A Queen of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales 4)

“Dragons live for challenges,” Calia said.

“Where’s the fun if there’s no challenge?” Vemar spread his hands. “Except for breeding. When you’re trying to get your mate with child, you don’t want any obstacles. It’s hard enough as it is.”

“He means that dragons have a harder time getting with child. I’m not sure why—”

“Because we’re stronger, faster, and bigger. We fly, and we blow fire,” Vemar growled. “If we could breed as easily as wolves, we’d dominate the world. The whole place would be out of balance. The goddess knows this.”

“That is their reasoning as to why.” I turned just enough to make a face at Dessia, and this time her laugh was okay. “Anyway, Finley used to fight back a lot harder. The two of them would rage at each other, I’m telling you, and he’d barely get past her will. Things changed not too long after she stopped the tea, especially once her heat started. She seems to put up enough of a fuss to excite them both and then relishes in his dominance. I’ve seen a few glimpses—she’s having a good time.”

“It’s what females crave,” Tamara said, wandering over to stand beside Vemar.

“Hello, eavesdropper,” I said dryly. “Where’d you skulk from?”

“I noticed no one was watching your asshole, so I was thinking of a way to get at it,” she replied. “I don’t have the right equipment, sadly.”

“Or any sort of imagination,” I said. “I’ve dodged my fair share of broom handles.”

“I’ll take that under advisement,” she said with an arched eyebrow. To the others, she said, “Female dragons thinking about offspring crave shows of dominance by their mates. They want continual proof that their mate will be able to protect them and their offspring.”

“But surely Finley is well able to protect herself?” Calia asked. “I’ve seen her fight.”

“It’s a vulnerable thing to grow and birth a child,” Tamara responded. “During that time, she must be protected.”

“And the heat…” Calia started.

“Makes it easier to beget a child,” Vemar said.

“How…” Calia cleared her throat. “How long does it last, exactly? The cycle duration, I mean. At this point in the journey, given their room is next to ours, we’re pretty well aware of how long each episode lasts.”

Vemar tipped back his head and laughed.

“It shouldn’t be much longer,” Tamara said with a smile that devolved into chuckles.

“But Calia, sweetie,” I said, “don’t think they’re suddenly going to chill out once the heats ends. If anything, they’ll probably be louder and more violent. They’ve always been…spirited. Remember what I said about Finley fighting back? Well, when she’s in the mood, she really goes for it.”

Calia grinned and shook her head. “It is amazing that dragons have a harder time procreating when they spend so much time trying.”

“Not everyone, trust me,” Tamara said, glancing across the deck. “Their desperation for each other is a rarity, not the norm.”

Her gaze snagged on Govam. He was leaning over the railing, his hand up to block the failing sun. Her reaction prompted Vemar to push away from the railing to see what had interested her. Then he looked out over the horizon.

I followed suit, needing to look there anyway. I didn’t see what they were noticing at first. And then there it was, a black spot directly in our path. There shouldn’t be any landmasses out there. It had to be a ship or a trick of the eyes, and I doubted we’d all fall victim to the same trick.

“Get the royal couple,” Govam barked to no one in particular.

“It could be anyone,” I said as Calia squinted at the horizon. “There are a lot of ships on this sea. It could be tradesmen—”

“Or pirates,” Dessia said softly. Calia put a hand on her sister’s shoulder.

“Get the royal couple,” Govam said.

Denski pointed at something off the starboard side. “They are covering their bases,” he told Govam. “You were right. The most credible witnesses against Dolion are all here. If he kills them in one fell swoop, he won’t have nearly as much opposition.”

“Wait, wait, hold on,” I said, holding up a hand. “First, yes, what you just said is obviously true. But we can’t be sure those ships belong to the demons. They are tiny specks on the horizon! Let’s wait until we can at least make them out before we interrupt the very busy royal pair. The king will not like to be interrupted, trust me. He’ll get violent. Where are the telescopes?”

Govam turned to me, his face blank. “We don’t need them. Those ships are exactly where we expected them to be. If you are too much of a coward to interrupt dragons in heat, then I will do it. There is no time to waste.” He turned and started walking.

“He just called you out there, little buddy.” Vemar’s hands were on my shoulders, pushing me behind the demon. “We need that demon, though, and if he goes in there before they’re done, the alpha dragon will see it as a breach of territory and kill him. He won’t kill you. You need to be the one to sound the alarm.”