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I could hear low murmuring from the dining hall as Abigail and I made our way down the hall, across the large foyer, following the footman that had appeared at our door. I squeezed Abby’s hand and gave her a confident smile as she nodded her head and smiled back at me.

The conversation hushed as the footman cleared his throat. “Your Majesty, King Florin de Haviland, King of Dragons, I present to you Wynter and Abigail Grey.”

We bowed our heads in respect as the King stood up and gave us a warm smile. “Please, do join us.”

“Thank you, my King.”

Sorin had stood up and pulled out Abigail’s chair for her as she sat between him and me with Prince Nicu, Cali, Princess Maya and Dorin on the other side of the table. The princess smiled broadly at me as I sat down and I looked her in the eye. I knew that look well too.

“Mr Grey, I heard from my son that you were bonded to Cali here but rejected her.” The King’s voice carried across the large table as servants filled our wine glasses.

“Yes, my King, it’s true.”

“If I may be so blunt as to ask why?” The King’s eyes gazed into mine and I could feel his dragon searching out mine.

“My father is a very successful businessman. He currently owns about eighty percent of Hartwell properties. We were raised to work hard though, earn our keep even though money has never been a problem in our family. My dragon felt that Cali was too shallow and vain to suit our needs.”

Cali’s face was red with embarrassment as she listened in on my conversation with the King. He had a look of amusement on his face and Prince Nicu smiled as he kept glancing at Abigail. “Shallow and vain?”

“She assumed that because I have no formal rank or lair that I was poor and uneducated.” The King laughed heartily at that and I could see Cali was fuming by now.

“You certainly do have skills. I’ve watched your simulation video and I’ve never seen someone fight so skillfully, and the fact that you’re good looking doesn’t hurt.” Princess Maya was looking straight at me as she said those words.

“Thank you, Princess.”

“And you, Miss Grey, you’ve finished high school?” The King was now directing his attention to Abby.

“Yes, my King.” Abigail’s voice was clear and confident, something I hadn’t expected and I squeezed her knee under the table.

“What are your plans when you leave to go home?” The King’s question was directed at Abigail again and I felt her leg jumping up and down with nerves.

“I plan to go to Business School, get more involved in the family business.”

“And you, Mr Grey?”

“I would prefer to use my skills in a field that would satisfy me. I was a hunter for five years but now with the Unit dissolved, I’m not sure my King.”

“Have you killed many wolves and vampires?” Prince Nicu’s attention was now also on me.

“Hundreds, Prince Nicu, dragons too.”

“I saw how easily you slayed that dragon at the end of the simulation. Quite impressive. You might want to consider a position with Dorin, training others.”

“I’m not sure that training would keep me satisfied.”

“Tell me, Grey, now that you’ve completed your training successfully and if you take on a position with the Throne, would you consider retracting your rejection?” It was the King that had asked me that and everyone at the table looked at me expectantly.

“No, my King. I have no interest in Cali.” The King seemed to like my answer and I had always been honest, omission wasn’t lying, not in my line of work.

We made small talk all through dinner. Dorin was quiet and Prince Nicu commented on it twice. Dorin gave him the feeble excuse of being tired. He didn’t look at Abigail once, I had to commend him for that, hard as it was, he kept to the plan.

Princess Maya’s eyes stayed on me throughout dinner and Echo peeked at her through my eyes. She took that as encouragement of my interest, of which there was none. She was beautiful, elegant, perfectly mannered, dressed in only the best but I felt nothing when I looked at her.

“Thank you for joining us for dinner. I would be very pleased if you two would join me in the parlor for an after dinner drink.” The King’s request wasn’t a request at all and I bowed my head in respect as I accepted his gracious invitation.

“Of course, my King, the honour would be ours.”

I could see the King liked flattery, compliments and thinking that he was the smartest person in the room. He didn’t want that in a bride for his son though but his nastiness was on a level I hadn’t encountered yet.

He wanted to ask about Abigail in private and for that at least I was grateful. She wasn’t a show horse to be paraded in front of others and being with him alone would give me a better sense of what he wanted.

I walked behind King Florin and Sorin, tugging Abigail along as I held her hand. Echo was reaching out to Scylla, soothing her and reminding her to stay calm, that we had a plan. The King and Sorin kept up a lively conversation until we reached the parlor.

“Drink?”

“Scotch please.”

Sorin poured our drinks and produced a glass half filled with wine for Abigail. The King stood with his back to us and I drained my glass in one swallow. He turned to face us and I saw his true face, the one laced with anger.

“I do not like being made to look a fool, Mr Grey.” The King’s voice was now harsh, nothing like the façade he’d put out earlier.

“Of course not, my King.”

“Explain then why my dragon is feeling enamored of Miss Grey here, that something is shutting my dragon out, wanting to stay hidden.”

