The Last Dragon King (Kings of Avalier #1)(29)

“Did you know you had a spell on you to keep your powers hidden?” he asked nonchalantly, but I saw his body stiffen. He didn’t fully trust me, and he could smell a lie, so I had to be careful.

I shook my head. “I had nothing to do with any spell put on me.” It was the truth, but didn’t fully answer his question.

He seemed pleased with that answer. “I’ll need to teach you to control your powers as they fully come forward. You don’t want to get angry and breathe fire all over someone.”

My eyes widened. “You think I can breathe fire?” I was genuinely shocked to think of being capable of such a thing.

He shrugged. “It’s possible. Over the next few days I’ll have you work with myself or Regina to see.”

I shrank into myself, suddenly uncomfortable with him trying to get me to display my power. “I… don’t know how I feel about that. I’ve never displayed dragon magic before.”

He waved me off. “Whenever you’re ready.”

Relief rushed through me and we settled into an easy conversation. What my biggest animal kill was, what his was, our favorite weapon.

“I’m a fan of the bow.” I tipped my head outside to where he had been practicing.

“I prefer a spear,” he said, finishing his last bite of crab.

He followed my gaze to the archery set-up outside. “Do you want to have a go?”

I stood eagerly. “I thought you’d never ask.”

He shook his head with a smile, and then indicated I follow him outside. Once we were on the lawn, he handed me a medium sized bow. I recognized the elven gold immediately.

“Gift from the elf king when I was a teenager,” he told me. “It should be about your size.”

I lowered the bow and reached out to hand it back to him. “I shouldn’t use such a special gift.”

He waved me off. “It fits you,” was all he said before he took a larger bow of his own.

I let my fingers trail the smooth alder wood, running my fingertips over the filigree engraving on the gold. Plucking an arrow from the basket, I set the notch into the string and pulled it a few times to test the tightness and get a feel for the weapon.

I could feel the king watching me as I raised the bow up and locked my elbow, drawing the string back. I lined it up with the center dot on the wooden target and took in a deep breath. I readjusted my aim and then held my breath, releasing the arrow.

It sailed through the air and sliced into the wood with a thwack.

Right on the dot.

I glanced over at the king and he nodded. “Impressive.”

I stepped to the side and then he strode up to the shooter’s position.

He pulled one arrow, barely took a half second to line it up, and then released it. It landed an inch above mine. Before I could comment, he grabbed another arrow, released it, another and another. Within thirty seconds he’d loosed half a dozen arrows and drawn a circle around mine in the center.

When he looked back at me with a smirk, I rolled my eyes.

“Showoff.”

Deep throaty laughter erupted from him and it warmed my belly. “Would this be a date without a little showing off?” he asked.

A date. He called it a date. My whole body coiled in response to the word. I suddenly wasn’t so mad about being in the running to be his wife. Would it be so bad? He seemed like a nice guy, he was handsome, funny, and a good shot with a bow. I did find myself wondering if he had asked me to lunch because Dr. Elsie had told him I was one of his best shots to getting an heir. I didn’t want to be chosen for my child-bearing abilities.

“It’s not a proper date unless I get dessert,” I added playfully.

He tipped his head in agreement. “To the kitchens.”





“I feel a bit sick… but I can’t stop!” I exclaimed an hour later.

The king watched me lick melted chocolate off my fork and his eyes hooded as I swiped my tongue out again to get the last crumb of cake from the utensil.

We were sitting at a small table in the kitchen, and the Jade Castle chef had just given us an entire chocolate raspberry cake to share with two forks.

I looked at the king quizzically, enjoying this day that we’d had together. It wasn’t what I had expected—and to be honest I wanted more of it. “What’s the grossest thing you’ve ever eaten?”

He scrunched up his face at my question. “Ratin.”

“No way you’ve eaten ratin!” I pointed to him. “Liar.”

He smiled easily, something he seemed to do a lot of in my presence. His teeth were bright white and straight. When he smiled hugely there was a slight dimple in his right cheek. “I have. The Drayken and I were stuck in a cave for three days fighting off the Nightfall queen two summers back. They tried to starve us out.”

Wow, I hadn’t thought his royal highness would eat ratin, but he was a warrior too, so it made sense.

“Ratin was the first kill I brought home after my father died,” I told him.

His face took on a somber mood and he nodded. “The pangs of hunger are not picky, I have learned.”

I dipped my chin. “They are not.”

He looked into my eyes then and a conflicted feeling came over me. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy his company. I didn’t like the sense of duty providing an heir entailed but I couldn’t lie to myself anymore… I liked him.