disappear to the other side of the room. Guilt surges at the thought of queens caring for my needs. I should be the one preparing food for them and doing anything else within my power to see to their needs.
I’m shocked when Queen Pelop slips her arms around my neck from behind and gives me a tight squeeze. “Thanks for finding me and letting me stay with your family.” Turning, she looks at my face from the side. “You’re the best, Borak.”
I can’t help the smile that jumps onto my face, for I am beginning to think this young capricious queen will be a good fit for my clan. She is clearly easy to please and spreads happiness wherever she goes.
I hear Chantel speak. “Mother, welcome to our clade. Would you like something to drink?”
When I look over at the door, I see General Watson standing on the other side. Her eyes jump from Chantel to me and then to the queen with her arms wrapped around my neck. Shock registers on her face for an instant before her head jerks back to Chantel. “Where are your military patches?”
I feel my bandages are filling with blood yet again. It is most unseemly to be leaking around so many queens.
When the young queen does not immediately answer, her dame bites out, “Girl, what have you done?”
I speak for her, thinking the general will be angry with me instead of Chantel. “Queen Chantel selected my scion for her mate. She is now a member of our clade. You are welcome to visit as often as you like, but I will not permit you to take away her right to choose.” The gods know I have learned my lesson in that regard. Though speaking out against a queen feels wrong, I must do right by my new clade member.
I feel the new queen’s arms slip back off my neck, and she makes a move to approach the doorway. Remembering what Korak said about her blaming the general for my punishment, I hold out one arm. “You are welcome here, General Watson.” Little Pelop stops in her tracks but does not stop glaring at our visitor.
The general’s voice sounds weak and strained when she next speaks. “Chantel, come home. We can figure this out. You don’t have to rush into anything to get away from me.”
Chantel sighs and responds with a level of patience only someone disciplined by military service could likely manage in this situation. “I’m sorry, Mother. Not everything is about you.” Pausing briefly, Chantel takes a step towards the door. “You know I love you. That will never change, but my decision has been made.” When her dame opens her mouth to speak, Queen Chantel shakes her head. “I’m not changing my mind about this.”
I offer her welcome yet again. “Come in, General Watson. Let us speak to mitigate your concerns.”
She shoots me a dark look, noticing that I am still holding back Pelop with one arm. “Thanks for the invite. Perhaps another time.” Turning on her heel, she stalks away. My heart sinks, for I had thought that perhaps Queen Molly had been wrong about the general disapproving of Chantel’s decision to join our clade. It seems she was correct. I am having some difficulty controlling my irritation with her for trying to entice my Korak’s mate to abandon him. Does she not know how cruel it would be for a male to be chosen and then be cast casually aside? I cannot even imagine how my scion would cope with such a tragic loss.
The deeper hurt for me is realizing that I am personally rejected for what I am, an old blood. All the fantasies of being chosen by the good general disappear. A long silence spins out as I sink further down in my chair. For a gruff warrior, I feel emotional pain all the more acutely.
I hear our Molly speaking into her com. She’s summoning healers. I’ve not the heart to argue with her, because I can’t very well expect our queens to continue caring for me until my scions return. Suddenly, I feel old and useless. What good is a warrior who lacks the ability to fight for his clade and queens?
Stranded between two realities is almost too much to bear. On the one hand we have queens and our line will live on. Yet, I am faced with my own mortality and forced from the fight far before I am ready. My dragon reminds me