Page 21 of Dragon Blood

Nor will Astred be when she ascends.

“No. We are a culture deeply rooted in sacrifice.” Her hand hovered over his shoulder a moment before making contact.

She still hesitated to touch him.

Kai was one of those sacrifices. Males could not live in Aeleftheria. They were left with their sires. Their fathers, if they were lucky. As he had been. Many were not so lucky.

Most never knew Aeleftheria, or had the privilege of seeing her.

Both lingered in their silence, listening to the crew and the ship’s sounds as she slid over the ocean. The wind rattled the rigging as distant storm clouds drew closer. Storm and ozone drifted past Kai’s sensitive nose.

“I hope you go to Katoa Koro soon. Kymri was so pleased to see you, and I know she’d want you to visit. It would be good for you to see more dragonkind and understand what they’re trying to achieve in that mountain. Our partnership is crucial to—”

“Kolina.” One of the queen’s guardians approached, her expression taut. The one called Marli.

“What is it?” She spun at the sharp tone, immediately striding forward to meet her. “Is it the queen?”

Kolina brushed past the guardian, heading for the queen’s quarters.

Kai followed.

Astred was already at her mother’s bedside, hand grasping hers, head on her chest, listening. She straightened, face pale, eyes large in her face as her gaze slid from Marli to Kolina to Kai and back. “She’s unconscious. Zayli came to tell me that mother was unwell. When I came in, she didn’t respond, and still hasn’t.”

Seeing the distress in Astred’s eyes constricted Kai’s chest, pressing him to do something to help ease her fear.

“We need to get her home. She’s been away too long.” Kolina moved to the bed, gently touching the queen’s pulse points and forehead. “She needs the shamans.”

“There’s a storm coming which may slow the ship. I’ll take her there myself.” Astred stood.

“You’re not going alone,” Kolina growled.

“As a member of the queen’s personal guard, you should have been more vigilant.” Zayli’s tight voice drew their attention to the open door. “Instead, you’ve been distracted with personal affairs, ignoring your duty to our queen.”

Kolina didn’t object to the accusation. She nodded to Marli. “Prepare her for the journey. It won’t be easy to launch from the ocean. We must be careful.”

“I will do that.” Astred’s gaze locked on her mother.

Kai hovered, his heart clenching with every beat as he watched her bury her fear. “I can help. If you lay her in the rowboat, I can carry her.”

“No male will put his filthy claws on our sovereign.” Zayli snarled, advancing on him. “For all we know, this is your doing. You had a private audience with her.”

Kai stood his ground, facing his cousin’s flinty stare.

Astred was suddenly between them. “Kai is a guest by royal invitation. You will treat him with the respect reserved for any individual personally invited by our sovereign.”

Zayli stepped back, eyes darting toward Kai, before lowering her gaze. “Yes, your Grace.”

Astred’s gaze swept the room. “Kai Sun is present by royal request and as such is now under my protection while the queen is… the queen is indisposed.” She glanced at Kai, then turned to Kolina. “As a member of the queen’s personal guard, if you are in agreement, we will accept Mr. Sun’s offer—as a dragon much larger than ourselves—to transport the queen in one of the Crimson Claw’s small craft, with the rest of the guard as escort.”

Kolina nodded. “Yes, your Grace.”

Kai studied Astred’s worried face as she stroked her mother’s cheek.

The ship’s captain had suddenly given way, seamlessly stepping into her role as heir apparent.

Reginaclosedthedoor,knees sagging as she grasped the nearby table for support on her way to the bunk. She stood a moment, nails digging into the edge of the wood, concentrating on the small flower buds clustered together.

Head swimming, heart racing, she closed her eyes, seeking relief on the pillow. She hadn’t experienced this kind of dizziness since she had trained in aerial combat with her Aeleftherian sisters, long before she ascended the throne.

---