Claire looked at the faces gathered around the conference table. She sat at the head; Talon had insisted on it. She knew why. He was hoping to acclimate her to the position of ruler. From her right, he continued to speak, walking them through their plans.

Talon's Shields were present, as were Byron and Tamara. Desaree, Saffra, and Jocelyn had also been invited. While they wouldn't play any role in battle, they'd become a part of Talon's inner circle. But...what distracted her most were the Dwargs.

Dwargs!

It was still surreal. She could barely take her eyes off them. The first time she'd seen them, her mouth gaped widely enough to be embarrassing. How many queens turned flytrap at the sight of something surprising? Well, she had.

Could anyone blame her? They were Dwargs! And they were everything she'd expected them to be, exactly like the dwarves she read about growing up. Short in stature, built thick like tree trunks, with long beards, merry faces, twinkling eyes, and booming voices. They were messy and fun. What she liked most was their lack of concern for pleasing others. They did what they liked, and lived in the moment. That was something she appreciated, something she wished she was better at. These days, she was too concerned with what everyone else thought of her, and try as she might, it ate at her.

Seeing them was something of a dream, and she'd loved them immediately, but Berbik was her favorite. Not only was he the most sociable of them, he'd plied her with stories about his kind, which she'd eagerly inhaled when time allowed. He sat here at the table today, with his comrades. Each time she caught his eye, he gave her a huge grin beneath his beard that swallowed up his face, turning his eyes squinty.

"We're relying on the lake, on Saffra's brew, to do the majority of the work for us," Talon was saying. She forced herself to focus on his words. "Given Taylynn's warning, her sending Claire here, we must prepare for the worst."

Taylynn had insisted on sending her here. She often wondered if there was more to it than simply acting as a failsafe—being present in case their plans went awry. Perhaps the princess had anticipated what Claire would do, attempting to save the unborn hatchlings. Perhaps she'd seen the necessity of it. Or...Claire was merely overthinking things.

After all, there was plenty that could go wrong.

Those dragons out on patrol, those who simply weren't around during the correct window of time, or even those who drank the lakewater later, shifting the timeframe of effectiveness, could retain enough awareness to pose a serious threat. All it took was a single dragon's fire to decimate a city, destroy thousands of lives. She needed to be there to protect them.

"Our forces will be in the sky, ready to neutralize any existing threats," Byron was saying. "We've got the most experience in this sort of combat," he added. "Despite our previous losses, we should be able to handle a few dragons, more even, if Her Majesty, Claire, is in the city protecting its people."

"I will ensure the city's inhabitants are safe," she promised. "No fire will touch them."

Byron nodded then glanced at Tamara, his mate, before he continued outlining his portion of their plan. In the time Claire had been away, Byron and Tamara had been voted in as the newest leaders of Fort Squall. She was proud to see Tamara stepping into the roll. But she was also devastated, knowing what it had cost, knowing that Reyr had lost his twin brother to the dragons.

He'd been so heartbroken. He'd disappeared entirely after the battle with Kane and the dragons. She'd only gotten him back, after his unexpected return to the capital, and then it was decided that she would journey into the forest. She'd parted from him all over again. It had been an absolute treat when he'd appeared in Esterpine to surprise her. Still, it felt like they didn't get much time together these days. Not like it used to be.

Reyr hadn't been happy about what she'd done—warning the dragons, giving them the chance to evacuate—and hadn't spoken to her since. He didn't care about redemption. Didn't care about their extinction. He wanted to destroy every single one of them. And...in his own right, he was entitled to this desire, but she couldn't slaughter helpless, pregnant mothers. She just couldn't.

Talon had called their inner circle together yesterday, and explained what she'd done. The moment had been tense, embarrassing, even. But she'd stuck it out with her shoulders pulled tight, her posture erect, jaw clenched tight. She'd born their looks and scrutiny like the queen that she was, because she wasn't a cowering church mouse—never had been. Their reactions were mixed. A few had agreed while a larger majority hadn't. She hated that—hated that she wanted everyone's approval.

