Chapter Thirty-Five

“Well, thank the Gods,” my father said at lunch the next day.

My mate and I had slept in after our long night of lovemaking, so this was the first meal of the day for us. We had decided to take it in the dining hall, sitting at the royal table together with my family and Ellas. I had just informed my parents about the day before—everything about the Eye, our new allies, and my confession to Aras.

“We've been eager to welcome you into our family, Son,” my mother said to Aras as she got out of her chair.

She went to him, and Aras stood, looking uncertain. His eyes went wide as she hugged him.

“You're not disappointed that your son didn't mate a Dragon?” Aras asked.

My father made a scoffing sound as he leaned around my back to shake Aras's hand. “You've seen how our fellow Dragons are behaving. Do you really think it bothers us that you aren't one of them?”

“Well, I hope I'd be a good Dragon.”

Father laughed. “I'm sure you would be. At the very least, you'd tell your mate that you had mated him.” He shot a chiding look my way.

“Enough of that,” my mother said. “It was that relic influencing him.” She kissed my cheek before returning to her seat. “Lyrandir can't be held accountable for his actions.”

“I can and I will be,” I said. “I'm going to make it up to Aras.”

“After we win this war,” Aras said. “Then you can do all the making-up you want. But until then, we have to focus on preparing the army.” He looked out across the hall. “Is there anything more we can do to improve their skills?”

I thought about it. “Beyond enchanting them, no.”

“That's not such a bad idea,” my father said.

“Hidero!” my mother exclaimed.

“What? He was going to use the Eye. How is enchanting the troops any different?”

“I believe that's the point, Father,” I said.

“We are magical beings,” my father said. “You cannot let what happened affect how you feel about magic.”

“Not magic,” I said. “Enchantment. I don't want to do that to our people.”

“Do what? Empower them? Protect them?” my father shot back. “It could be the edge we need. If you offered to enchant me in that way, I would eagerly accept.”

My mother went silent, looking from him to me.

“Ly, he's right,” Aras said.

I lifted my brows at my mate.

“Think about it,” Aras said. “You could hire spellcasters of other races to help your soldiers. No other Dragon king has thought to do that.”

“Because no other Dragon king has had their dread turn against them,” I muttered. “They all have faith in the support of their dreads and the might of Dragons against anyone or anything else, including magic.”

“Exactly!” my father exclaimed.

I scowled at him in confusion.

“Son, our race is too arrogant to consider spellcraft for enhancement. The nobles would never consider such a thing, nor would they expect you to. But what harm will it do? None. It can only help. And empowering Dragons will—”

“That's just it,” I cut him off. “We don't know what it will do because it's never been done before. We don't even know if it's possible.”

“We gained Water Magic recently,” my mother said. “If we can hold Fire and Water inside us, anything is possible.”

“We won't know until we try,” Aras said. “And we need to do everything we can to increase our chances.”

I sat back and stared around the hall at the Dragons dining there. Farmers, merchants, cobblers, horse trainers, and more. Men and women who had given up their homes and livelihoods to support their king. Not just me, I realized. They were there for themselves. To get the respect they deserved and change our kingdom for the better. So the next generation wouldn't be looked down upon as they were. Would these people balk if I offered them a way to make them more powerful than our enemies?

No, they would embrace it. Because even though they dined in the royal castle, they were also backed into a corner. With their king.

“Mossemas!” I shouted.

The steward came running into the dining room a few minutes later. I don't know how it worked, who relayed what to whom, but one shout always did the trick.

Mossemas stopped before the royal table and bowed. “How may I serve you, Your Majesty?”

“Find me the best magic-users in the kingdom,” I said. “And get them here as fast as possible. If you need a Dragon to fly them, let me know. I'll find someone.”

Mossemas's eyes went wide. “Yes, Your Majesty!” He ran out of the room.

My father chuckled. “There's something else the nobles don't have.”

“What's that?” I asked.

“A Mossemas.”

I grinned after my steward. Once again, I thought to myself that I'd have to reward him when this was over. If I was still in a position to grant rewards.