As was often the case with Harth, Weysh couldn’t tell if he was being serious.

“Erm, thank you?”

“Yes, that’s the fastest I’ve ever seen you incite a woman to murderous rage.”

“She’ll come around,” Weysh grumped. “She must. Others do, and she’s my Given.”

Harth opened his mouth as if to say something, closed it, opened it again. “You’re sure?”

Weysh gave one firm nod of his head. “Absolutely. It’s her scent, Harth. It’s like . . . it’s . . .”

“Sharp, new, and tantalizing, but with notes of something cozy and very familiar.”

“Yes, that’s exactly it!”

“Well, then, I suppose congratulations are in order! But it seems like you have a bit of a gap to bridge, en? I will forever treasure the look on your face when she threatened to spear you like a fish.” Harth sputtered and laughed.

“It’s not funny, Harth!”

“Well, you deserve it! You should know not to manhandle a woman like that.”

“She’s not a woman, she’s my Given!”

Harth shrugged again. “All the more reason to treat her with kindness.”

Weysh frowned. Had he been unkind? “Listen, if my Given asks me to, I will pluck the scales off my back and give them to her.”

Harth held up his hands. “Yes, I know—”

“And my dragonling will have the best father to walk the realm of folk. He will want for nothing.”

“I understand that, but—”

“I would never do to her what my sire did to his Given, and to my maman and others. Never!”

“No one said you would, but—”

“She’s too sensitive,” Weysh concluded. “Most women are. I just have to show her I’d never hurt her. Once she realizes that, she’ll come running with open arms.”

“I see. Well, please let me know how that works out for you. In the meantime, what on Byen’s hallowed soil do you plan to do about Carmenna?”

Weysh’s insides went so instantly frigid it was as if he’d swallowed a bucket of ice shavings. Kindly Watcher, he really was a dung worm—he’d completely forgotten about Carmenna, the woman who right until a few moments before he’d been convinced he would eventually marry.

Weysh glanced away, fixing his gaze on Prevan’s famous bell tower, with its dozen whirring clock faces, rather than on Harth.

“Dragons are Given. She understands that.”

Harth snorted, the sound full of skepticism, and Weysh couldn’t rightly blame him. As an unmated dragon, Weysh had never lacked for female company. There were always women, curious and hopeful, trying to catch his attention. But Carmenna was different. She had meant more to him than a romantic conquest. They hadn’t even slept together, for the blessing of Byen! She was a friend too. He both regretted and dreaded the inevitable pain he would cause her.