Page 74 of Blood Singer

"I don't like surprises," I protested, though that wasn't entirely true. I loved that he was planning something, loved the way his emotions bled through our bond. Excitement and nervousness and a deep, abiding love that made my chest ache.

"You'll like this one," he said softly, and the certainty in his voice made something flutter in my stomach. "I promise."

Before I could press him further, a knock sounded at the door. Artis' voice called through the heavy wood, warm with barely concealed amusement. "Your Majesties? Lord Rhucard is asking for King Kavan to join him in the great hall."

"Of course he is," Kavan muttered, but I felt his anticipation spike. Whatever he was planning, it was happening soon. "Tell him I'll be down in twenty minutes."

"He says it's urgent," Artis called back, and I could hear the smile in her voice. "Something about final preparations that require your immediate attention."

Final preparations. So there was something being prepared. I looked at Kavan triumphantly. "I knew it. You are planning something."

"I've no idea what Rhucard needs," Kavan said, already pulling away from me and reaching for his clothes with movements just a touch too quick. "He's probably having another crisis about his dating profile. You know how dramatic he gets."

"Kavan—"

"Trust me." He turned back to me, cupping my face in his hands. I felt the depth of his love, the fierce protectiveness that always made me feel cherished and safe. "Just for a few more hours. Can you do that?"

I wanted to argue. Wanted to demand answers and refuse to let him leave until he told me everything. But the vulnerability in his eyes, the nervous hope bleeding through our bond, softened my resolve.

"Fine," I said, rising on my toes to kiss him. "But whatever this is, it better be good."

"It will be." His arms tightened around me, holding me close. "I promise you, Leila. It will be."

Then he was pulling away, pressing one more kiss to my forehead before heading for the door. I watched him go, feeling the echo of his emotions. Love and anticipation and a determination to make whatever he was planning absolutely perfect.

I had no idea what he was up to. But as I stood there in our chambers, wrapped in his shirt and his scent, I couldn't help but smile.

Because whatever surprise Kavan had planned, I knew it would be worth the wait.

Rhucard was pacing the great hall when I arrived hours later, his long dark hair pulled back in a warrior's braid, his eyes wild with what I could only describe as panic.

"Leila!" He rushed toward me, and I had to resist the urge to take a step back. "Thank the ancestors. I need your help. Immediately."

"What's wrong?" I asked, genuinely concerned now. "Did something happen with one of your matches?"

"Something happened with all of them." He said it like he was announcing the end of days. "They all want to meet me. At the same time. How am I supposed to choose? What if I pick the wrong one? What if my blood song mate is in that group and I miss her because I was distracted by someone else's smile?"

I stared at him for a long moment, then started laughing. I couldn't help it. Here was one of the most feared warriors in the northern wastes, a dragon who could level mountains and had fought in countless battles, completely undone by the prospect of speed dating.

"It's not funny," Rhucard said, though his lips were twitching. "This is a serious crisis."

"It's a little funny," I said, getting myself under control. "Okay, let's think about this logically. You don't have to meet all three hundred at once. We can set up a series of video calls first, let you narrow down your options based on who you actually connect with."

"Video calls." Rhucard looked thoughtful. The Alliance had just completed the communications upgrades on Drakhoni, which made communication across the universe as simple as using a cell phone.

"You can talk to them, get a sense of their personalities, see who makes your blood sing." I paused. "Metaphorically speaking. Unless you actually hear the blood song, in which case, congratulations and you're welcome."

"You're brilliant," Rhucard said, pulling me into a hug that lifted me off my feet. "This is why Kavan's lucky to have you. You solve impossible problems and make it look easy."

"Put my mate down," Kavan's voice came from the doorway, dry and amused. "Before I decide your dating crisis isn't worth my time."

Rhucard set me down quickly, but he was grinning. "Your Majesty. I was just thanking your queen for her wisdom and insight."

"I heard." Kavan moved to stand beside me, his hand finding mine automatically. "And while I appreciate your enthusiasm, we've got other matters to attend this afternoon."

Something flickered through our bond then. Anticipation mixed with nervous energy that made my stomach flip. I looked up at Kavan, trying to read his expression, but his face was carefully neutral in that way that meant he was hiding something.

"What matters?" I asked, suspicious now. "You said you had meetings all afternoon."