Page 59 of Dragon Me Through Space

“I don’t believe you,” I whispered and shook my head.

Preston smirked. “I assumed you wouldn’t.”

Gage pulled a faded envelope out of a folder I hadn’t noticed on the table and slid it in front of my plate.

My heart raced as the seal on the envelope spun to face me, the image was one that had been engraved into my brain from my earliest memories. My father’s seal, the royal seal that the king wore as a ring.

With a shaking hand, I picked up the envelope, lightly stroking the seal, and opened it. The letter inside was written in elegant cursive, my mother’s writing, and signed by both my father and her. They had agreed to my betrothal to the four princes in exchange for my safety and explicit instruction that it would be my decision to bear any offspring, if I wanted to.

I had begged my parents not to arrange a marriage for me, terrified of being a broodmare. That was likely why they’d added that clause.

Tears slid down my face and I tried to sniffle, but a sob escaped instead.

Wayne rushed over, knelt beside me, and rested a hand on my thigh.

Zeke picked me up out of my chair, sat in it, and set me in his lap, his thick arms wrapped around me tightly as he hugged me. His huge body dwarfed mine and made me feel small and safe in his warmth. “It’s going to be okay, Xoe. We’re here and together and we’ll protect you.”

“They’re really dead, aren’t they?” I sobbed. “This was the last thing they wrote, their last decree, and it was to keep me safe.”

“Yes,” Preston said, “they were only able to send it thanks to our messenger.”

I pulled out the necklace and examined it. “And this? Is it just a way for us to find each other?”

“That is a discussion for tomorrow,” Gage said and yawned. “We need to rest. For now, keep it close.”

My tears tripled and I couldn’t hold back the sobs. My wonderful, loving parents had thought of me in their final moments. Had made a deal in their final moments for my future. They had always been kind and just rulers. Pillars that our people had looked up to.

And they were gone.

Forever.

Zeke held me as I cried and Wayne rubbed my legs gently, the only spot he could reach due to Zeke’s thick arms surrounding the rest of me.

After several long minutes, my tears finally stopped and I was reduced to sniffling.

Gage handed some tissues to me and I gave him a grateful smile.

“We will talk about everything tomorrow,” Preston promised.

“Do you want some ice cream?” Wayne asked. “Would that make you feel better?”

A soft laugh escaped and I wiped at my face. He was trying so hard to be nice. “Yes, I think ice cream will make me feel better.”

“I’ll take you to your room. Wayne, meet us there,” Zeke said, stood, and carried me in a bridal carry to my room.

“What are you doing?” I asked softly, leaning back to look up at him.

“Just carrying you to your room, providing you comfort,” he said and looked down at me. “Do you want me to leave you in your room?”

He stopped at the door to said room and I shook my head. “No, I don’t really want to be alone right now.”

I pushed the button to open the door and he walked inside, his broad shoulders barely fitting through the doorway, and he had to duck through as well. He set me down on my bed and sat beside me, immediately starting to rub my shoulders.

“I know this is a lot to take in, but you can ask us anything and we will be patient with you while you accept it all.”

Wayne joined us, carrying three bowls of ice cream with whipped cream and cherries on top. There were sprinkles on one of the bowls that I definitely wanted and hoped was for me.

He handed me the bowl with sprinkles and I tried to hide my excitement, but his smile showed he saw it.