Firedrake - By Bianca D'Arc Page 0,25

inset with carved, painted dragons—representations of Lilla and Arlis, the red and gold dragons who lived within the large suite. It was beautiful work, done by one of the knights who’d been apprenticed as a young boy to a fine woodcarver before being chosen—much to his surprise—as a knight. He’d done it as a gift, and much of his work now graced the already elegant castle. It was his hobby now, though it brought great joy to his friends and other recipients of his majestic gifts.

All of the family names were carved into the beautiful door. Drake stared at his own name for long moments…and the name directly next to his. Jenet.

There was room for more in the design, presumably for when Jenet chose a partner and mated. Drake had always wished deep in his heart of hearts it would be his name, linked with Jenet’s as her knight partner.

But those were foolish, boyhood dreams. He loved Jenet too much to saddle her with a partner who was nowhere near good enough to even be a knight. No, Drake had learned that his talents lay elsewhere. He was a grand spy, a lauded bard and an all-around magnificent sneak. The more knightly skills were not for him. He’d left most of them behind when he left through this very door all those years ago.

Drake had grown and changed a lot since then. He’d become comfortable in his skin, learning who he was without the specter of his blood-father looming large over his shoulder in everything he did. It had been rough at first, but Drake was satisfied now with the way it had all turned out. All…except for Jenet.

She was an ache in his heart that had never healed. Now, being near her again, he felt the happiness that had been missing from his life for so long. Now he felt complete. And it was entirely too dangerous a feeling.

He knew he still had to let her go when he left once more. This time, though, the pain of separation just might kill him. He didn’t want to make it any harder on her, so he had to keep his distance. It was the only way to protect her.

“Are you going to stand there all day or work up the nerve to actually go in?” Lilla’s amused voice sounded through Drake’s mind. He turned his head to find the giant dragon who had been a second mother to him had somehow managed to sneak up on him in the wide hall. He’d been so distracted he’d been unaware of the massive creature’s approach.

“I’m not sure, Mama Lil.” Drake shook his head, chuckling at himself.

“It won’t be so bad,” Lilla encouraged him. “You’ll see.” Lilla moved closer and lovingly butted him in the chest with her head. It was a sign of affection, and Drake returned it by rubbing behind her eye ridges in the way he knew she liked.

Without warning, the doors opened from within and Drake turned to find Ren and Elena there, watching him. Drake’s gaze shot back to Lilla, her head rising now as she shuffled through the door, pushing Drake along with her.

“You told Ren I was dithering outside the door, didn’t you?”

“Well, I couldn’t let you stand out there in the hall all night while your dinner was getting cold.”

Drake’s mother grabbed him in a fierce hug, having to reach up now, though they’d been about the same height when he’d left.

“Drake, my darling boy! You’re as tall as your fathers now, aren’t you?” Elena stood back to look at him, tears of joy in her beautiful eyes.

“Or maybe you just got shorter?” He couldn’t resist teasing her, and she chuckled with that tinkling sound of happiness he remembered so well. He’d always loved his mother deeply, and the intervening years hadn’t changed that at all.

Ren grasped his hand and pulled him in for a quick hug. They were about the same size now, though Ren was just slightly shorter than Declan and now Drake as well.

“Come on in,” Ren invited. “Supper’s ready. We’ve been waiting for you.” Ren ushered him farther into the oval chamber that housed the dragons’ large wallow. Arlis was there, as gleaming and golden as ever, watching over Jenet, who jumped up, sand flying everywhere when she saw Drake. Within seconds, she was at his side, rubbing her neck against him familiarly as she had when she was just a baby dragonet.

“I’m so glad you’re back, Drake.”

He didn’t have the