Page 16 of Dragon Blood

So long ago.

Red swallowed.

How long has it been since I saw her look so relaxed? Free of political weights and Aeleftherian responsibilities?

This was the first time Astred knew of Regina’s absence from the island. She’d dedicated her entire life to it.

Something Astred had resisted most of her adult life.

It is so good to see her look so free and peaceful.

Finished, Regina straightened, smiling into Astred’s eyes, searching their depths. She reached out, caressing Astred’s cheek. “You love him.”

Startled, Astred gaped.

Regina smiled. “His scent is distinct. And I know you, Astred. Better than you think.” She tapped Astred’s chest with a gentle finger. “As queen, I’m often privy to the emotions of those around me. I feel the subtle changes in their energy. And yours turned chaotic the second you saw each other yesterday.”

Astred turned away from her mother’s knowing gaze, throat tight, heart pounding.

“Kolina’s son. He’s different.” Regina picked up her Aeleftherian jewels, pinning and tucking them into place. “Dragon initiated, but not wholly dragon. And tiger? Unusual.” She added a pin at each shoulder. One for their House of Arakkil, the other for Aeleftheria. Regina held up a twin of the second one for Astred.

Astred shook her head.

Regina replaced it in the box. “Standing between the two of you felt like standing between two bluffs, with a tsunami rolling between them.”

Retrieving a second box set on a side table, the queen strode toward the door and paused, hand on the handle. “I remember that feeling.” She opened the door and stepped between the Aeleftherian warriors guarding it.

Astred straightened her shoulders, staring at the back of her mother’s head as she followed her to join the other guests. Aeleftheria’s sacred indigo flower decorated Regina’s flowing locks, woven with a silver chain bearing diamonds and a third crest, of dragon and fire.

She shivered, eyes glued to the facsimile bearing one of the three seals representing dragonkind’s connection to its magical heart. Embedded into the architectural design and decor of Aeleftheria, it was a symbol higher than any house or dragon nation. One of the other two seals, binding dragon and human, was protected by Jori’s tribe of at Katoa Koro mountain dragons.

And the seals were the reason they met on this island to talk weddings and politics now.

Three seals depicting the trinity of dragon heritage, keys to dragonkind’s greatest treasure and laterally spell-bound, to ensure cooperation when the time arose to open the ancient vault.

So Astred recalled from the old tales that colored recent conflicts and intrigue.

She sighed.

The location of the third seal was still a mystery. Kane believed the Consortium held it, still seeking confirmation from the prisoner, apprehended bearing the stolen mountain seal, subsequently returned to Jori’s protection.

Ahead of her, Regina paused.

Arriving at the threshold, Astred’s gaze swept the lovely venue.

The terrace had been arranged for a single, blended audience with rows of chairs lined in arcs, rippling back from an intricately carved and decorated arbor set atop risers with the sparkling deep teal sea and intense aqua sky as its backdrop.

Eyes closed, Astred inhaled the fresh ocean air, allowing it to fill her lungs, turning away thoughts of her beloved ship and the freedom she represented. Opening her eyes, she focused on her duty to represent her people amid this small delegation of varied nations and organizations, strengthening their partnership to protect against threats crowding their sovereignty. It wasn’t a global meeting, just those intimately affected by recent events, surrounding the discovery of this shadow group’s interference seeking to control all three seals.

The Consortium.

This wedding was a union of two individuals who’d found love, deciding to stay the course on their mission to reunite dragonkind, culturally severed centuries ago.

Astred’s gaze swept the terrace, landing on Kai as he approached from the other side of the mansion, striding toward his mother, Kolina Steelscale.

Her mouth went dry as her pulse accelerated at the gorgeous sight of him wearing a tuxedo. She quickly shoved away the tiniest peep of memory of their encounter in the wee hours that had left her sleepless.

He was a perfect example of why her mother had decided to resist the Aeleftherian Council and work with the Katoa Koro dragons rather than turn their backs on them. It wasn’t just Kai, but the newly crowned King Jori Mountainside himself, along with all his tribe. And Odson, Elora’s brother and Aeleftheria’s honored friend since long before Astred’s birth.

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