Aspen (The Dragon Kings #2)(51)

Aspen’s task is to show compassion for the disfigured dragon, Everett said. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one as ugly as him. This task always amuses me. It is generally first and should be the easiest, and yet every woman struggles with this one. Some women scream when they open their eyes. Others cringe and back away. Technically to pass the task they are supposed to engage the dragon in a conversation, but only a few dragon queens actually do that. Most pass simply by enduring a half hour in his presence. Damien is new. The disfigured dragon before him passed away a few years ago.

Aspen opened her eyes and smiled at Damien. Of course, she didn’t scream or even cringe.

She waved his head down, and he lowered it so he was eye level with her. She took his broken snout into her hands and kissed the top of his nose. Sid heard a collective gasp from the council. He looked over and saw Everett grinning.

She’s got courage, doesn’t she? he asked.

Yeah, too much, Sid replied.





“Damien, it is good to see you again,” Aspen said, looking up at the pitiful dragon.

That it is.

“So, uh, this is a test. What am I supposed to do?”

Damien’s whole body shook like Sid’s did when he laughed in dragon form.

Your task is to show compassion to me, by conversing with me and not fearing my appearance. Since we’ve already met, I’m not sure what you are supposed to do.

Aspen supposed that most women, when faced with Damien, would be scared. She would have to think of a different way to show compassion than to just have a conversation with him. She spun around, seeking the council member who had the same red scales as Damien, and stood in front of him.

“What’s your name?”

I am Eros.

“Eros, right. Do you have the power to allow Damien to see his son?”

Of course, but I will not grant it. Those were the terms of his punishment. He was able to live, but he cannot see his son.

“How many years has it been?”

I’m not clear on the timing.

Four hundred and thirty-three years, interrupted Damien.

“Four hundred and thirty-three years is a very long time. Do you not think he has suffered enough? He is repentant. He is sad. Allow him this mercy.”

Beg all you want, little girl. It is not your decision to make.

She backed up for a moment and thought about what he said. If she made it out of this alive, she’d be queen. She staggered a little at the idea. Up until this moment, she’d only thought of saving her life and Sid’s. But now, she realized this had much bigger implications.

She faced the whole council.

“My first act as queen will be to allow Damien to return to his homeland and be reunited with his son. If he is unable to make the journey due to his injuries, then we will send royal ambassadors to bring his son here. This is not a request or a suggestion, but a demand.”





None of the council members moved. Sid wasn’t sure if that was because they were talking to her or because they were all still stunned by Aspen’s behavior. No one had ever shown Damien such respect and attention or treated the council with less respect.


Sequoia returned to her place in the circle.

Eros, the blazing fire dragon, took his place in front of Aspen.

The enchantments begin, Everett said.

What do you mean? Sid asked.

The purpose of the fire dragon’s test is to see if she can withstand temptation and not give in to her passion.

How do they do that?

They put her in an enchanted place with a male dragon in his human form. He attempts to seduce her. The council will always choose a dragon that is adept at seducing young human women. Once the enchantment is in place, she will no longer be aware of the council’s presence. We will be able to see all that happens, but we will not be able to hear anything.

Sid stared at him horrified. He was supposed to watch while another seduced Aspen? Uh, do most women pass this test? Sid asked.

The fire dragons don’t care if she passes or not. They just like seducing people. She will move on from the test no matter what. You should be relieved. There is nothing to fear from this one.

I have seen only one woman pass not fall for the seducer. She fainted during the first task and did not wake up until the fifth. The poor dragon sent in to seduce her didn’t know what to do. She died during the canyon’s task.

Why did the test continue even though she was unconscious?

Why not? If she could survive them unconscious, then she could surely survive them awake.

It didn’t make sense to Sid, but he wasn’t about to argue with the wisest dragon alive. He wondered who they would use for Aspen’s test. Since only royal dragons take human forms, it would be someone he knew.

Everett spoke again, Here he comes.

The enchanted room was a garden with a waterfall and pond. Aspen sat on a stone bench, her long hair flowing down her back. Sid yearned to be in that garden with her.

Theo approached Aspen, and Sid relaxed. Then he tensed up again. He had to watch Theo seduce his girl. He almost wished it was someone he didn’t know very well. After he killed Skye for bringing Aspen, he would cheerfully tear Theo’s tail off.

Jealous? Everett inquired.

Sid snarled at him. Who is being tested here? Me or Aspen?

Theo sat down on the bench next to Aspen. She smiled at him.