“I have no plans to move,” he said truthfully. In the days since their reconciliation, Weysh and Yenni had danced around the subject of the future. For Weysh’s part, it was enough that they were finally getting along. But he knew they would eventually have to figure out how to make a life together.

And apparently so did Montpierre. He raised an eyebrow. “So you plan to live leagues apart? What will you do, visit each other on holidays?” he asked skeptically.

Yenni put down her mango and raised her chin, meeting Montpierre’s eye. She gave him a charming smile. “We have not yet decided the details of our future. I know how concerning this must be to you—as a parent—but I assure you, messer, you will be among the first to know when we do.”

She said it so perfectly, with just the barest hint of sarcasm, so that to anyone who didn’t know her she would seem sincere. Byen above, he loved her.

Yenni let her gaze sweep over his maman and Sylvie. “Thank you so much for inviting me to your home. The food is wonderful—oh!” She lightly touched Weysh’s hand. “But you cannot taste it.”

His maman frowned. “What does she mean you can’t taste it, Weysh?”

He winced—apparently while Harth had gone against his wishes and informed Yenni about the attack, he hadn’t told Weysh’s family. Weysh gave them an abbreviated story of what happened at the chapelle.

“Oh my goodness! Weysh!” Sylvie cried.

“How could you not tell this to us?” his maman cried. “Montpierre! You must book him an appointment with Healer Veronique.”

“I’ve already been to a healer,” said Weysh.

“Whomever you went to see, Healer Veronique is better,” said Montpierre. He paused to cough into his handkerchief. “If it’s money you’re worried about, I’ll pay the fee.”

Weysh stiffened. “This really isn’t necessary—”

“Weysh!” said Maman. “What is more important, your pride or your health?”

“How far do you think you’ll make it up the ranks as a dragon with no sense of smell?” said Montpierre.

That jolted him. In his bliss over his progress with Yenni, he hadn’t considered how his injury could affect his career. Panic began to spark and sputter in his chest, and he did his best to hide it as he answered. “Very well, you make a valid point, Montpierre. I’ll visit your healer. Thank you.”

Montpierre simply grunted.

Despite the initial unpleasantness, the rest of dinner went remarkably well. The women did most of the talking, with Maman and Sylvie asking Yenni questions about the Moonrise Isles. She answered skillfully, gracefully dodging the questions that would out her as a princess by asking questions of her own.

As Genevieve cleared away the last course Sylvie excused herself, and Yenni continued to make conversation with Maman.