t dream of mating with the female that my brother has claimed,” Zilek said as they walked out of the market, his black carriage coming into view, his dwarven driver waiting outside. “Unless she realized that I’m the superior male and wanted a far more experienced and interesting partner.”

“I thought you were acquiring jam, my lord?” The dwarf opened the carriage door.

“Every now and then, you get lucky and find more than you’re looking for when you go shopping.”

“Yes, my lord,” the dwarf said with an impressive lack of inflection.

“Take us to the elven enclave.” Zilek slid into the carriage and onto one of the upholstered benches.

Rylana climbed in after, sitting opposite him. Though Sylin had been poised to come along, she paused before getting in.

“I’ve come on too strongly, haven’t I?” Zilek looked at Rylana and sighed. “I must admit that I’m accustomed to females who are eager to engage with a shape-shifted dragon. Our kind exude power that others can sense, even the lesser species. And they’re often curious and turned on by it. But an elf… an elf is different.” He sighed with longing.

“Maybe if you assumed an elven form yourself, you might be more attractive to her. She’s admitted to finding pointed ears appealing.” Rylana meant it as a joke, but Zilek promptly grew speculative.

“Don’t tell him that.” Sylin scowled at her.

Since Sylin teased her frequently, Rylana didn’t feel that bad about tormenting her a little. She patted the seat next to her in invitation but half-expected Sylin to depart.

“My loyalty to you knows no bounds,” Sylin muttered, settling beside her.

“And is second only to your loyalty to the baker who provides your scones.”

“Don’t forget my coffee providers.”

“So your loyalty to me is fourth to others.”

“There’s also Vilma, the half-gnome server who helps Brella and Tezilly bring my coffee. She’s become important to me.”

The carriage rolled into motion, Zilek smiling easily as he leaned back, arms stretched across the back of the bench, his bag of meat jams perched beside him. When his gaze swung to Sylin, she returned it with a hostile expression. Rylana resolved to stop teasing her about Zilek. It had been wrong of her—a move of desperation—to set her up on a date with him to start with. How could she now turn his interest aside?

“I don’t think Sylin is going to warm up to you, ear points regardless,” Rylana told Zilek. “Are there any elves at the enclave that have intrigued you? Maybe you can visit them while we’re there.”

“There are many attractive elves residing in the enclave, and they are eager and available to one of my stature. Last time, I encountered a young maiden who was quite appealing.”

Sylin rolled her eyes. Rylana looked out the window to see how much farther they had to travel.

“But such females who make themselves so available are… Well, they are not without merit, but I also enjoy a challenge.” Zilek smiled again at Sylin, his gaze lowering to her chest.

She drew her knife. “If you have to look at me at all, I insist you look at my eyes.”

Zilek chuckled, then lifted his gaze to her face. “As I’ve noted before, dragons appreciate warrior females. How many foes have you assassinated?”

“Many.”

“What would cause you to appreciate me admiring your flawless feminine assets? What do you seek in a mate?”

“Someone with goals and a purpose in the world,” Sylin said without hesitation.

Since Rylana hadn’t heard Sylin mention mate preferences before, she was almost surprised by the prompt answer. Maybe she’d only said it since Zilek seemed the opposite of that, and she wanted to deter him.

“Ah, I see.” Zilek nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll confess that I have been considering what goals I might pursue next. In the aftermath of the war, in which we were all so very busy and constantly in danger, I’ve enjoyed relaxing and seeking pleasure and entertainment here in Tranquility. But seeing my brother with his new mission does make me feel…” He waved a vague hand. “Oh, I don’t know. In the beginning, I thought his cooking adventure a quirky hobby he would soon abandon, but it seems to give him fulfillment. As hard as that is to imagine. Cooking for lesser species. Serving them, essentially. It is so undragonly.”

“Bringing happiness to others is a noble pursuit,” Rylana said, irritated that he would dismiss Jildarin’s passion.