Dragon's Blood (The Dragon's Gift Trilogy #2)

In the end, Catriona came up with a solution to handle Dragomir. While Taldren returned to Dragon’s Keep with the soldiers, the warlock prisoner, and the treasure, Dareena and the other dragons flew to Blackmore Manor, a small estate in the countryside the royal family sometimes used as a retreat.

Dareena and Lucyan flew ahead, while the others stayed well back, away from the warlock bracelets. Lucyan’s amulet allowed him to keep his dragon form as he carried Dragomir in his claws and Dareena on his back.

She leaned over and stared at the former king as he lay limp in Lucyan’s grip. She’d used a spell she’d found in the primer to keep him unconscious while she and Alistair had waited, and now for this journey. If he had been awake, he would be screaming in agony right now.

Even though the sight of Dragomir still gave Dareena the shivers, she couldn’t help but pity him. Once, he had been a great dragon king, ruler of a vast kingdom that was powerful despite the curse that had crippled its royal line. Now, he seemed a frail, broken man, a slave to his avarices, his will no longer his own.

Unless they somehow found a cure for him, Dragomir would never see his sons sit on the throne. He would never meet the babe growing in Dareena’s belly, or see the return of the dragons once the curse was broken. Smiling, Dareena placed a hand on her belly. Her pregnancy was just starting to show, though no one who did not know her intimately would be able to tell. She couldn’t wait to see her mates’ reaction when she showed them tonight.

The servants were surprised when they arrived, but once the four of them introduced themselves, they were delighted. Apparently, none of the royals had visited since the war had started. They were especially pleased to finally meet the Dragon’s Gift and assured Dareena they had never believed the nasty rumors about her.

The housekeeper immediately readied a bed for Dragomir, and Dareena took the bracelets away for an hour to give him a chance to heal a bit. They’d found two additional sets amongst the dead warlocks and had spread them about the manor, putting one in the bedroom drawer, one in the dining area, one in the kitchen, and so on. As long as Dragomir was within a hundred yards of any of the bracelets, he would not be able to shift or use his abilities. Even with the hour reprieve they’d given him, it would take many months for Dragomir to heal from his extensive injuries—Tariana promised she would bring a healer to see him and also check on him weekly to make sure he remained under control.

By the time the five of them finally returned to Dragon’s Keep, it was well past sunset. “I’m starving,” Alistair complained as they walked up the steps. “I don’t think we’ve eaten since this morning, Lucyan.”

“I admit to feeling a bit faint,” Dareena said, passing a hand over her forehead. “I’m not used to going without food for so long anymore.”

“Damn,” Drystan swore, putting his arm around Dareena’s waist. He searched her face, his gaze round with concern. “Of course, you need to be eating more—the babe needs nourishment!”

The brothers all gathered around Dareena like mother hens, practically carrying her to the dining room despite her protests that she was fine, just hungry and tired. Catriona ordered dinner brought up to them, and soon enough, they sat around the table, stuffing themselves with roasted duck, spiced rice, and vegetables. Dareena’s strength quickly returned, and though she was a bit envious that the others were enjoying their wine, overall she was just happy they were all together again.

Halfway through their meal, the door opened, and the steward brought Tariana in, along with the elven siblings.

“Ryolas! Basilla!” Dareena cried, jumping out of her chair. She hurried around the table to hug all three of them. “I’m so glad you’ve arrived. Did you run into trouble on the way?”

“Only this one,” Ryolas said, his eyes twinkling. Smiling broadly, he wrapped his arm around Tariana’s waist and drew her close. “As soon as she stopped scolding me for scaring her half to death, she demanded I marry her.”

“Is that right?” Drystan lifted a brow. “Without consulting me first?”

Tariana tossed her bright red hair over her shoulder. “Especially without consulting you first,” she said, and everyone laughed.

“I am very much looking forward to planning your wedding,” Dareena said, grinning so hard that her cheeks hurt. There was so much happiness in the room, she felt as though she overflowed with it.

“Their wedding?” Basilla asked, sounding amused. “What about your wedding?”

Dareena and the brothers shared a glance. “I suppose we haven’t quite figured out how to have a wedding amongst the four of us,” Alistair confessed.

Tariana snorted. “It’s just a matter of rewriting the vows a bit,” she said. “As the dragon god has truly blessed your union, he won’t mind.”

“Half the nation will be scandalized,” Lucyan said wryly, “but we’d best get it done soon, so they can get used to it. The dragon god said that the four of us are needed to break the curse. I have no intention of disappointing him.”

“Neither do I,” Drystan said with a smile. He came up behind Dareena and put his arms around her. “But we can worry about the wedding later. Right now, you need to take it easy. You’ve been through quite an ordeal, and you’re pregnant.”

Tariana and the elves joined the rest of them at the table, and they finished their meal in peace, trading stories, making jokes, and enjoying the easy camaraderie between them. Ryolas and Tariana were glowing, and Taldren and Basilla looked like they were getting on quite well together. He looked quite smitten with the princess already, and Dareena wondered if Basilla already had another suitor on her hands.

“We heard that the delegation my father sent had arrived ahead of us, and we spoke with them before coming here,” Basilla said as they worked on polishing off the chocolate torte the cook had brought out.

“Oh?” Lucyan asked. “Were they shocked to see you?”

“Very,” Ryolas said with a wry smile.

“We had a bit of a talk with them, and they’ve agreed to return home and speak to father personally on your behalf,” Basilla said. “With any luck, this next set of negotiations will go well, and we will finally be at peace.”

“Good,” Drystan said. “It’s about time we put aside this silly feud and deal with the real threat.”

Dareena smiled at Basilla and Ryolas. “I am so glad you two came with us,” she said. “There is real hope for our future, now that we are all working together.”

Ryolas lifted his glass to her. “That is something I can drink to.”

After the meal, Dareena expected to return to her quarters, but the brothers led her in the opposite direction, up a flight of stairs and toward a tower at the end of the west wing.