“Understood,” Adrian stated a bit tersely, but Drayce didn’t care. If he lost a friend because of his beliefs, then so be it. Nothing was going to threaten Caelan’s life so long as it was within his power to protect his king. And yes, this was fucking personal. Maybe Rayne could build walls in his mind and heart, remain analytical and distant when making decisions, but he couldn’t. Not when it came to Caelan.
Maybe not even when it came to Rayne and Eno either. They’d become his closest friends, the family he’d never expected to find. Would he kill to protect them? Fuck yes.
“Adrian,” Rayne nudged with surprising gentleness. “What you said is correct too. I don’t want you thinking that we don’t believe in the justice system. It’s just one of the many things that we are fighting to protect.”
Adrian grunted. “No, I get it. The situation was…complicated.” He paused and sighed heavily. “Maybe Drayce is right. Maybe I’m being naïve.”
“Mistakes will be made on this journey. We’re all going to do things we regret,” Rayne admitted. “But I want you to know that taking a life is never a decision that I would make lightly.”
The new guy nodded. “I know. I believe you.” He still seemed troubled. Rayne saw it as well.
“This isn’t something that can be decided quickly over tea and tarts,” Rayne murmured, then took a sip of the tea in question. “There must be room for discussion.”
Adrian offered him a small smile. “Thank you.”
Drayce thought it was better to fill his own mouth with a tart rather than say more. Maybe he was right. Maybe Adrian was. What Rayne said was possibly the only thing that mattered—they needed to talk things out. But that was hard to remember when everything in Drayce screamed to protect. Protect Caelan at all costs.
“There is something that we could settle over tea and tarts,” Rayne suddenly announced. They both looked over at the king’s advisor, who had a small smile toying with the corners of his mouth. “How much tea we can possibly load onto the battleship before we leave for Stormbreak.”
“Ahh!” Adrian cried about a mouthful of tart. “We’re not talking about that unless we also discuss stealing Hoshiko. The king could set her up so comfortably in the Towers, and I can make do with just one meal a day from her.”
“We’re not stealing dragons,” Rayne said blandly.
“Besides, if word gets out that Omari Hoshiko has gone to Stormbreak, you know that Haru will follow,” Drayce countered. He took a bite of his own tart and smiled.
Adrian shuddered. “Stormbreak does not need Haru.”
“It’s settled. The tea comes with us. Omari Hoshiko stays,” Rayne declared.
Drayce snorted. “I think you need to work on writing up a solid trade agreement between Caelan and Omari Nori if you’re going to stay up to your eyeballs in dragon tea.”
The advisor smiled broadly at him before taking a long sip of his tea. His glasses glinted in the lamplight and Drayce swore he once again saw the strong, confident man he’d come to know over the years.
“I’ve already started it,” Rayne replied, his tone full of pride.
Of course he had.
Drayce chuckled and turned his attention back to his tart and cooling tea. Their conversation was lighter, and maybe a little silly, but it was a step toward normal. Rayne was going to be okay.
And if necessary, Drayce was happy to play the part of the overprotective, older, little brother to make sure Rayne remained that way.
TWENTY-FOUR
Caelan Talos
Snow reached the mountains of the Isle of Stone at last, and Caelan learned one important lesson: The Omari dragons loved snow.
Caelan stood wrapped in a thick cloak on loan from his grandfather, watching the various members of the clan engaged in a very noisy snowball fight. They’d been staying at the Omari compound for roughly a week and snow had fallen for three consecutive days, leaving behind several feet of the powdery goodness.
Eno, Adrian, and Drayce had also gotten drawn into the fun, with Eno using the excuse that it was good training so their skills didn’t get too rusty while the dragons searched for possible locations for the godstone. Nori had argued there was no point in them setting off if they didn’t have a good idea of where they should be heading in the first place. It was faster and safer to have dragons searching by air.
Caelan didn’t argue as hard as he probably should have since staying meant spending time with his grandfather and giving both Drayce and Rayne time to heal. There would be a fight to reach the godstone, there was no doubt in his mind about that, and he needed both men to be as strong as possible.
Drayce had largely bounced back and was once again causing mischief where he could. The only difference was a lingering shadow that would cross his face at odd times, or that he seemed to wear out a little faster than usual.