Page 35 of Dragons & Dumplings
I nearly teared up at the sight. I had missed them more than I realized, and I was so relieved they had jumped in to help—despite their deep-rooted distrust of all ice dragons.
“Shall we?” Yuri murmured in my ear, and I nodded.
We both returned to our humanoid forms at the same time. Using even so little magic instantly made me dizzy, and I stumbled. Yuri steadied me, and offered me his arm. I could feel the slight tremor there, and I was proud of him for standing strong despite his fear and exhaustion. At the same time, though, I was saddened by the thought that he had always had to hide any hint of weakness around his own family.
Straightening, I addressed the gathered dragons. “Please take your seats at the table; we saved you some chairs, but we can always add more if needed.”
“And any fighting will result in immediate expulsion beyond the barrier,” Yuri added sternly, moving his gaze between his father and mine. “Courtesy of the spells active within it.”
There was a bit of grumbling from both sides, but we were able to get my parents and the dozen or so ice dragons seated, though we had to intersperse many of them among the other guests. They looked incredibly uncomfortable, but I had a feeling talking to the kind residents of Willowmere would be a helpful learning experience. After all, venturing outside of your own comfort zone is the most surefire way to grow.
I led Yuri to the head of the table, where our parents were seated on opposite sides. Lacing my fingers through Yuri’s, I grabbed my glass of champagne and raised it high.
I felt a tingle of magic in my throat, and gave a small nod of thanks to Clove for the vocal amplification spell. “A toast, to each and every one of you, for coming together as one tonight to protect Willowmere—and each other!”
A cheer went up from those assembled, and warmth filled my heart at the sight of so many different people, who had learned to live together in harmony—just as I hoped the ice dragons and fire drakes might learn.
“Please be welcoming to our new friends, the ice dragons, and be patient with them—they have much to learn…” Yuri continued, once the cheering had died down. Before his father could protest, he added, “And much to contribute. Before we begin this magnificent feast that Mei and the wonderful folks at The Hearthstone Diner have prepared for us this evening, I wanted to take a moment to thank you all, from the bottom of my heart. I wandered into Willowmere searching for a story. What I found, however, was so much more than that.”
He lifted my hand to lips, his pupils expanding until they nearly eclipsed the icy blue of his eyes. “I found a sense of purpose, a sense of belonging, and the warmth of a love I no longer care to live without.”
I was vaguely aware of the way Yuri’s father stiffened in his chair, and the incredulous looks my parents were shooting me, but I only had eyes for Yuri. My world narrowed to the glacial hue of his eyes, and the sensation of my hand in his.
The mounting trepidation I had felt about the inevitable confrontation with my parents melted away like a snowflake before a roaring hearth. If Yuri was brave enough to declare his feelings for me in front of everyone, then I could be brave enough to do the same.
I gave his hand a squeeze and beamed at him. My heart felt so full that it was ready to burst. I didn’t have the words to express how my flame burned for him, so instead, I closed the distance and pressed my lips to his, enjoying the uniquely heady sensation of our magics combining at the touch.
My stomach chose that exact moment to growl, and I felt my ears grow warm when a couple of people chuckled.
Turning to face our audience, I announced in as grand a voice as I could manage, “Without further ado, let the Feast begin!”
A chorus of cheers went up that was even louder than the first. As Yuri and I took our seats, I watched as the residents of Willowmere dug into the food Pyra, Nalini, and our helpers had worked so hard on.
Yuri’s father cleared his throat. “That was…quite the speech, son. I did not know you had it in you.”
I scowled at the rather backhanded compliment, but Yuri gave my hand a squeeze under the table.
“Thank you. And thank you for helping us stop Mikhail,” Yuri said a tad stiffly. “You surprised me.”
I hid my smile. Yuri had learned to fight fire with fire—or in this case, ice.
“Yes, thank you for your…change of heart,” my dad drawled, eyeing the ice dragon uncertainly. “Any later and an entire town of innocent people might have been frozen.”
I kicked his shin under the table, but he didn’t so much as wince.
“My eldest’s refusal to follow orders was problematic,” Moroz agreed. “He will receive punishment in accordance with our fleet’s laws.”
My parents exchanged a glance, but Yuri looked grim. I had a feeling I didn't want to know what that punishment would look like.
“Might I recommend an alternative…punishment?” I asked tentatively. I tried not to wilt under his gaze, but when he didn’t object, I continued, “Why not assign him to assist one of the people he tried to hurt? Like community service?”
He stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Public servitude to lower creatures? That would be far more humiliating than what I had in mind…”
I scowled, ready to correct him, when Yuri gave my hand a squeeze under the table. He shook his head slightly, so I held my tongue.
“I agree. Community service would teach him more than six months in the Sauna Room.” Yuri’s tone was light, but his pupils slitted when he mentioned that room—almost as if he were speaking from experience.
A sauna sounded relaxing to me, but to an ice dragon, being constantly surrounded by heat must be akin to torture. And to be trapped in a room, surrounded by the opposite element to your own nature… I shuddered to imagine what it would be like to be trapped in a room made of ice. I doubted I would last one month, let alonesix.My hand tightened around Yuri’s.
