The Dragon Kings Book Nineteen

Ruby is tired of waiting.

Now that she and Damon made up, it’s more important than ever that she get rid of her dragon form before Damon manages to secure one.

The sealing would connect her to the dragon world forever, and she needs a clean break.

Sid has decided to go after the queen and worry about the babies afterward, so Ruby goes on her own. But from the moment she sets out on her journey, things start to go wrong.

In the end she is betrayed and her very life is on the line…

Isa woke to blinding sunlight. She flung her arm over her face. Then, she remembered last night and sat up in a hurry, sending a mewling Apple flying. Grace was tying the curtains back and dutifully ignoring Missy, who wound her way around Grace’s legs.

Isa jumped out of bed. “Stop. You don’t need to do any of that. I’ll get Marissa to make up the room.”

Grace didn’t listen. She went over to Isa’s bed and started stripping the bed covers. She glanced up at Isa, and while she didn’t smile, her face wasn’t completely distraught. “I realized last night that this is exactly what I need. I can’t stay in bed forever. I felt better this morning than I have the last three days. There is still a knot in my chest, but it’s manageable. Please, let me work.”

Isa sighed a breath of relief. There would likely be more nights where she would hold a sobbing Grace, and maybe even a few daylight hours, but she had Grace back, and that was all that mattered.

Apple jumped down and sniffed at Missy. Missy stilled and watched Apple with suspicion. Then she flicked her tail, and Apple pounced on it. Missy swatted at Apple playfully, and the kitten attacked Missy’s paw. Looked like they would get along just fine.

Isa sank onto her couch. A roaring fire blazed in the fireplace. Grace was better at this than Marissa.

“I’ve missed you so much. I’m sorry I accused you of taking Liam’s side.”

Grace fluffed the pillows and didn’t look at her. “Are you still not talking to him?”

Isa chewed on her lip, the anger still sitting heavy on her chest. “I don’t know that I’ll ever talk to him again. He’s a guardian now, right?”

Grace nodded.

“I told him that he could be my personal guard.”

“That’s good.”

“I lied. I’m not letting him anywhere near me.”

“Why on earth would you lie about that?”

“Because Pierre was right. He should be a guardian. But I still don’t want him close to me.”

Grace gave her a look that said she thought Isa was nuts, a look Grace gave her quite often, actually. Missy jumped onto Isa’s lap, and Isa stroked her ears. Apple couldn’t make the jump, so she clawed her way up the couch and curled up on top of Missy.

Isa watched Grace as she expertly made the bed. Isa had tried once to make her bed, and it ended up a lumpy mess. She didn’t know how she would survive if she ever had to live on her own. She supposed that was possible someday, but she doubted it. She’d be more likely to die than manage to live as a pauper.

Grace settled onto the chair across from her and leaned forward. “Isa, I’m going to say something, and I hope you know that it comes from the deepest part of my heart. You are being a fool.”

Isa opened her mouth to argue, but Grace forged on. “Yes, Liam was sent here to kill you. Yes, he lied about it. But then you two fell in love. Everything changed. Stop judging him for his past mistakes. Take it from someone who lost the love of her life. You would be crushed if something happened to him, and then you would regret every moment you didn’t spend with him. Love him and let him love you. There are so few moments of true happiness and joy that we get in this life. Take it and run with it.”

Isa stared at Grace’s pleading eyes. She wanted to listen to her and do those things, but the anger still overrode every emotion she had where Liam was concerned.

She needed to change the subject.

“I need some advice,” Isa said.

Grace threw up her hands. “Finally. I thought you’d never come to your senses. You should march down to his room and climb into bed with him.”

Isa chuckled, but she couldn’t ignore the slight thrill that went up her spine at the thought. Maybe she would come to forgive him after all.

“No. Not about that. I’m still mad at him, and in spite of your beautiful words, that’s not changing right now.”

Grace flopped backward. “Fine. What do you need help with?”

“I think I’ve discovered the wizard in the castle.”

Grace sat up, her face pale. “Dragon’s teeth! You have? How?”

“By going through family histories and searching who has wizards in their past.”

“And who is it?” Grace swallowed audibly.

“That’s the thing. I don’t think it’s possible for him to be a wizard.”

Relief passed over Grace’s face. “Him. Who is it?”

“Pierre.”

Grace gripped her hair, wild panic in her eyes. “I have to go.”

She jumped up and raced from the room, letting the door bang shut behind her.

Okay, that was slightly overdramatic. Isa wasn’t even sure if Pierre could be a wizard since he was a dragon. But Grace looked scared.

Missy nudged her hand. “Sorry,” Isa muttered. She’d stopped petting her.

None of this made sense—between the possibility of Pierre being a wizard, Liam’s betrayal, and Grace’s reaction to everything.

Even to Jude’s death.

It all felt connected, but she was definitely missing pieces.

“What do you think, Missy? Should I go talk to Pierre or try to find Grace?”

Missy just blinked at her. “Grace it is then.”

She glanced down at her nightgown. Grace had run off before she’d gotten Isa dressed.

“I guess it’s a simple dress for me again today. Too bad you don’t know how to braid hair.”

Missy blinked at her again. She really, really wished that fox would talk to her.