Kastali Dun

Talon found Claire in her chambers after her mage lessons. She jumped up from the sofa when Desaree admitted him, skin flushed. "Talon!"

Perhaps he should have warned her, but he liked catching her unawares. He relished the flash of pleasure across her features. Pleasure at seeing him.

Desaree glanced between them. "I...I'll just go for a walk then," she mumbled, darting out the door before he could stop her. Claire's eyes followed Desaree before settling on him.

He covered the distance between them and pulled her into an embrace, staring down at her. She locked her arms around his waist. Each place her body aligned with his sent a wave of fire through his veins. "Surprised to see me?"

"I...yes, actually." Her words came out breathless.

"But pleased, I hope?"

A smile blossomed. "Always pleased."

"Good." He kissed her but did not linger. There was too much on his mind. As much as he wanted to eat away his time kissing and caressing her, there were other matters to address. Reyr had contacted him earlier that afternoon. He would be home in an hour. Claire did not yet know, but she would be thrilled. Not as thrilled as he was, though. While he understood Reyr's need to mourn, there were matters to plan. Reyr would assist him in reclaiming Fort Squall.

He brushed his lips against her forehead before speaking again. "I came to inform you that a letter was dispatched to Queen Jade. I have told her of your impending visit." His chest tightened at the thought of losing her so soon. He hated this.

"Oh?"

"You leave tomorrow, if that suits you." The words came out thicker than intended.

"To—tomorrow?" Worry creased her brow. "So soon?"

"Soon, yes. Too soon. I can postpone your departure if you wish?" He wanted more than anything to keep her here as long as possible—near him. But the safety he offered was fleeting, especially once he made his next move. He did not want to bring her with them to reconquer Fort Squall. But he knew she would insist on going. The more he considered it, the more he realized Claire would be safer in the forest, away from all that. Kane could not touch her there under Queen Jade's protection.

She closed her eyes briefly. "No, we cannot postpone any longer." She heaved a sigh. "We are running out of time. I will need every moment I can get while I'm there."

He nodded. "I thought as much."

"Do your Shields know yet? That I'm leaving?"

"No. We will tell them tonight. The time for secrets is over." He hesitated. "We will tell them what is between us...and of your Promise." She sucked in a surprised breath. "It's the only way to justify our decision to send you away. Otherwise they might not agree."

"You're right. It's for the best. But...Desaree, Jocelyn, and Saffra should be there too. They deserve to know."

"That's fair. Consider it done."

She let out a long exhale.

"What is it?" he asked, studying her expression.

"I promised Lady Tamara that I'd show her around when she arrived. And Desaree's trial. I suppose I had hoped to be here for it."

She didn't know yet, he realized. There hadn't been a chance to tell her. It was likely that Desaree didn't know either. "There will be no trial."

"What? But—"

"Caterina has disappeared."

"She...what?" Claire's eyes widened. "That's why she hasn't been in lessons?!"

"She missed lessons?"

"Well, yes. After the ball I didn't see her. You were off in Fairfay. But I thought she was avoiding lessons to...well...to avoid me. After she learned what was going to happen to her, she probably hates me even more now."

"Hmm." He dropped his arms and led her to the sofa. She took a seat beside him, facing him with her legs tucked beneath her. He made himself comfortable, stretching an arm over the back, his fingers close enough to brush her shoulder, which he did, because he couldn't stop touching her. "No one knows when she disappeared. Perhaps it was earlier than I realized."

Something told him Mage Targa had known of her absence for longer than he let on. His brows pulled together. Was Targa hiding something?

"When did you find out?" Claire asked.

"Just this morning. I've had my guards combing the city. I suppose she's long gone if what you say is true." He fell quiet before adding, "In her absence, she forfeits her right to a trial. An absence is an admission of guilt. Her title will pass to Desaree by default."

Claire's throat bobbed. "It's for the best. I don't think Desaree would feel right being responsible for her death—that's how she would see it."

"Yes. But Caterina has mage power. She could be dangerous enough to cause us problems later."

Claire barked a laugh. "She's not that powerful, is she? I doubt it. She'll fade into oblivion and no one will remember her name."

He hoped so, but didn't bother saying as much.

"Can I tell Desaree?" Her face brightened with hope. "She will be relieved, I think, to avoid the throne room."

"No." He shook his head. "I will tell her. It is I who must confer the title, after all. I'll make the announcement tonight at our gathering. She'll like that I think?" He offered a grin and Claire nodded.

They fell quiet. He watched the flames in the grate, flickering, crackling. Claire's eyes burned like the fire, roving over him. Her gaze always left him anxious. He hated scrutiny of any kind, from anyone, but especially from her. Like she was reading his every thought.

He considered her words from the night before, when he'd held her and talked of painful memories better left buried—her claims of his beauty. Did she truly mean it? That she believed he was beautiful? Why couldn't she see what he saw? A beast? A monster?

"I suppose I should begin packing this evening." The weight of her reluctance was heavy in her voice.

He turned to her. "I thought you were eager to train with them?"

"Oh. I am. I just...Now it's all so real. Talon..." She hesitated. "It's going to be difficult—leaving you. Our bond. The last time you went to the forest, I struggled to eat. Desaree thought I was starving myself. It didn't make sense. But I understand it now. The distance—the tug." She swallowed, placing a hand over her heart. "It was hard to bear."

"I felt it too," he mused. No wonder he'd been moody and morose. A strangled laugh escaped his chest. "My Drengr were frustrated with me on our journey." He lifted his arm from the couch and stroked her jaw. She caught his hand and held it against her cheek. The gentleness in her expression, the way she leaned into his touch, sent tremors through him.

"Am I doing the right thing?" he asked before stopping himself. "Letting you go like this?" He almost hoped she might say no.

