“Absolutely not, Daegal.” Naomi crossed her arms under her breasts. “It is just a trial. I will be there and nothing bad will happen. There is no reason for you to be scared, love.” Scoffing, Naomi shook her head and planted her feet into the stable grounds. “I’m not going anymore. I thought I was ready but now I realize I was being impulsive. It’s a literal dragon! I can’t stop thinking about how Dreygor tried to eat me on more than one occasion.” Turning his head away from Naomi, Daegal snickered into his palms. Then he cleared his throat and faced her again. “I am right here with you, just as I promised. Hey, look at me, love.” He tipped up her chin with his thumb and index finger. “I am certain that the last dragon is meant for you. You are strong, resilient, and perhaps the kindest person I know. You have so much love inside of you and those are the qualities you need to bond with her.” Naomi bit her lips, brows knitted in thought. “I don’t know…” Daegal kissed her forehead
His encouragement spurred Naomi and she took off the glove on her right hand and held it up to the dragon. Then she decided on a name in the heat of the moment. “Aelyna!” Naomi took more steps to the dragon who watched her with shrewd eyes. The she-dragon’s breath puffed out from her nostrils like steam. “Disce,” she said, repeating what she had heard Daegal say to Dreygor the first time she came to the arena. Aelyna bared her long, sharp teeth at Naomi and leaned her head forward, interest piqued by the human without dragon’s blood in her veins trying to stake a claim. Naomi cleared her throat and to every supernatural being out there, she prayed that Nerina’s singing voice wasn’t horrible. She closed her eyes, opened her mouth, and began to belt a slow song that her father always sang to her whenever she was nervous or terrified about something. The song always calmed her down and Naomi hoped that it would have the same effect on Aelyna. When she whispered the last verse of the
“Is it done? The bonding?” Naomi asked Daegal as she stroked the side of Aelyna’s thick, rough-scaled neck after they both alighted from their respective mounts. Before Daegal answered though, a voice—both ancient and young— rang out in Naomi’s head, clear as day. “If it was not complete, do you not think I would have thrown you off my back the moment we took flight?” Naomi lurched back, frightened. “Did you hear that?” she questioned Daegal just as he came up beside her before she could fall. “Hear what?” Naomi swallowed. Then she straightened and looked at her dragon. It was almost as if Aelyna was smirking at her. “There’s someone in my head.” When Daegal raised an eyebrow in confusion, Naomi grabbed his arm and made him face her squarely. “I think Aelyna is in my head.” Daegal’s eyes widened a fraction. “Aelyna? How?” “I don’t know,” she sighed. “You are more than you think you are, Naomi. It is a shame that you do not know the measure of your abilities. Now this is going t
A continuous, annoying tap on Naomi’s left shoulder grudgingly roused her from sleep. “What, what, what? Can’t someone get five minutes to rest in this place?” she complained while rubbing her eyes and yawning simultaneously.“Look who said she was going to help with preparations?” Daegal teased, stifling a chuckle.The next instant, Naomi sat up straight, eyes wide and alert. “The ball! Shit.” When she turned her head and took a look outside, a shocked gasp escaped her mouth. “How is it already dark? It was just after noon some minutes ago!”Daegal leaned against the post at the foot of the bed, his arms folded and eyes alive with laughter as he watched the love of his life scramble out of the sheets. “Easy, love. Everything is ready. No need to rush yourself.” He gestured to his body. “As you can see, I am not even dressed. We have about an hour and a half.”However, Naomi wasn’t sated by the revelation. Pushing her hair out of her face, she let out a groan. “I’m sorry. I know I sai
Naomi chose not to answer the obvious taunt and glanced down at Nezetta’s outfit—a gown, tight at the bust and waist but with a flowing skirt made with the richest material in the darkest shade of black.“You look different,” she commented.“What can I say? Black is my color.” Nezetta raised her eyebrows and smiled teasingly.The music reached a crescendo so Nezetta spun Naomi and then dipped her. Upon being upright again, Naomi said, “Doom’s mistress? Really?”“Ah.” Nezetta chuckled. “You have heard of my sterling reputation. Wonderful.”Naomi sighed and interlaced the fingers they had held out. “Look, There’s something you have to know. I wasn’t myself… I haven’t been myself for a while. Daegal told me that you left after you supposedly had a conversation with me but it wasn’t me, Nezetta. It was Nerina.”Nezetta at least had the decency to look shocked. “Wh-what?” she sputtered.“Yes. I was under…” Naomi trailed off when she met Daegal’s eyes while he danced with one of the female
Ten days had passed since the New Year’s celebration which was not without drama. Though expected, the extent to which it occurred wasn’t properly thought out by either Daegal or Naomi.Yes, Nezetta was volatile and had deep-seated issues yet neither her former lover nor her brother foresaw the bitterness that radiated from her that day.Naomi and Daegal knew she would make an entrance but never anticipated that she would try to kill someone she claimed to love all because of jealousy and resentment.Ever since then, the days have been quiet, or at least as quiet as the castle could be. There was no news or more sightings of Nezetta as far as Naomi knew. Lately, though, she didn’t know so much.For some weird reason, Naomi was never aware of the proceedings during the war council and even normal council meetings that Daegal usually told her about.However, she chose not to think too much of it these past days and instead went for regulated flights around the castle on Aelyna, further
A heartbeat later, Naomi raised her eyebrows. “I do know some things about the impending war but my husband has been on the matter for a long time now.”Divya let out a whoosh of air and picked an invisible speck of dust off her skirt. “We appreciate the efforts of the emperor but the issues we came here for are more within your duties, Empress.”‘Why does everyone keep mentioning duty to me?’ Naomi groaned internally.“I am afraid that I do not understand,” Naomi said. Her words caused the women to exchange incredulous looks that made her feel incredibly stupid.Meriana sat forward. “Empress, everyone in the five kingdoms is your subject and you must make them feel at ease, especially in these troubled times. We are here on behalf of the women of our respective kingdoms to seek your guidance.”“My guidance?” Naomi repeated.“Yes, Empress,” Sera picked up. “The men are preparing for war so it is up to us women to provide some comfort to our citizens. There is only so much we can do in
The annoyance in Naomi’s heart dissipated the moment Daegal’s arms wound around her waist. He pulled her close till his face was nestled in the crook of her neck.Slowly, she snaked her arms around his neck and let herself fall into his orbit. Daegal’s familiar scent—luxurious jasmine, aromatic sandalwood, and the sweetness of the moments after a heavy downpour—filled her nostrils, making her sigh and hold on to him tighter.He smelled like home.A short while later, they both disentangled from the hug and Daegal’s lips brushed against Naomi’s forehead.“I just want you to be safe.” His voice was low but screamed the need to protect, protect, protect.“Daegal…” Naomi trailed off, her eyes pleading, beseeching for him to let her assist… To allow her to do something meaningful for him and the continent at large.His shoulders dropped as he released a heavy breath. How could he refuse when Naomi looked at him in such a manner that made his heart ache?“Fine. If it means so much to you th