Draconian Blades

LYNZÆR

I collapse onto my bed upon returning to my room. The door clicks shut behind Sēris. A burning desire to tear through the castle recklessly spills from his veins to mine. He’s well aware he can’t, but that doesn’t stop the sensation from rising up. Especially now. His Majesty has taken quite the interest in the Draconian Blades. As instructed, I’ve not said a word about them being fake. Not even to Sēris and it occasionally kills me inside. Thankfully, he’s not pried. This being more because he believes if I deem it important enough I’ll tell him. That’s how he explained it when I asked why he didn’t question me about it further. Afterwards, I dropped it. Since then we’ve not spoken on the matter.

Saiflor’s interest in the blades has taken a heavy toll on me though. He thinks I have all the answers and as such has forced me to sit through several rounds of questioning. Without Aatami or Sēris present. So far, it’s only verbal abuse, but the presence of Desrif and Alray Wesland suggests it could become more than that. Speaking of the two of them reminds me of something else.

“Sēris.”

“Yes?”

“I know you said you were looking for your friend, or rather, the people who hurt him, did you ever…”

“If you’re asking if it’s the Wesland brothers then the answer is yes.”

“But how did you find out it was them?”

“A lot of digging around for information.”

I pull my body to a sitting position to find him leaning against the door. This door unfortunately doesn’t lock and if I want any kind of privacy, then this is what has to be done. It bothers Lilly, but I’m sure the lock was removed intentionally. As where my room is, its no longer some kind of secret. That being said, no one comes looking anymore.

I lean forward to undo the laces on the boots I put on this morning. Something simple and easy to maneuver in with a small toddler running around. It’ll be a while before I have to worry about running around behind him, but I prefer to be already prepared for such an instance. He will grow a bit faster than the others though.

“You’re overthinking again.”

“Yes, well it’s something you’ll have to get used to.”

“Who say’s I’m not?”

“You bringing it up.”

“Fair point, but it’s not something I worry about too much. I know you to some extent to know you don’t need to.”

He offers a small smile before coming to help remove my boots. I always manage to tangle them when I tie them. Just not as bad as Lilly with the lacing of my corsets.

“What would you do without me?”

“Probably ask Lilly.”

“Given her lacing reputation, you’d probably both end up stuck in your boots.”

Only you would think so. He’s relaxed more today. Possibly because he knows there’s nothing they can get out of me about weapons that have been hidden here for who knows how long. Or it could be he’s managed to stop dwelling on what happened in the three weeks none could find me. That day he found me is a blur, but I can vividly recall the emotions that ran through both of us. Can still feel the twins trying to gently pry him from me because he refused to let go. I can even hear the sound that had left him when they tried the first time.

“I’m sorry…”

“For what? You didn’t do anything. And if you’re talking about that, I’ll have you know that wasn’t your fault. You had no control over how you ended up in that situation. I only wish you’d not have resorted to protecting anyone. But that’s not something anyone can pull out of you. Just once I’d love to see you stand on your own and not stick your neck out unnecessarily for others. Whether they deserve the help or not.”

The boots slide free as he finishes speaking. When he does look up at me I can see the glossy look that overtakes them before he blinks it away. I want nothing more than to take that hurt away from him, but it’s not possible. Instead, I nod and remain quiet.

“Lyn…”

“Yes?”

“Don’t worry about it so much. You’re alive which is all I can really ask for. Besides if I’m upset with anyone, it’s myself. If I’d have known, you wouldn’t have gone out there on your own. And even if you didn’t know I was there, it wouldn’t have happened. That aside, do you need me to untie anything else?”

“No, no corset today. The dress is just made this way this time. I think Raoul finally learned to account for Lilly’s unintended accidental knotting after you had to cut me free of the one dress.”

“Good enough for me then.”

He’s halfway straightened out when I decide to grab a hold of his face. Not roughly, just enough to get his attention. While he’s no mind reader, he seems to know what I want and ever so gently presses his lips to my own.

“Words work just as well.”

SĒRIS

She huffs as I step back and head to the room door. I can feel the burning of her eyes on me before she decides to slip out of the gown she’s worn for the day into something less constricting. I’ve no intention of making her uncomfortable by looking at her. Though, by now I’m much more comfortable with her willingness to not hide her scars. It makes her more real. Which isn’t something I think any of Dragon Kind thought about when in human form. We’re more than just the blood in our veins and our ancestry. Lyn is a perfect example of that.

