I am Dragon (Dragon Fires Rising Book 2) Marc Secchia (most read books .TXT) 📖

and tense shoulders. Ariamyrielle Seaspray, I appreciate that in your culture, Dragonesses are the pursuers. Although I do have a few questions regarding how that works with arranged mate-matches, being as –

The skills and crafts of males are valuable, so there’s a great deal of jostling over – will you just answer my question?

Pithily, Azania put in. Dragon’s never short of words, counting in thousands, that is. Or pedantic cartloads, linguistic budgets the size of small kingdoms, and so on.

Snaffling her into his paw, he tucked the girl beneath his chest and wrapped both paws around her, muffling her protests. There. Much better.

The Dragoness’ face was a picture. ‘You treat females like that?’ it said.

He pretended to look unconcerned.

Aria said, Razor wings?

A reference to but one of your lethally attractive features.

Oh. I see. Is this a term of endearment?

Dragon pretended to consider her question. Does it cause an insolent male to lose a paw? If not, then aye.

Am I truly that terrifying?

Me moth, you candle.

Her flanks shook with laughter. Dragon, you are so different – obviously – to any other Dragon I have ever met. I am sorry if I misunderstood. Do you – how do I even ask this? Whatever’s happening in my hearts is beyond my experience.

Mine too.

I’m not even sure what happened back there, but I do know that this is right. I’ve never been so certain about anything in my life.

Aye … at some point, he would remember how to breathe, wouldn’t he?

Curving their necks, they stared into one another’s eyes for the longest time. He was so much larger than her. Several times the tonnage, far bulkier in the shoulders, his back five feet taller when they lay alongside each other, his muzzle wider, blunter and taller than hers by a large margin. His fires sighed all at once, causing her lips to curve slightly away from her fangs. So perfect. Her tropical aroma teased his nostrils, reminding him that one of the caverns they had peeked into at Wave Dragonhome was a perfumery.

A Dragon feared to speak to break the stillness, for this starlit evening breathed life’s greatest magic. Finally, he managed to distil the million things that he wanted to say to her into just four words. Epic feat, but in the end, doable.

Aria, I choose you.

Reaching out a paw, she caressed the soft scales beneath his left eye. You’re so beautiful.

He blinked.

Uh, I mean, is it alright to say that to a male? You are. No insult intended. These scales – I say, the scales suit the Dragon. Majestic. And your white fires … stars above, this female’s wings tingle. Very softly, she said, I feel a little shy around you. I’ve never imagined feeling this way about anyone.

He tucked her closer with his wing.

After a little while, the Princess tapped his palm. Oh. Forgot his captive might need also to breathe occasionally. He let her out. To his surprise, she did not have a snarky or teasing word for him. She merely winked and seated herself cross-legged on the sand before their muzzles.

Azania said, “Aria, what do you think will happen now?”

She said, “I know some of those Dragonesses who arrived late to the caldera. They are part of a faction opposed to my dam’s rule; known troublemakers. I suspect that when my surprise nuptials were arranged, they took the chance to install a new power in Zunityne following some secret arrangement aimed at bringing power or prestige to their position. Gazaram, Hozim, Larazu and Jenarzam are four northern Lords who oppose the crown. Azerim and his younger brothers, possibly, will be held hostage against the King and Queen’s abdication.”

The Princess said, “How does it work with two Kings?”

“It’s a strange arrangement, but under Archipelago law, a King can be appointed to support the work of the Crown, so aye, two Kings are completely possible. Azerim being the active one during his father’s long illness, and his father, Varazim, effectively being a figurehead, yet under law, holding the ultimate authority. He could strike down a decree of Azerim’s, for example, or refuse to sign something into law. That’s my best understanding.”

“Peculiar.” Azania shook her curls. “Never in the desert, that’s for sure.”

The Cobalt Dragoness touched her knee. “Princess, we will find your Azerim, never you fear.”

“Your dam –”

“Trust me, she’s a wily one. She’ll come out of this smelling like the best perfume. In Isles Dragon culture, such a plot regarding my future is highly regarded. Desirable, clever, warlike, draconic and a true talon of leadership.” Aria grinned at their startled expressions. “As is my right to wriggle free of the arrangement. Aye, Dragon, to break my word is dishonourable, but –”

“Sorry,” he muttered.

“Sorry? I will rip that word out of your entrails!”

“Eh?”

“Just tugging your wings, handsome,” she purred coyly, making all his fires go whomp-a-whooosh! “Clean blades slice best. Prediction?”

“I will never say sorry again,” he promised, which in itself, was predictable.

“Don’t,” Aria agreed. “Let me tell you why. You are … well, at least half Sea Dragon, right? The white fires, the scales, so sleek and gleaming and mrrrr-yum!”

“Right!” he yelped, shivering at her teasing touch. “My sire is Blaze the Devastator, my dam, to my best knowledge is Sirensong, a Sea Dragoness. We hope to find her in a few weeks, when the migration passes by. I’ve never met her.”

“That would be amazing,” Azania put in.

“Indeed,” Aria nodded gravely. “So, I predict that the Dragonesses will assess your value in certain set dimensions – economic, political, military, potential to sire powerful hatchlings –”

“What?” he gasped.

The Princess chuckled merrily.

“They will conclude that to have you on the side of the Isles will be a tremendous boon,” Aria smiled. “You have courage, an aura of dominance and