She opened her eyes, pinning him. "Yes." The word was little more than a whisper.

He leaned over and gave her a brief kiss. "I've got several matters to address before the evening meal. You'd best get to packing. At tonight's meeting, we will tell the others."

She followed him to the door, holding his hand like she didn't want to let him go. "Oh. And another thing." He turned to her and smiled. "Reyr should be home in an hour or two."

Her eyes widened and she shrieked, punching him in the chest. Harder than expected. "You waited until now to tell me?! Gods, Talon!"

He shrugged, hoping to appear nonchalant. "Figured I'd leave on a positive note."

A look passed over her features, but it was gone before he could make it out. "I'll get to see him before...before I go."

"I thought you'd like that." He put his hand behind her head and pulled her against his body, kissing her forehead, allowing his lips to linger over her skin. "See you later."

Shutting the door behind him felt like erecting a barrier between them—a barrier he wanted to immediately break down. He sighed and walked down the hall. There were a couple of hours yet before the evening meal. He still had documents to deal with, most specifically, Desaree's. And then there was the matter of Dallin....

An hour later, he found himself in his study, hunched over his desk, hand cramped from signing his name so many times. He stretched his tight muscles and reached out to the young Drengr, informing Dallin to meet him in the lowest courtyard of the keep.

"I'll be there at once, my king." Dallin's response was immediate.

He left his tower, striding through the keep, nodding to the patrons he passed. They all paused to bow and stare at the ground. His pace was too brisk to linger over their behavior.

Reyr's voice was a sudden intrusion, making him falter. "Shall I meet you in your tower, my king?" He smiled because it was louder and closer than it had been in weeks. A knot in his chest loosened.

He passed through the courtyard with the fountain of King Kendrick and Queen Leonne, sending his answer without pause. "I've got some business first. Glad you're home. Meet me there in two hours?"

"Very well. I shall await my punishment until your return." Reyr's sarcastic tone was not lost on him.

There would be no backlash for Reyr's actions. Yet Reyr insisted that his unsanctioned leave of absence was dishonorable. Perhaps it was, but hadn't he done something similar when his own parents died? Hadn't he tried to run away? It was Reyr who reminded him that he was Dragonwall's king—that he had a duty to his kingdom.

Reyr had lost nearly everyone he called family, except Byron. How could anyone find fault with his actions? While they might have been unsanctioned, they were necessary. The last thing he wanted was a careless Shield, crippled with grief, making rash decisions under his command. No, he was glad Reyr had taken this time for himself, though he doubted the recovery was fulfilled.

"Good afternoon, King Talon." Dallin stepped in front of him and bowed, deeply.

He blinked. Gods, Dallin really was just a lad even in his early twenties, gangly, with freckled skin and blue eyes.

"So, you're the one I've heard so much about," he said at last, holding out his arm. Dallin took it with obvious eagerness, turning a shade of red beneath his gaze.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, my king. Up in the North, you are a legend."

He almost snorted. "A legend? I suppose my fight with the Kalds makes for good storytelling?" Dallin nodded. "Well, I'm not the only one with a reputation. Seems you've been causing a stir amongst my Shields. You've made an ally out of Lady Claire—did you know?" He couldn't resist the toothy smile as it spread across his face.

"Oh!" Dallin flushed even harder and his eyes fixed upon the ground.

It was almost too easy, flustering him. "Come now. No need to be anxious in my presence. Lighten up." He clapped Dallin on the back hard enough to make him stagger. Dallin's eyes widened, stunned by the gesture. "Now, there's an excellent prairie about an hour north of here, full of fat, lazy grazers. Do you know it?" He sent Dallin the projection, just in case.

Dallin nodded. "Verath took me there earlier this week."

"Good. Still know how to reach it?"

"I think?"

"You know? Or you think? Better to know. Uncertainty breeds uncertainty." He'd need patience with this one. He sent Dallin a more detailed projection, a flash of images that illustrated which flight path to take.

"Got it."

"Good, because you and I are going hunting."

Hunting always eased his troubles. There was something satisfying about wrapping his claws around fresh prey and devouring it. Something that made him feel powerful—reminded him of his strength. It was all he could do in light of Claire's upcoming departure. A distraction to keep him from dwelling on the ache her absence would create.

To Dallin he said, "I hope you fly fast and hunt well. The first one of us with a grazer in his claws wins." And for show, he offered the lad a smirk.

"You...you want to race?" Dallin opened and closed his mouth.

"Absolutely. And I tell you what, I'll even give you a head start."

Dallin's throat bobbed. "And if I lose?"

"You want to become a Shield, don't you?" Dallin swallowed. "Good. Then you'd best not lose." Dallin's eyes widened with understanding. "Well?" he roared, making the lad jump. "What are you waiting for?! You're wasting your precious head start."

"Oh!" Dallin rushed away and jumped into the air, transforming into the form of a vivid, violet dragon. Claire's favorite color. A color sure to attract every single eye in the castle. His scales blended to indigo on his underside. Purple was an uncommon color, and beautiful in its own right.

He took a moment to study Dallin's form, the development of muscles along his forearms and hind legs, the span of his wings, the style of his tail tip—spiked—and the way he moved. Like he was appraising a prize stallion that might make a good addition to the stables. Interesting....

Dallin brought his wings down in a mighty sweep and shot skyward. "Happy hunting," he murmured, watching him depart. His movements were graceful, at least. But his body was still young, only about two-thirds the size of Talon's.

The violet dragon disappeared, streaking across the sky.

Anticipation of the hunt flared in Talon's chest, igniting. This would be quite...enjoyable. The dragon inside him growled, clawed, scratched against his skin. He counted to twenty, more than enough time for a fair head start, then leapt from the ground. Letting his iridescent black scales rip free from the confines of his body as he embraced the broken beast within.

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