Page 85 of Lady Dragon
“Cats are good judges of character.” Samansa gave her a cheeky wink.
Kirek’s lips twitched. “Maybe… justmaybe…cats are like dragons in that way. And only that way.”
A huge shadow fell across the sun, and Thoman hissed at the sky before bolting into the greenery. Before long, Valraka landed atop the garden wall nearby, loose mortar raining downas she settled her wings. Kirek vaguely hoped the stones would hold under her weight.
“I think your character has been found wanting by my cat,” Samansa told Valraka, smiling without baring any teeth. “You do look rather frightening.”
My character should not be appealing to such a creature, and such a creatureshouldbe frightened of me, Valraka said stiffly.
Samansa ignored the possible threat. “Though your eyes are actually quite pretty, once you get used to them.”
Valraka’s nostrils flared.Pretty?she said in affront at the same time Kirek exclaimed in disbelief, “Pretty?”
“Pretty… terrifying?” Samansa added hesitantly, obviously trying not to laugh.
The dragon, after a moment’s further consideration, as if trying to spot the lie with those bloodred eyes, nodded at the perceived compliment, and Kirek’s face hurt from not-smiling.
“I remember when you called me handsome,” Kirek said, turning back to Samansa. “I didn’t take it so well then, either.”
Samansa looked coyly up at her through her lashes. “What if I were to call you handsome now?”
“I—I would not be so offended,” Kirek stammered, “though it would take some getting used to as well.”
“Good. You’d better get used to it.” The princess stepped closer to her, placing a hand on Kirek’s chest, just over where the dragon girl’s heart was beginning to race. “Would you be offended, then, if I told you that, as handsome as you look, you still need a bath?”
Kirek barked a laugh. “No, because you speak the truth.”
“Then perhaps you won’t mind thatthisis still stained.” Samansa withdrew her mark of favor from where she’d tuckedit in her gown. The kerchief was damp from an obvious attempt at washing, but it nonetheless bore the faded color of her heart’s blood. Kirek held her breath as Samansa gently retied it where she once had after the tourney—around the dragon girl’s upper arm, what felt like a lifetime ago.
It had been a lifetime. Samansa had died since. Now the delicate fabric felt as heavy as a promise against Kirek’s flesh. Alife, promised.
All Kirek could do was try to be worthy of it. For a moment, tears stung her eyes as she stared down at it—and for once she didn’t mind.
Samansa obviously wasn’t thinking of such weighty matters. She was still looking up at Kirek in a way that made the dragon girl’s skin tingle. “We could go together to the baths later. I would love another. Or even a third, after what I’ve been through.”
“I… think I would like that,” Kirek murmured, her head beginning to tilt downward, her lips drawn to Samansa’s like a bee to a flower.
The queen suddenly cleared her throat behind them, once again making her presence known at their private moment—well, one that was already attended by the massive black dragon on the wall. Merard shadowed her at a respectful distance, as always.
“Now that you’ve takenextensivetime to see to your personal comforts, Samansa,” the queen said dryly, “can we finally discuss what is to be done between the two of you?”
Samansa took Kirek’s hand as she turned to face her mother. “I don’t care if our love is permitted. You can cast me out like you once did Cenara… or change the rules like you just did forher. In any case, Kirek is staying with me. I don’t know what our future looks like, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
The queen sighed. “Of course I won’t be casting you out. You’re my daughter, my heir, and not to mention central to our new alliance with the dragons.” She frowned. “But you still need an heir.Ialready have one, so whatever I do with Cenara now is our business.”
“And if you want tokeepyour heir, Mother,” Samansa said through politely gritted teeth, “you might need to care less about my own.”
“But the dragons—the Treaty relies on queens sitting the throne—”
Valraka shifted a giant claw that made everyone flinch save for Kirek.
“She says blood succession wouldn’t matter with me so near to the throne,” Kirek translated. “So we could adopt an heir. Or—as she’s rather forcibly reminding me, I—I can have offspring.” She stumbled over the words. “On my own. And they would be as much Samansa’s progeny, in the dragons’ eyes, since we are pair-bonded.”
The queen stared. “You’rewhat?”
“I hadn’t quite gotten to that part yet, Mother,” Samansa said quickly, “but it’s nothing to concern you. We’re just protective of each other, is all.”
Never mind that it was far more than that, but Kirek imagined they could broach that topic later.