"It's yet another difficult aspect of being a ruler," Talon had explained during their flight later that evening. "You can never please everyone. The best that you can do is make your decision with peace in your heart. At the end of the day, someone will always disagree." And he'd been right. She'd known it.

That didn't make it any easier.

~

"This might be our last time all together," Saffra pronounced, lifting her cup, then drinking deeply. Everyone else copied her actions, until a chorus of extremely unladylike burps and giggles followed. The eight of them, including Desaree, Jeanine, Jocelyn, Miera, Selphie and Tamara, sat on cushions, a plush rug beneath them, soaking up the empty command tent. The meeting had long since disbanded, everyone going their separate ways.

"That sounds so depressing," Tamara groaned, "but I will be glad to win back the fort and have my home again."

"We're going to miss you," Jocelyn said.

"But you can all come visit, Joce, whenever you wish. You will always be welcome at Fort Squall."

"Now that is easier said than done for some of us," Jocelyn pouted.

Claire loved the change in Saffra's handmaiden. In the past several months, she'd come out of her shell. Part of that had happened without her witnessing it, while she was away in the forest. Sometimes she hardly recognized the woman who'd been so prim and proper, so quiet, once upon a time.

"Perhaps you can all take another ship?" Tamara teased, a mischievous glint sparkling in her eyes.

Desaree groaned, flinging herself back on her cushion. "Never again," she said to the ceiling. "I'm never going to live it down."

"Too soon?" Tamara added, giggling.

The rest of them burst into laughter too, until even Desaree's shoulders were shaking. They leaned on each other, shrieking, gasping, and refilling their drinks. Anyone who might be passing the tent probably gave it a second glance.

It was good to sit with her friends, soak up their company, because Saffra was right. After they reclaimed the fort, Tamara would return there to lead at Byron's side. Those who couldn't fly would return home the long way, like Desaree, Jocelyn, and Saffra. The Drengr would fly back to the capital. She'd be left to return with her queen's guard and Spriten handmaidens. She wasn't sure if Talon would accompany her, or meet her back in Kastali Dun. Either way, everyone would go their separate ways.

"Just think," Desaree said, changing the topic, "when we return to the capital, we'll have a ceremony to plan!"

A chores of excited sounds burst from their mouths, faces lighting up.

"What, exactly, goes into planning a royal bonding ceremony?" Selphie asked, curious. Her Spriten handmaidens had taken to asking many questions, to fulfill their curiosity. She loved how eager they were to adapt to life outside the forest.

At first, she'd been nervous, had planned to leave them in Esterpine. But Taylynn had planted the seed. The sprite princess never intended for them to be left behind. Much to her surprise, they'd been excited to accompany her, to explore the world beyond their trees. Her queen's guard had been much the same—eager to venture outside the safety of their home.

She didn't blame them. As much as she loved the forest, there was an entire world to experience, one she'd been fortunate enough to see from the sky, when she first came to Dragonwall. She sighed, but the others didn't seem to notice. It felt like an age ago, now, those early days when she'd first seen Dragonwall with her own two eyes. Eventually, she wanted to see it from the ground, visit the various ports along the coast, see more of the northern cities, and venture towards the deserts in the east.

"I don't think even I know all the details of it," Desaree was saying in response to Selphie's question. "But I can guess well enough. I'll need a good deal of help from you. All that I can get," she added, studying Claire's Spriten handmaidens, as if a diabolical plan was already hatching. As if she was wondering how she might utilize their strengths for planning everything.

Claire grinned. She'd been nervous at first, that Desaree might feel threatened, or that her handmaidens would act as if they were superior, being inhuman, older, and more experienced. After all, they'd served Queen Jade before she'd come along. But none of that had happened. The three of them got along so well, that Desaree had already started begging for lessons in their language, Ednuar, so that she could share in their side conversations when others were around.

