Firedrake - By Bianca D'Arc Page 0,36

waiting for her husband, marched right up to Declan and poked one finger into his chest. She got his attention without even raising her voice. Nico moved to stand directly behind her, backing his mate up with a dark, disapproving glower and his frowning presence.

Drake was glad to see he was right about Dec’s inability to disobey a royal order. Within moments, he was being treated not only by old Jiris from the Healing Academy, but by Riki too. She was as gifted as her sister when it came to healing and had spent years treating humans while Lana dealt better with dragons.

Drake moved to his mother’s side. She latched onto his arm and held on tight as they watched the agony begin to ease on Declan’s face. Riki was a strong healer and her skill shone as she applied herself to Dec’s worst wounds, working in tandem with the other healer. Drake didn’t miss the gravely determined looks passing between the two as they worked.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” his mother whispered as she leaned against him. She felt so much smaller than he remembered, but then, he’d finished growing in a land faraway. He’d missed his mother and Ren, not to mention the dragons, terribly those first few years. And Declan. In some ways, he’d missed his stern blood-father most of all. Each time he mastered a new skill or worked behind the scenes to protect the people and dragons of his homeland, he somehow wished he could share his successes with Declan. All his life, Declan’s approval had meant so much more than anyone else’s because it was so rarely given.

Drake hugged his mother. Both breathed a sigh of relief when Arlis’s breathing steadied and he stopped thrashing his tail in pain. A moment later, Queen Lana stepped away, leaning heavily on her husband. Lana walked straight over to Drake and his mother, reaching out to clasp Elena’s hands in her own.

“Arlis will survive. It will take time for him to recover, but he’ll be well and whole in a few months’ time.”

“Thank you.” Elena sobbed as the queen hugged her.

Lana’s emerald eyes met Drake’s, and she smiled with gentle indulgence. This woman was so much like her twin—yet quite different. Lana seemed to be much more outgoing, though Drake hadn’t truly met the new queen just yet. He knew Riki better, having been instrumental in orchestrating Nico and Riki’s escape from Skithdron a few months before.

Elena pulled back, thanking the new queen once more before moving to Arlis. Drake knew his mother would want to see for herself the extent of Arlis’s injuries now that he was resting as comfortably as possible and it was safe to approach.

Drake faced the queen and Roland’s calm presence just behind her.

“Thank you, milady, from the bottom of my heart.”

“You’re the image of your father,” Lana said with a weary, almost dazed expression. She reached out one hand to brush a stray lock of his hair out of his eyes. There was healing in her touch and a compassion so deep, it humbled him. “My sister told me about you, of course, but I thought she must be exaggerating.” Drake felt an unaccustomed flush rise up his cheeks as his eyes sought Roland’s in alarm. But the king was smiling indulgently. Drake could see Roland was truly besotted with his new queen.

“Healing like that drains my lady wife to the point of exhaustion,” Roland said in soothing tones, hugging the petite woman back against his chest as he stood behind her.

Drake lifted the queen’s small hand to his lips, kissing the back in a gentle salute. “I am in your debt, my queen. Thank you for helping Arlis. He is another father to me, even though I lack wings.”

“My sister says you have the voice of an angel. When everyone’s better, will you sing for us? And play your lute? Riki’s been playing some of the things you taught her, and she’s magnificent. She says you’re hundreds of times better though. I love music. It’s one of the things I missed most when Tor and I ran away.”

Drake had heard the story of how the queen had lived on her own in the frozen Northlands with only a baby Ice Dragon for company. She’d fought off attacks and ongoing attempts to recapture her and her dragonet, Tor, for several years, living off the land. By all accounts, she was quite a woman. But then, Drake had always had great respect