Page 4 of Dragon Blood

Regina smiled. “That’s obvious, Astred, but irrelevant.”

Red scowled at her mother.

“Your love affair with the seas is coming to an end—not for some time yet, but soon.” Regina searched Astred’s face. “I know your passion for freedom will transfer to that of your people. Acceptance of your duty will come. And a little more time at home with the history and political tutors would be wise.”

Astred snorted. “You should have had another heir, mother.”

Regina quirked a brow. “I only need one, and she’s perfect for the job.”

“You should prepare for our arrival.”

Regina caught Red’s hand as she moved to leave. “You will be a formidable queen, my love. And your rule will be marked by the Ascension. I’ve just held the course. You will guide our people into the new era.”

Red held her mother’s gaze as her words rippled through her with snaps and fizzles, triggering truths long buried within her.

Astred drew a breath, breaking eye contact. She gave Regina’s hand a pat before turning away to call up to a crew woman in the crow’s nest to alert them when an hour from port.

“Astred.”

Red halted at her mother’s voice.

“Everything will change after this event. You need to prepare yourself. It’s time.”

Chapter 3

Takinginthevaultedceiling of the airy mansion, Kai Sun rolled his shoulders. He still questioned his fragile reasoning for agreeing to fly across the world to a tiny island in the middle of the ocean when he had a stack of contracts that waited on his desk to be reviewed.

Even though he’d completed the most pressing portfolio before leaving, there was always more waiting for his attention.

Kolina had insisted. She’d called him to see about his acceptance. His sister was getting married, and it was the marriage of a dragon’s lifetime. An Aeleftherian dragon’s lifetime. Which he was not. By blood, yes, but as a male, wholly irrelevant.

His jaw tightened as his gaze landed on Kolina at her approach. He nodded respectfully. “Mother.”

He stiffened as she reached out, giving his arm a light squeeze, eyes roaming his face as though he would disappear at any moment.

She’s much softer than I remembered.

Gut tight, he buried the rising emotions he had yet to examine since her sudden reappearance, seeking to reconnect with him after all these years. Many years. He still reeled over the whole unexpected reunion. If it weren’t for his family’s encouragement—his father’s family—he’d have shut the door in Kolina’s face and got on with his life.

Her smile faltered, but still held it as she dropped her hand. “I’m glad you decided to join us. Kymri is so excited to meet you.”

Something he never thought would happen. Not with the Aeleftherian attitude toward male children.

He nodded, not letting her off the hook. “Shame it took so long for it to happen. And to be honest, I wasn’t going to come. Not with the current workload I have.” He cleared his throat, turning his attention to the other guests arriving.

“Well, consider it an impromptu vacation.” She turned as an older man approached, broad shouldered, trim, salt and pepper hair. “Odson. This is my son, Kai.”

The way Odson’s gaze swept over Kolina, lingering on her face, left Kai with no doubt about his affection for her.

Odson Blackridge. Kai had heard of him over the years. He held out his hand to the older man.

Odson accepted it with a firm shake. “Kai.”

“Is Kymri ready? She was looking for Jori when she asked me to find Kai,” Kolina said.

Odson nodded, turning to lead them toward another wing of the vast house. “We’d better do this while everyone is settling in before dinner. Carson is just waiting for Queen Regina to arrive.”

Kai followed behind, thoughts whirling through his mind, stomach and chest so tight he had to force himself to breathe as he struggled to make sense of what was happening. As he had so many times before, he questioned the reality of the circumstances and his sanity for agreeing to come to this weekend wedding for a sister that didn’t even know him.

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