Page 47 of The Kraken Bride

Mercifully, he allowed the subject change. More shockingly, he didn’t try to hide anything. “I’ve set traps. Many of them.” He pointed to various locations, giving me knowledge I’d bet he’d shared with few others. “I’ve also tripled the guard around the palace and outside the dome. I have spies shadowing Jokull and observing Jon.”

All excellent. Mostly? I reveled in his trust. “This is really great, Sebastian.” I chewed on my bottom lip. “Just… really great.”

“But?” he asked, seeming genuinely interested in what I had to say.

Might as well tell him. “Well, you’re thinking like a warrior.”

He gently tweaked my nose. “I don’t think I can think any other way.”

Trying not to laugh, I swatted at his finger. “Ballet is about holding positions and fighting gravity, ja? The only difference between who becomes a prima ballerina and who stays in the corps is who runs out of steam first. While your traps and guards are great–”

“Really great,” he echoed, mimicking me.

“–they only act defensively. Don’t just shadow the primordial. Put his endurance to the test.” I remembered how I’d burned Jokull and he’d recovered swiftly. But then he’d fled. Perhaps he tired more easily than anyone had realized.

Sebastian flashed me a sly grin and bent over the maps, making notations. “I like how your mind works, Brona. I’ve been so consumed with his death, I didn’t consider his torture before the fact. We’ll run that bottom feeder ragged, exhausting him before the convergence.”

Pride rolled back my shoulders. Look at me, being an asset, not an anchor.

A bell sounded twice, one I’d not heard before.

“Court of Current is now in session,” he muttered. He straightened and offered me his gloveless hand. “I wouldn’t normally open the throne room for the airing of grievances so close to a formal event, and after such a painful experience, but I want all minor kingdom matters settled before the convergence.”

“I understand.” I twined my fingers with his and snuggled close, because I couldn’t not.

He only encouraged me, wrapping his free arm around my waist to keep me close. My regenerated pinky draped the spot where his appendage should have been. A touch I suspected he allowed few others. Or no others.

“Has another woman ever sat at your side for this Court of Current?” I asked as he drew me toward the door.

A beat of hesitation, his free hand frozen on the knob. “Nei.”

“Sebastian.” I groaned into his arm. “I know I’m supposed to be your consort, but we’re about to incite chaos. Your people won’t be happy to have a dragon ambassador listening in to kingdom activities.” I wasn’t one of them, and I reported to the queen of another faction.

“You are no longer the dragon ambassador. That ended when you agreed to our terms. And you aren’t supposed to be my consort. You are my consort. Your sister will send an ambassador as soon as she selects one.”

Well. He’d effectively cut off my argument at the knees. “Even still, I should probably sit this out and⁠—”

“Do as I say and attend?” he interjected without heat. He nodded. “Já. You should.”

I rolled my eyes and petted his chest. “Silly Bastian. There you go, steamrolling again. Why don’t you try a new tactic?”

Then. That moment. He opened his inner valve and dazzled me. “Pretty please with cherries, sit at my side during court, Brona?”

Even as my bones threatened to melt, I humphed, just to make a point. “I will take those cherries, and I will sit with you. But only because I’m so kind-hearted.”

“Darling,” he said, his amusement clear. “You might be the most vicious woman I’ve ever met.”

Chapter

Fifteen

You’ll never be warned twice.

–An Incomplete Guide to Kraken Survival

Ifloated on clouds as Sebastian led me into the throne room, his endearment, paired with the compliment, still ringing in my head.

The same man who’d introduced me on day one called, “The Guardian of the Tide, the Deep Sovereign, the Ocean’s Wrath, King Sebastian Mórisi. And Princess Bronwyn Drachenveil.” The herald paused and closed his eyes, as if he couldn’t believe what he was about to say. “Royal treasure and consort to the king.”