“I’m terribly allergic. My apologies,” I offered.

Erias and Nian were forced to give Astrid a brittle smile in return. Only then did I shoot Erias a smirk as I enthusiastically dug into my meal. The rest of them were stuck with bat.

“You’ll have to forgive us. Times are tough with the sudden influx of refugees,” Erias insisted. Spike’s knife clattered to his plate, but he kept his eyes down, unable to directly argue with his king.

“Then you must be eager to end this war. I believe Lord Harrow has detailed plans that only need your approval to be implemented.” My voice was smooth, yet respectful.

Spike snuck a glance at me, thankful. He launched into a detailed explanation, and I sat back in my chair and took another bite of chicken. I nearly choked as a foot rubbed up my calf muscle, and it took a herculean effort to keep my wings and claws sheathed. Next to me, Princess Kali’s face remained politely interested in what Spike was saying. I kicked her foot away, resisting the urge to growl.

“Your numbers are laughable. How much damage can such a small force do?” Erias addressed me, his face twisted in disgust.

“With no due respect, there is no man amongst you who has seen a draken in open combat. If you would like a demonstration, I would be happy to oblige. Our warriors—” A hand landed on my thigh and I tensed, fighting every instinct to stab first and ask questions later. Kali continued to sit serenely next to me, even as I slapped her hand away. “Our warriors are the finest and have a millennium now of experience. This makes them more valuable than an entire legion of human warriors.”

A phantom touch began at my knee, working its way north. I glanced to the side at Kali, who was animatedly chatting to Spike, gesticulating with only one hand. I shot a glance to Astrid, but she merely smirked over her goblet. Her eyes mocked me. The draken king can’t handle a hormonal teenager?

Kali’s hand flew wide as she made a point to her father, smacking my goblet and spilling it in my lap. “Oh! I’m so sorry!”

I stood in reflex as the wine dripped down my front, and Kali was there with her napkin, aiming straight for my groin with a wicked gleam in her eyes.

“If you’ll excuse me.”

I nodded once to the king, whose own face was red as he took in his daughter, acting like a servant as she tried to accost me. I shifted away back to my chamber, Astrid’s eyes dancing with merriment.

Chapter Seven

Wren

Surely, this was hell. It had to be. I was away from my mates, chained to Thad’s bed, and surrounded by enemies. I had been forced now several times to assist in births, as Severn realized the more witches I could keep alive, the more profitable it was for him. Guilt assaulted me, and I wondered constantly if I was better off sabotaging it all somehow, killing the babies or the witches to end their suffering. No matter what, I couldn’t do it. Life deserved a chance, didn’t it? Meanwhile, I was no closer to figuring out where the children were kept or how to free the witches now that I was a prisoner myself.