His expression was still blank, but I saw dread in his eyes, and that pierced my heart like nothing else could. I wanted to hold him, to make love to him, to make him forget that dread. I wanted to bring him light and happiness and lots and lots of sex. I moved forward a step, as if to protect him, but his hand pulled me back against his side.
“The dragonkin are all my children,” the man acknowledged with a little tilt of his head. I remembered that the others had referred to him as the First Dragon, a nomenclature that was evidently his name as well as a description. He looked back at Rowan. “Payment is now due for the lives that were lost.”
Rowan’s arm tightened around me. “I don’t know how to give you back the dragons who died. I told you that when you bound the danegeld to me, and I say it again. If I could, I would bring them back to life. I would stop them from interfering with magic they knew nothing about, but I can’t change time. I can’t repair the past.”
“The penalty is the loss of your own life.”
It was all happening again, just as it had with Jian. I met a man with whom I had an instant chemistry, started building thoughts of a life together, and then he was taken from me.
“Not this time,” I said aloud, and stepped forward in front of Rowan. “Listen here, Mr. First Dragon. My husband died horribly, and I don’t see you blaming the drunk driver who took him down. What Rowan did was just as much an accident as that, so you have no right to blame him.”
Rowan gave a martyred sigh and pulled me back at his side. “Love, I appreciate you standing up for me, but it’s not necessary, and might well get you killed, too.”
I turned to gawk at him. “Did you just call me love?”
His eyes flickered toward the First Dragon. “I don’t really think a discussion about my choice of words is in order at this time.”
“But you did say it.”
He made an exasperated noise. “Yes, I said it. We’re sleeping together—I felt it appropriate to use such terms of endearment in that situation.”
“All right. I’m willing to accept that. But I want to have a pet name for you, too.” I smiled at him, and for a moment, forgot about the person watching us.
He didn’t forget us. “What makes you think the death of your mate was an accident?”
I stared at the First Dragon. “What do you mean? Jian was run down by a drunk driver.”
“So the mortal police told you. In fact, he was killed by demons because he could not be turned to their lord’s purpose.” His eyes, those uncanny, ever-shifting eyes, glowed with a gold light for a second. “That demon is no more.”
I glanced at Rowan. “Okay, he’s more badass than we are. We could only break their forms.”
Rowan’s expression grew serious. “You have no idea.”
“And now the time has come for you to pay for the loss of the four dragons who were taken,” the First Dragon said, raising his arm as if he was going to just smite Rowan where he stood.
I flung myself in front of Rowan again, my arms spread wide to deflect any such attack. “Wait!” I yelled. “There has to be another way around this. You want four dragons to replace the ones you had? What about me? I’m a red dragon now, aren’t I? I count as one.”
“You’re a wyvern’s mate,” the First Dragon, lowering his hand.
Rowan, for a third time, wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me back. This time, however, he kissed my cheek and murmured his appreciation for my attempt to save him from the First Dragon.
“But that’s like a dragon lite, right? Rowan said so.”
I swear the First Dragon’s mouth twitched. “Do you know Ysolde?” he asked suddenly.
“No,” I said, confused. “I don’t know anyone of that name.”
“You will. Shortly, too, unless I am mistaken. She will enjoy you greatly. Very well.” He addressed Rowan again. “I accept this wyvern’s mate as payment for one dragon. There are three others for which you must make amends.”
Rowan shook his head. “I don’t know any other dragons who aren’t already in the weyr, other than a couple of the demon hybrids who have been attacking us.”
“Those are not dragonkin,” the First Dragon said with another golden flash of his eyes.
“There has to be something we can do to find others,” I said, more than a hint of a begging tone to my voice. “You can’t just kill Rowan for something he didn’t do. Or rather, something he did but that wasn’t his fault. If your kids hadn’t been so pushy, they wouldn’t have died, you know. I think you should take some of the responsibility for having such headstrong and frankly stupid descendants.”
The First Dragon seemed to consider that. “There is a point in what you say. I won’t agree that it is an encompassing one, but it does bear some truth. Very well, I will allow you payment for a second life in acknowledgment that my children are not always as circumspect as they should be. And for the other two lives?”
Rowan looked helplessly at him. “I have nothing. I’m sorry, I just have nothing.”
“Is it possible to make someone a dragon?” I whispered to him. “Like with your magic powers?”