That, alone, left Claire's heart bursting with pride for her friend.

"We are at your service, my lady," Miera said, bowing her head. Selphie bobbed her head, too.

"There will be the gown, obviously," Jocelyn said, lifting a knowing brow. Desaree nodded. "It must be the most spectacular gown the kingdom has ever seen, or will ever see again."

"The gown to end all gowns?" Jeanine teased, sharing a secret glance with Claire. They both hid their twitching lips.

"Exactly," Desaree said, her voice serious, failing to catch the teasing jibe. "Black, of course, as you may or may not know," she explained to Claire's Spriten handmaidens. "It's meant to match her mate's scales."

"Ah, yes, we have heard such things," Miera confirmed.

"Claire must also acquire the king's pommel stone to match," Desaree continued. "It's a tradition. They each exchange an item during the ceremony. He will give her a bow."

"And the ceremony itself? The decorations? The food?" Selphie asked.

"There will be so much to organize," Desaree said. "We will work with the keep's staff, but they will handle the vast majority of it. The decorations will fill the throne room, the entry chambers, the dining hall, and everywhere else the guests will be."

Nervous butterflies took flight in Claire's stomach. She clutched it, trying not to squirm. For all the time she'd spent eagerly anticipating this event, she hadn't given the event itself much thought. But it wasn't merely the event she was nervous about, it was everything it symbolized. More so, the life changing aspect of it.

"There will be menus to approve," Desaree continued.

"Guest lists?" Selphie asked.

"Oh gods," Desaree said, turning pale. "I forgot about the guest lists." She put her head in her hands, momentarily looking overwhelmed. "But we will manage."

"And I will also help were needed," Jocelyn added, "assuming my lady is okay with that."

"Of course," Saffra said, head bobbing. "We will all help. We're a team now."

Tamara sighed, long and loud. "I hope Byron and I will be able to attend."

"Why wouldn't you?" Claire's brows pulled together.

"It depends on when it's held. We will need to ensure the fort is settled enough to leave. But, I will do my best to ensure that it is. Missing it would leave me devastated."

Claire reached across the circle and took Tamara's hand. "I want you there," she whispered. "But, I understand what it means to have the weight of responsibility heavy on your back. Don't stress if you can't manage it. I know you'll be there in spirit, if not in body."

Tamra's throat bobbed and she nodded.

"What about after the bonding ceremony?" Selphie asked. "The coronation?"

At that, Desaree groaned, and they all burst into laughter.

"Regretting your duties already," Claire said, bumping her shoulder into Desaree's.

"Never," Des said, eyes shining.

The rest of their afternoon continued in laughter and conversation as they fired off different ideas for both ceremonies. Everyone had an opinion on the types of decorations, the food, the guest list, and all the little details in between. Their ideas got more and more outlandish, from giant chocolate statues that could be broken into pieces and eaten, to transforming the entire throne room into a replica of Esterpine. It helped to distract them from the impending battle that lurked ahead.

When it was time to disband and find Talon for their evening flight, her spirits were higher than they'd been in days. "What's got you smiling so brightly," he said, snaking an arm around her waist and pulling her along the path through camp. His body radiated welcome warmth; despite the spring sunshine, the nights were still crisp and cold. He'd just come from the field where the Drengr's armor was assembled, and though he'd worn a hard expression upon first spotting her, it was already softening. It left her giddy, knowing she could turn his grim mood into something happy.

She'd seen the armor when the Dwargs first arrived. Massive plates that would cover their bodies, keeping them safe from any ice metal weapons that might be used. Assuming the poison didn't work on every dragon. Whatever Talon been doing was stressful, but she intended to make him forget his hardships, even if for a little while. That was the reason they went flying together each night, after all.

"Well, funny you should ask," she said, answering his question. "We spent most of the afternoon dreaming up ideas for our bonding ceremony."

