My eyebrows pinched together and my eyes narrowed at the dig, but I had to admit that the alternative she’d suggested sounded great.
Our mate is the explosively destructive one of our pair, my dragon grumbled. Talk about putting one’s son on a pedestal.
I ignored her and looked to see Nyfain’s reaction, or maybe beg him to say yes. He felt my gaze and met it, his eyes going from hard to pillow soft in a moment. My middle warmed despite the situation
“Of course,” he rumbled.
Nyfain had the hallways cleared, and then we moved to a little den at the back of the castle that seemed familiar to both him and his mother. Based on the emotions rolling through the bond, I suspected they’d shared many other meals like this, sitting quietly in front of the fire. Nyfain had mentioned as much.
Our dinner had been kept warm, and the servants turned it into a little buffet for us to pick at. We sat around it on the floor with forks in our hands, stabbing in turns. I sat between Nyfain’s legs, leaning against his chest as he draped an arm around me, wanting the closeness the imprinting seemed to demand. It was such a welcome change from the formal dinner that I couldn’t help relaxing.
“You were a shock, Finley,” Arleth said after we were settled. “In the village, I mean. An absolute shock. I reeled from it.”
“You could’ve fooled me,” I retuned.
Her smile was slight. “I was taught to conceal my reactions. Dee saw my—the sword first, of course.” She finished chewing and sipped her wine, which sat on the ground in front of her. “She assumed it had been taken by the demons or someone and sold. That it was mere coincidence that you had it. But then I smelled you.”
She shook her head and speared another piece of meat.
“Did you recognize my scent?” Nyfain asked.
“Of course I did. You’re my son. I’d recognize your scent anywhere. But I did not recognize the woman who wore it. At that time, I didn’t know that only some of our people had aged.”
“I basically told her my life’s story,” I murmured to him.
“Yes, she did, giving us a much better picture of what had happened in the kingdom after the demons came.”
“Why didn’t you tell me who you were?” I asked, resting my hand on Nyfain’s knee, stopping myself from rubbing his thigh. Not appropriate. But damn it, the urge was there.
She sighed and leaned back onto her hand. “A few reasons. The first was that I’d walked away from that life. I didn’t identify as the queen anymore, and it felt wrong to present myself as such. The second was Dee’s prodding. She thought it was an outrage that you should be so ignorant of your own queen. She didn’t trust you were being truthful.”
“She doubted Hannon?”
Arleth paused and then chuckled softly. “She didn’t even think of Hannon. I suppose he’s not doubted often, is he? He has a certain…way about him. His honesty is kind and genuine. He’d be a terrible royal. At least in the old days.”
“We’re no longer in the old days,” Nyfain growled.
She didn’t comment on that. “The third was because…I’m a mother. I wanted to see what kind of woman my son had supposedly chosen.”
Nyfain tensed, and power curled through the bond.
Arleth bowed her head slightly. “I apologize. But you can’t blame a mother for wanting to know if a suitor is good enough for her child. You’ll see one day, hopefully.”
“And?” Nyfain asked.
“My old judgments made me look down on her background, it’s true,” she said. “A member of the court—a prince—mating a common girl from one of the poorest villages?” She blew out her breath and shook her head. “Ridiculous. But then I worked the plants with her. I’ve never seen such skill. Even now, watching her strive to make an unheard-of cure for you…” She shook her head again. “I thought I knew everything about the herbs, but I’m learning from her. Why are you keeping some of the everlass in cold water, Finley? After you left, I went to check on your operations.”
“You can discuss that another time,” Nyfain said.
Still, I felt his pride seeping through the bond, matching my own. I couldn’t help but preen a little. The queen had just complimented me on one of the things that mattered most to me. If not for all this drama, I’d feel a little euphoric at that.
Arleth continued. “Her power is exceptional. She is a true match for you, son. It’s clear the goddess crafted her—crafted you both—to save this faltering kingdom. But what won me was the fight I saw in her—her dragon’s fearlessness in the face of a challenge. After that first day of flying, I knew that she would do you proud. She’d do this whole kingdom proud. I knew she was strong enough to stand up to the might of the crown and force her own way, something I’d set out to do but couldn’t.”