Frustrated by the subject, her mind still racing, Lana fell into a troubled, restless sleep. She dreamed of chasing a wolf down long, winding corridors, catching glimpses of its shaggy fur around corners as she hastened to catch up, shadowy figures catching at her sleeves and pulling on the train of the long cloak she was wearing. And then, right when she’d caught up with the wolf, great wings spread suddenly from its shoulders and it leaped into the sky, powering away from her…
She woke in a tangle of blankets, breathing hard, Seth’s name still on her lips. The clock on the mantelpiece told her it was almost afternoon—she’d slept late. Why hadn’t anyone woken her? Probably because she was the Queen, Lana thought irritably, throwing the blankets back and changing hurriedly into one of the less ostentatious garments that she’d found in the royal wardrobe. She had to do something about the situation with Seth. Make some gesture that made it clear she wasn’t going to treat him and his pack like an enemy, like tools to be manipulated, or toys to be played with.
She found Conrad in his office. The Prince greeted her warmly, but the smile on his face faded when she explained her idea.
“Are you sure?” he asked, a question she was rapidly becoming to think of as his catchphrase. “An enemy delegation—”
“They’re not our enemy,” Lana snapped.
“I’m not sure the results of our initial meeting this morning support that position,” Conrad said calmly. “I’m afraid tensions continue to be high.”
“What happened?” Her heart sank. Stupid, she scolded herself. Stupid of her to refuse to be present. Of course tensions were high. Hadn’t she narrowly averted violence on the Plateau the day before? Why had she thought it was a good idea to skip the meeting?
“Nothing irreversibly damaging,” Conrad said quickly, clearly sensing her dismay. “But very little progress was made. The wolves made it very clear that they still suspect us of being responsible for the disappearances of their people… and unfortunately, many dragons still feel that the wolves are responsible for our own losses.”
“I’m sorry, Conrad,” Lana sighed, rubbing her forehead. “This is my fault. I felt—insulted, by Seth, last night. It was childish of me not to attend this meeting. If I had been there…” She exhaled. No use going down that road now. “It was not a conduct becoming of a Queen,” she concluded.
“You’ve only been Queen for a day,” Conrad said gently. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s not an easy role.” He tapped the silver band around his temples. “I’m only a caretaker, and it’s taken an immense toll on me.”
She bit her lip, thinking back to the brief conversations she’d had with Seth. He was young for a leader, wasn’t he? So young, to be leading such a large pack. And the more she learned about the political situation here, the more she realized what an enormous risk he’d taken by bringing her to the Plateau, returning her to the dragons he’d assumed were her people. Well—he hadn’t been wrong, had he?
“I have to fix this,” she said finally. “I need to make a gesture to Seth and his wolves.”
“I understand,” Conrad said, after a long pause. “And if you’re sure this is the best course of action, I’ll see it carried out.”
“I’m sure,” she said firmly. “He did say they needed more space—and if there’s one thing this palace has, it’s space.”
“Let me say this once, and then I won’t raise the subject again.” Conrad took a deep breath, his blue eyes serious. “I don’t need to tell you how disastrous it would be were any harm to come to the Queen of the dragons at the hands of a wolf. It would be an all-out war. The bloodshed would make these years of simmering tension look like harmony.”
“I trust Seth,” she said, feeling the truth of the words ring out even as she spoke them. Conrad nodded.
“So do I. For such a young leader, he handles himself remarkably well. But it’s not just Seth we need to concern ourselves with. Several of his lieutenants are personally invested in the disappearances.”
“You really think Seth’s wolves would harm me?”
“No,” Conrad admitted, rubbing his forehead. “But I’m not absolutely certain that theywouldn’t. And the stakes here are unimaginably high.”
Lana exhaled… then pulled out the chair opposite Conrad, dropped into it with a groan, and buried her head in her hands. When she looked up, he was smiling softly. “What?”
“Nothing. Only… I’ve grown accustomed to making these decisions alone.”
“That sucks,” Lana said, after a moment’s hesitation. Conrad’s smile widened. “Did I do it right? Did I swear in Draconic?”
“Full marks.”
“There’s hope for me yet.” Her grin faded. “It’s the right thing to do, Conrad. If we want dragons and wolves to start trusting each other, we have to make a gesture of trust first. And I don’t think Seth would let his people hurt me.”
“Very well,” Conrad said, nodding. “I’ll see to it that the invitation is made. The delegate from the wolf pack will be offered their choice of quarters in the Palace.”
“And the staff will treat them the same way they’d treat me, or any other dragon,” she said firmly. “I want them to feel like guests, not hostages.”
The first proper decree of her rule as Queen, she thought as Conrad headed off down the hallway to make the necessary arrangements. It made it all feel worryingly real. The itch to flee this place hadn’t subsided at all, but for once in her life, something else was holding her down. She needed to make this right, this diplomatic calamity she’d caused.
And maybe once relations between wolves and dragons were looking better, she could start looking for her exit.
Chapter 10 - Seth
“I still think this is a trap.”