"Without me?!" he demanded, eyes already dancing in the fading light.

"Oh? Were you hoping to pick out the flower arrangements?"

"At the least," he said, his voice overly serious. "Or something else that might make a statement. Our guests condemned to feathered hats, perhaps? Or a few giant ice sculptures, if possible? Maybe acrobats, like those we saw during the tourney."

She snorted. "Would chocolate sculptures work instead?"

"Chocolate? Why didn't I think of that?" he muttered.

"Because it was Jeanine's idea?"

He barked a laugh, pulling her tighter as they walked. "I'm sure whatever you ladies think up will be fine by me."

She understood why he'd said it. With all his current duties, he was plenty glad to let them handle this. But...it was their ceremony. So she said, "You're sure you don't want to help with anything?"

He came to a stop at the edge of camp, hesitating, thoughtful. She admired that about him—that he took the time to consider the things he said. "May I assist with the menu selection?"

A grin split her lips. "I'd love that."

He could have declined. She'd have understood if he said he was too busy—the gods knew he was. But it was as if he'd known that distancing himself from the planning process might make him appear disinterested, and she knew him well enough to know how eager he was. Once more, she found herself admiring him, falling even harder for him.

As a king, he'd had time to hone himself. Years and years to perfect being a ruler. Sure, he was temperamental, and downright frightening to most. But underneath everything, he had a heart of solid gold, and she loved him for it.

"And you know," he continued, "we can hire someone to plan everything, if you'd like. You don't have to—"

"Desaree would have an absolute fit!"

The corner of his mouth twitched. "I figured as much. Just thought I'd offer."

He started walking again, this time taking her hand, lacing their fingers together, and pulling her along. Her stomach swooped, eyes darting down to their joined palms. They'd held hands a hundred times by now, and yet, she still turned fluttery.

He stopped in the middle of the field, turning to face her. It was full dark now, but she could see his profile well enough, make out the lines of his scars, the glitter in his eyes, the flash of silver whenever they caught the moonlight. He took her waist, pulling her close. They stared at each other, her head tipped back to meet his gaze.

No words were spoken, and yet, so much passed between them.

"Tomorrow will be the start of everything," she whispered, feeling the importance of this moment.

His throat bobbed. "You will be magnificent," he breathed. Her chest expanded, but she didn't answer. He bent forward, dipping to kiss her. The warmth of his breath tickled her lips first, before his found hers. She leaned into him, snaking her arms around his neck, letting their kiss deepen, letting everything unspoken pass between them in the movement of their mouths.

She tugged at his bottom lip gently when he pulled away. "Ready to fly?" he asked. And somehow, it felt like he was referring to so much more than the simple act of flying. It was like he meant everything else, too. The battle to come, the plan they would enact, all of it.

"I was born ready," she said, squaring her shoulders and stepping away. He gave a single nod, then transformed. 

⭐🌟 DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!!🌟⭐

Hi Bookdragons!

This chapter felt so short, but I swear, it's 3000 words (my average length). I realized in writing this chapter that it was more of a filler. It didn't have a lot of purpose. But I wanted something where all our gals could be together before the battle, especially since it really would be the last time they were all together, given that they would all have to go their separate ways afterward. 

Next week's chapter is also from Claire's POV and I'm especially excited about it because I had to use a lot of Sprite language in it, which was a lot of fun. I've got quite a lengthly dictionary of sprite words invented now. I can string tons of sentences together.

It has been a super busy work week for me, but I'm still managing to write about 1 chapter of BtO per week. This morning, I finished editing the final 10 chapters of The Sleeper's Harp. I think there are 30-ish posted up on Wattpad, and the rest will go up over the next couple of weeks. I plan to write the second book in The Arcane Artifacts in February as a writing sprint. It's going to be a vampire romance. Yipee!

Hope you are having a great week! See you next Friday.

-Mel