Dragon's Blood: a Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance (The Dragon's Gift Trilogy Book 2)(2)

Drystan opened his mouth to add something, but before he could, the door banged open. “I’m sorry to disturb you, Your Highnesses,” Tarius Bellamin, the steward, said as he bowed hurriedly, “but an envoy from Elvenhame has arrived, and they demand to speak to the three of you immediately.”





2





The next fifteen minutes were a mad rush to the throne room. Servants were called in to help Lucyan into something presentable, while the other two brothers hurried back to their rooms to change clothes. Dareena still looked fresh as a daisy in her white gown, but the brothers looked as though they’d been in a brawl, and the last thing they needed was to receive the elven envoy looking as though they’d all been dragged through the mud.

Finally, the five of them made their way to the throne room, which had been cleaned up some, though there was nothing to be done about the missing window behind the dais. Drystan sat on the throne, and two more chairs were brought in for his brothers, while Dareena and Tariana remained standing on either side. Lucyan had to be in excruciating pain, sitting on that stiff-backed golden chair, but he revealed nothing, his features schooled into casual indifference. She hoped the tonic the healer had given him was kicking in and that his dragon healing would have him back to normal soon.

“Send them in,” Drystan commanded the steward, his deep voice echoing in the chamber.

The guards nodded and opened the double doors to admit the envoy. The steward entered, and directly behind him, a tall elven female with long, silver hair sailed in, her willowy frame draped in shimmering green and white fabric. Her jade eyes were arctic, her aristocratic features coldly beautiful, and she wore a cruel smile on her face as she glided toward the throne, flanked by two elven soldiers.

“Presenting the Duchess Lilani of House Valenhall,” Tarius said, bowing low. The duchess inclined her head in the barest show of deference, and Dareena felt a brief flash of anger. From the way Drystan’s jaw tightened, she knew he’d seen the slight as well. “Lady Valenhall, you stand before Princes Drystan, Lucyan, and Alistair, Princess and General Tariana, and the Dragon’s Gift, Dareena.”

“Charmed,” the duchess drawled, her green eyes flicking over the princes dismissively before latching onto Dareena. “Though I can’t say I’m particularly impressed at the dragon god’s choice,” she said, arching a pale blonde eyebrow. “Perhaps he, too, realizes how hopeless your situation is.”

“Did you come here to speak to us, or are you here to bandy about insults?” Lucyan asked in an utterly bored voice before Dareena could voice the retort that was burning her lips. “If it is the latter, you have come a long way. A letter would have been perfectly sufficient.”

The duchess bared her teeth in the semblance of a smile. “You are flippant for a man who is on the brink of losing his country,” she said. “Although, whose country is it now? Our spies have already reported King Dragomir’s abdication—I assume you are king now, since you are sitting on his throne?” she asked Drystan.

“I am,” Drystan said, not missing a beat. It took everything Dareena had not to exchange glances with Lucyan and Alistair—if Drystan didn’t want the duchess to know about their decision to rule jointly, there must be a good reason for it. “And as I understand it, you are here to take my wife hostage in exchange for the release of our prisoners.”

“I am indeed.” Lady Valenhall smirked. “In addition, both sides will call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and the royal families will sit down together to negotiate a truce.”

“Why not do that now?” Alistair demanded, speaking up for the first time. “Instead of wasting all this time bandying about with hostages, the king could have traveled here himself, and we could have something signed by the end of the day. We are not warmongers, Lady Valenhall—that was our father’s way, and as you can see, he is gone.”

“You’ll forgive me if my king doesn’t trust you at your word,” the duchess said with a cold smile. “Given the history between our two races, it would be foolish for us to give up our bargaining chip. As you can imagine, holding thousands of soldiers prisoner is quite troublesome, not to mention expensive. We would much rather give them back to you and take your Dragon’s Gift in their stead.”

“And if we refuse?” Drystan asked.

“Then the prisoners will be executed immediately.”

The princes stiffened, and Tariana’s eyes blazed with hatred. Dareena felt numb all over—how could the elves sanction the murder of thousands? Were they really such an awful, bloodthirsty people? Surreptitiously, she fingered the stone on her right ring finger, wondering if she truly descended from the same race as the cruel woman who stood before them.

“Very well,” Drystan said. “We agree to your terms, on one condition.”

“You are hardly in a position to make demands.”

“You will acquiesce to this one,” Drystan said firmly. “The Dragon’s Gift may be the future mother of my children, but she is still only human herself. I insist on sending Alistair, my brother, with her to Elvenhame for protection.”

“Two hostages for the price of one?” Lady Valenhall said, sounding delighted. “Well, if you insist.”

“You must also agree,” Drystan said, “that neither my brother nor the Dragon’s Gift will be harmed in any way, and that your king will keep them in his castle as guests, not prisoners.”