A Destiny of Dragons (Tales From Verania #2)(21)

“I don’t know why I have to get shoved in that blasted room like that,” he said, looking adorably irate. “I have a sword, Morgan. A sword. It’s very large, I’ll have you know. Many people think so.”

“I bet he does,” Gary whispered near my ear. “Probably takes two hands just to hold it up and everything.”

“It does seem like it’d be pretty big,” I mused.

“Mine’s bigger,” Ryan said with a frown. “I measured.”

Gary snickered as I patted Ryan on the shoulder. “Of course it is.”

Morgan sighed. “Anthony, we’ve been over this. As the King of Verania, you have one job when there are possible attempts on your life. You hide. The fact that you fought Darks in your own throne room was enough to send your court into a tizzy. The heads of state demanded you never again do such a thing. I know you can protect yourself and others, and so do they. But it doesn’t matter to the King’s Court.”

The King waved Morgan’s words away. “A bunch of ninnies,” he said. “Just because I have a crown doesn’t mean I can’t pick up a sword. Why, kings of old would lead their armies into battle, sleeping and eating and fighting alongside their soldiers.”

“We aren’t at war,” Morgan said.

“We’re at something. Why are the alarm bells ringing if we’re—”

The bells stopped ringing.

“Well,” the King said. “This is certainly awkward. Am I to assume this has been a false alarm?” He glanced over at Ryan. “Perhaps a training drill I wasn’t made aware of? Again?”

“My liege,” Ryan started, only to be interrupted when Gary sneezed a sound remarkably close to “Kiss-ass.”

I punched Gary in the throat. “Let him do his job,” I hissed at him.

“Oh please,” Gary said. “You just like it when he acts all Knight Commander-y. Forgive me if I don’t want to stand next to your power boner for the next ten minutes.”

I said, “I don’t get a power boner, what the hell,” even though it sounded like something I would get rather easily.

Ryan brought a closed fist to his chest and bowed low toward the King. “If the King wishes, I can provide a situation report immediately.”

“Oh my gods,” I said to Gary. “I get a boner for power.”

“Do you think he knows he’s not really whispering that?” Mom asked Dad. “Because it seems like he thinks he’s whispering.”

“I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know he does a lot of things he probably shouldn’t,” Dad said. “We’re not to blame for that at all. We’re wonderful parents.”

“Hi, Sam,” the King said, smiling broadly.

I waved. “Hey. Don’t mind me. I’m just standing over here with my uncomfortable realizations about certain kinks I have.”

“Sam a kinky bitch,” Tiggy said.

“Too right,” I said. “It’s moments like these that I try and—”

“Sam,” Ryan said in that tone of voice he got sometimes.

“Uh-oh,” I said to Gary. “He’s getting growly.”

“And his eyebrows are doing that thing,” Gary said.

“Well maybe if you would stop talking—”

“Me? I’m not the one here sporting half a chub because—”

“This is the future of the kingdom,” Justin said to the King. “This is seriously what you want to leave me with. I will go down in the annals of history and these people will be my legacy.”

“Heh,” Gary said. “He wants to go down in annals. Gross.”

“Don’t get it,” Tiggy said.

“That’s because my humor is sophisticated,” Gary said with a haughty sniff. “It plays to a higher crowd.”

“I think you’re doing a good job,” I whisper-shouted to Ryan, giving him a thumbs-up. “You give the best status reports out of anyone I’ve ever met.”

“You mean I’m trying to give a status report,” Ryan said. “But someone keeps interrupting me.”

“Rude,” I said to Gary. “Try to give a man a compliment after he gives you a probable black eye, and this is the thanks I get.”

“That’s what happens in all long-term relationships,” Gary said. “Face it, kitten. The magic is gone because you’ve let yourself go.”

“I did what now?” I said, wondering if the courts would believe my defense of justifiable homicide toward a magical creature.

He smiled sticky sweet. “Love you.”

Tiggy bent over until we were face to face, his nose nearly touching mine. “You look nice,” he decided after a moment.

“Thank you, Tiggy.”

“Maybe tired in your face.”

“You know nothing, you tall freak of nature!”

He patted me on the head with a big hand.

“You’re very lucky,” the King told Justin, reaching out and squeezing his shoulder. “Most people would kill to have this support behind them.”

“Can’t I just kill my support?” Justin asked. “It seems like it’d be easier. And I’d be happier about it.”