Jadis turned her oval, greenish-brown head toward me. Her crimson-hued eyes widened as she let out what I could only surmise was a squawk of surprise. A happy surprise?
“Morning,” Nektas’s deep voice rumbled.
Jadis made that sound again as she pulled her talons fromher father’s hair, jerking his head several times before freeing herself. He gave no reaction, his eyes remaining closed. The tiny draken rolled over onto her belly. Thin, nearly translucent wings unfurled as she jumped down from the settee, landing with a soft thud.
Scurrying across the floor on two legs and then four, Jadis ran straight into me. Clasping my leggings, she hopped as she yipped once and then twice, tugging on the material.
“She wants you to pick her up,” Nektas commented. “If you don’t submit to that, she’s likely to throw a temper tantrum.” One wine-red eye opened. “You do not want that to happen. Trust me.”
Considering she was starting to cough up smoke and flame, I really didn’t want that. I hesitated, though, glancing at my hands. I swallowed thickly. “Are you sure you want me to pick her up?”
“Why would I have a problem with that?”
“You saw what I did to Nyktos.” I cut him a sharp look.
“What you did to Ash was an accident. One I don’t fear you repeating with my daughter.”
I really hoped his confidence wasn’t misplaced as I bent at the waist, extending my arms like Nyktos had shown me. Jadis didn’t hesitate. The touch of her scales was cool against my skin as she latched onto my arms without using her claws. I lifted her, and she immediately plastered herself to my chest, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“Watch out for her—”
A wing smacked me in the face.
“Her wings,” Nektas finished with a sigh. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” I leaned my head back as Jadis wiggled closer, her taloned fingers sinking into my hair. Her breath tickled the side of my neck as she made a soft, chattering noise. “Just don’t breathe fire on me.”
Wide, bright red eyes met mine. Jadis chirped.
“I hope that was an agreement,” I told her.
“She likes you,” Nektas said. “So, if she does happen to breathe or burp up a little bit of fire on you, it will be purely by accident.”
“Good to know,” I murmured, patting the center of her back. I glanced around the office. “You weren’t in the throne room.”
“I didn’t need to hear what I already knew.”
Because he already saw me as brave and daring? Warmth crept into my cheeks. Or because he was already prepared for me to attempt another escape? Probably the latter.
“Ash should be here in a few.” Nektas gestured to the table. “He had food sent in for you.”
Ash.
Nektas was the only other person who called him that. My appetite was nowhere to be found at the moment, but I went to theonechair placed at the table and sat while Jadis continued her low chattering. I glanced at Nektas. He watched me as he had after I’d been wounded in the Red Woods. Curious about what he seemed to see. I didn’t allow myself to think about how I’d seen him naked or how he’d borne witness to my utter failure of an escape.
Giving my head a shake, I shifted Jadis slightly as I reached for the pitcher of juice, pouring myself a glass. “Are you now tasked with watching over me until Nyktos or someone else is available?”
“I’m here because I chose to be.”
I arched a brow. “You don’t have to lie.”
Nektas cocked his head. He appeared relaxed as he spoke, but an undercurrent of energy brimmed beneath his flesh. “Why would I lie about something like that?”
I shrugged, wanting to believe that Nektas was here because he wanted to spend time with me instead of with everyone else.
“Orphine would’ve stayed with you if I were needed elsewhere, but I wanted to keep you company until Ash arrived.” Nektas’s head straightened. “Anyway, I figured I’d be better company than Orphine.”
I snorted as I picked up my glass, narrowly avoiding having Jadis’s wing knock it from my hand as she swung them down. “A carpet would be better company than Orphine.”