A Destiny of Dragons (Tales From Verania #2)(27)

Dude was hot.

“Um,” Gary whispered. “Can I have him, please? For science.”

“I would also like to partake in said science,” Kevin whispered back. “If the science we are speaking of involves an experiment where I cover him in my dragon juice.”

And what made matters worse was that even in the presence of the King of Verania, the King’s Wizard, even the Prince, this man never once looked away from me as he approached.

“Uh-oh,” Gary said.

“Why uh-oh?” Tiggy asked.

“We’re probably about to see unnecessary displays of testosterone,” Gary said. “And it’s going to be glorious.”

I wondered what the hell they were talking about until Ryan muttered, “He could have at least put on more clothes before coming in. And why can’t he walk like a normal person? Is he trying to have sex with the air? Who does that?”

Oh boy.

The man stopped a respectable distance away from the dais. He cocked his head at me, that unnerving stare unwavering. Now that he was closer, I could see just how young he was, probably around my age. I felt off-center at that watchful gaze. It only lasted a moment before he dropped to his knees. Gary let out a slightly pained noise at the sight, but I ignored him.

The man leaned forward, hunched over, arms extended out in front of him. His hands touched the ground, palms flat on the floor as he bowed down. The muscles in his back rippled as he held the pose for almost a full minute. There was that prickle of familiarity again, something that teased along my senses, just out of reach.

The throne room was silent. I thought to speak first, but it wasn’t my place. The King would know when it was time.

The man finally pushed himself back up to his feet in one fluid and slow motion. “My Good King,” he said, voice raspy. It was almost startling to hear. “It is an honor to stand before you.” He had an accent much like my mother’s, musical and light, except far thicker, like his tongue curled around each word deliberately.

“The honor is mine,” the King said, bowing his head. “It has been far too long for your people to stand in Castle Lockes.”

The man grinned suddenly, wide and blinding. “I’m sure there were reasons for that, don’t you think? Certain… circumstances.” His gaze flickered to me before returning to the King. “But no matter. My name is Ruv. I am the Wolf of Bari Lavuta.”

“The Wolf?” the King asked, glancing at my mother.

“It means he’s the enforcer of the phuro,” Mom said quietly. “The Wolf is to her what the Castle Guard is to you. He protects her at all costs. With his life if called upon.”

Ruv snapped his attention away from me and looked upon my mother. His smile took on a softer edge at the sight of her. “Dika Tshilaba,” he said, bowing in her direction. “I have heard many wonderful things about you.”

“Is that right?” Mom said. “How strange. I’d thought my name would have been banished for all days given the path I followed.”

“A good path too,” my dad said, puffing out his chest. “The best path, even.”

“Perhaps you’re not as lost to them as you think,” Ruv said. “The paths we take may lead us from home, but they always return us to where we started in the end.”

He turned back toward the King but kept glancing at me, like he was assessing. I didn’t know what he saw when he looked at me, and I tried not to squirm under his watchful gaze. Ryan must have seen it too, because he inched closer in what was I’m sure an attempt for subtlety but probably missed the mark by a good distance.

“I’m not going to whip it out and demand he suck it,” I whispered to him.

“Thank the gods for small favors,” he whispered back.

“Hey! I’m not small, you asshole.”

“I didn’t say you were. And why would you even be thinking of whipping it out?”

“Maybe because you look like you’re going to piss on me just to mark your—”

“Ahem,” Morgan said pointedly.

Ruv glanced between Ryan and me, brow furrowing, but the look was gone before I could even place it.

“Your phuro is here, is she not?” asked the King.

“She is,” Ruv said. “But it is customary for the Wolf to enter first to avoid any… complications.”

“And what complications might that be?”

The answering smile was razor sharp. “We are not always welcome when we leave the desert. Precautions must be taken. You understand.”

“There is nothing to fear here,” the King said lightly. “Your phuro is safe.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Ruv said, glancing at me again. “The power in this room is satarma. Like a star to be wished upon.”

“But your phuro has already entered,” Morgan said, speaking for the first time to Ruv. “Has she not?”

“Old one,” Ruv said with another bow. “You are a legend amongst my people.”

“A legend would imply I don’t exist.”

“And yet here you are,” Ruv said.

“I notice you didn’t answer my question.”

Ruv grinned. It really was a nice smile, if one cared about such things. “I did not.”