The Lightning-Struck Heart (Tales From Verania 1)

“Or so I read,” I said. “In the paper. Nothing else. I wasn’t there. I was on the other side of the city doing… stuff.”

“But it was obviously Sam’s fault that Justin has been taken by the dragon,” Tina said nastily. “He was the one that kidnapped Justin and forced him out to the sparring fields. He probably had a deal with the dragon to take Justin away so he could steal Ryan. Sam of Wilds hates Rystin and it’s just so unfair!”

“No one can control dragons,” I said. “Hello. They’re dragons. That’s not how magic works.”

“Yeah,” Tina said. “Because you would know how magic works. If you did, you could magic yourself some less ridiculous facial hair.”

“I could say the same about you,” I said and she was livid.

“You guys,” Courtney said.

“You know what, Mervin? I’m getting sick of your—”

“You guys,” Courtney said.

“Oh please, Tina. Your personality is like a—”

“You guys,” Courtney said.

“My personality? You are the absolute worst—”

“You guys!” Courtney shouted.

We all looked at her.

She had gone completely pale. She lifted a trembling finger. She said, “It’s. Him.”

We all looked where she was pointing.

And yeah. Fuck my life.

Knight Commander Ryan Foxheart stood on the other side of the street, talking with a small group of people.

We all screamed. Me for entirely different reasons than the others.

He looked up, startled.

The entire fan club was waving maniacally at him.

Except for me. I was sinking down in my seat.

Ryan waved back and held up a finger.

“Does that mean he’s coming over here?” Nicole said weakly. “Oh dear gods. I think my underwear just fell off.”

“Nicole,” Tina hissed. “Keep your comments to yourself! Be a respectable fucking lady, for fuck’s sake!”

“Mine did too,” Mary said, patting Nicole’s arm.

“Mervin, where are you going?” Griselda asked, and damn her for noticing me trying to flee quietly into the crowd.

“Uh. Nowhere? I mean, somewhere. I just remembered I have an important business meeting. For business. To discuss my business.”

Mary grabbed my arm and pulled me back to my seat. “Don’t be so shy, Mervin. That can wait. Who knows when we’ll ever get this chance again? It’s not as if—oh my gods, he’s coming over.”

Well shit.

I looked over and yep. There he was. Walking across the street like he didn’t have a care in the world. To the outsider, he held himself tall and proud and looked every bit the knight commander that he was.