“You can look now.”

Her voice is soft, but I can hear the strain. It’s been an arduous several weeks. Saiflor doesn’t believe she knows nothing of the weapons found. Which I can sense is true to some degree. Whatever it is she’s not saying, is probably for her own safety and anyone around her. Wise, but probably not a decision she made considering she won’t tell me either.

“You’re moving a lot quicker than before.”

“Good, because I’m exhausted.”

“You’ve barely spent time with the baby.”

“Her Majesty scrutinizes everything I do with the precision of a seamstress. And the King just can’t seem to comprehend that I know nothing.”

“Saiflor can be dealt with, you know.”

“I will not involve him. I have to be able to do this on my own.”

“Yes, but Insyr would be the best person to ask about them. Not one of his potential offspring.”

“He’s just bullying me at this point.”

I feel heavy, a sign that it’s becoming physically exhausting having to listen to a man who thinks everyone owes him something. No matter what I say though I know she won’t let anyone else interfere, even if it’s in her best interest.

I turn her towards the bed in an attempt to get her to lie down. Even for just a little bit. Lyn still cranes her neck back to look up at me. Dark circles under eyes saying more than she ever will. A silent question she should already know the answer to.

“You don’t have to ask. It’s the only way you’ve gotten to sleep since.”

“And you’re more than welcome to decline.”

“I’ve no reason to.”

It’s become a nightly routine. She climbs across the bed to bury herself in the blankets. And I can hear how needed it is when she sighs as if every one of her bones have released their hold on her. She settles just as I sit on the bed beside her. To which she treats as an opportunity to place her head in my lap, watching the door as if expecting someone.

“No one is coming through that door without my knowledge.”

“Mhmm.”

She doesn’t even look up when I pull a few strands of her hair through my fingers. She’s comfortable which is what matters at the moment therefore, I let it go. As it stands moments like this have been rare. Simply because they’ve been making sure I’m put to work elsewhere and not just at her side. This due to the fact that everyone here knows about us being bonded. A certain maid having told more people than she was supposed to abuut Lyn and I bonding. It didn’t take anyone that long to figure out it was me, which might be the issue with her having run her mouth. It would be nice to have more time where she can breathe without worrying about anything. It’s what she deserves There’s nothing.

“Lyn… when’s the last you did something you liked?”

“I don’t really think I have. I mean sure I had the library to go to.”

“That doesn’t count you were doing research, which in my opinion is the same as working.”

“But that’s why I’m here. Not everyone can wander off to take naps.”

“Haha, I’m serious. You should do something different, that isn’t you working.”

“And where would that fit in between looking after the prince and being interrogated?”

“Tell Saiflor that if he wants to know how to usethem to contact Insyr. No one has to know you didn’t ask him to step in.”

“It would be on my conscience.”

“As long as you don’t say anything else, no one will know.”

She groans as if I’m incapable of comprehending that she’s incapable of lying. Which isn’t exactly true. She’s been telling hiim she knows nothing, when I know for a fact that she knows something. Maybe not a whole lot but something.

“I’m tired.”

“Then go to sleep. I thought that was the intention of coming in here.”

“Yes, but I get energy from you.”

“No I think that’s just a you thing. You want to sleep, but now that it’s time to, you can’t.”

“Well, I hate it.”

I pull her up just enough to not be lying my lap. Eyes widening as she watches me. Sure, she trusts me, but sometimes she worries about whether she should. Usually noted by her astonishment when I do something she doesn’t expect me to. This is no different.

“What are you up to?”

“If you’d stop squirming you’d know.”

It takes her a couple seconds to give in allowing me to pull her entirely into my lap. Her legs on either side of me. Her nerves are all over the place, by how she scans my face for an inkling of what’s happening. She’s on the verge of another protest when I pull her against me, one arm around her waist and the other in her hair. The tension rolls off of her in waves the very second she’s hidden her face in the crook of my neck.

Someone could see us. Probably even make a big deal out of it. That’s what they’re good at. For us, it’s a comfort. She gets to rest, and I can hold her. That’s about all I can ask for. If someone has an issue with that, it’s on them.M