“My King, my sister’s dragoness is naturally shy.”

“Her what?” His rough voice echoed around the room as his eyes flashed yellow in disbelief.

“My sister has merged with her dragoness.”

“Impossible!” Sorin was playing his role excellently.

“Scylla …” My voice was soft and coaxing. Scylla was a wild card in this whole plan because it would all go to shit if she lashed out at him.

Abigail’s eyes gradually turned yellow and the King walked closer to her, taking her face in his hands as his own eyes turned yellow and he smiled victoriously. The spell was broken between them when Scylla retreated, not caring for royal etiquette.

“This is remarkable.” King Florin’s voice was now a raspy whisper as if he couldn’t quite catch his breath.

“We haven’t encountered another dragoness where we’re from so I asked Abigail to keep Scylla hidden.” The King nodded, my explanation made perfect sense. He had no reason to doubt what I’ve said, having no lair explained that I thought Abigail was the only one with a dragoness.

“It would be wise to offer your sister the protection of the throne.” I didn’t smile or say anything. I wanted him to think that I was thinking about what he had just said.

“Protection against what?”

“Once it’s revealed that she possesses a dragoness, Sires from around the world will try to claim her. The added strength a lair would get from a dragoness, I can’t even imagine such a thing. People will die, Wynter. Blood will flow and Sires will kill each other to have her.”

“I will protect my sister from such Sires.”

“The throne can offer her so much more.” The King’s eyes were flashing excitement, pure evil excitement at the thought of his family claiming her.

“In what way?”

“Through marriage of course. No Sire would dare touch a hair on the head of a royal princess and future Queen. Her union with Nicu will empower all our lairs and she will birth a strong prince to reign in his own time.”

“Prince Nicu has made it clear that he intends to bond with Cali.”

The King laughed loudly and his eyes held amusement as Sorin watched from where he stood behind Abigail. “Wynter Grey, you are amusing. Cali doesn’t even come close to what Abigail can offer the whole kingdom.”

“She might want to bond with her true bonded half.” Florin’s nostrils flared and I could feel the anger spreading from his aura.

“My wishes will not be defied. Nicu is the crown prince of all dragonkin. She should feel honoured to be considered as his equal.” His voice held a threatening tone and I chose to ignore it.

“Abigail?”

No one had spoken to her during all this and she rose from the sofa in one corner, her empty wine glass on the glass table in front of her and walked towards the King.

“It is an honour, my King, although I don’t know Prince Nicu, I will not fail in my duty to serve the throne.” Her voice was still soft but confident. The King’s eyes softened and I knew that Abigail had won him over with her answer.

“Of course, my sweet girl. You are only seventeen and you believe that love should come with a marriage. I can assure you that Nicu will show you what life would be like if you agreed to marry him.”

“I won’t leave my sister here to fend for herself.” My voice was firm, stating that this was not negotiable.

“My daughter has voiced her desire to be bonded to you. I approved her request since you have no interest in your rejected mate. Before you say anything, being bonded to Princess Maya would make you eligible to join the ranks of Generals if you wanted.”

“I will take your offer into consideration. It is getting late, my King, if you’ll excuse us.” I looked at Abigail and she slid her arm into mine.

“We shall talk again tomorrow. Think clearly of what you’d like your future to look like.”

“Good night, my King, Mr Albescu.”

“Good night, Mr Grey.” Sorin’s look was one of concern, he had caught the exact meaning of Florin’s words.

The thinly veiled threat hung in the air as I left the parlor and squeezed Abigail’s hand. She opened her mouth to say something but I shook my head. You never knew who was listening. Whatever she wanted to say could wait until we were in our suite.

“I guess I was convincing enough.” Abigail’s whisper was close to my ear.

“You were a star. If I didn’t know any better I’d say you were quite excited to become Nicu’s little plaything.”

“Don’t be an asshole, Wynter.” Her eyes were smiling as she threatened me with the tone of her voice and I smiled at her.

“Wynter Grey! Halt right there, mister!” Abigail tried to hide the smile on her lips as I stopped walking and turned around. We were literally ten feet from our suite door, I was so close to escaping her.

“How can I help you, Princess Maya?” Echo was snorting and grinning at me like an idiot, liking my discomfort.

“I’d like to go for a walk and have a chat with you. Daddy’s well aware of us wandering off into the dark night.” Her eyes were smiling and she seemed to like to tease me, playing with her words and suggestive innuendos.

“I’ll be fine, Wynter, I’ll lock the door behind me.” Abigail’s voice was barely a whisper and I kissed her forehead and watched as she slipped into our suite and waited for the click of the lock.

“Very well, Princess, lead the way.” She beamed at me as she slipped her arm into the crook of mine and I saw a twinkle in her eye. She seemed happy.