Ryn

Chapter Twenty Five

Honor is the highest code that separates Dragonlings from other creatures. We do not shy away from duty. We do not ignore the suffering of our people. We are honorable creatures.
This is Our Law.
~ From the Dragonling Grimoire

I glided over, landing between Dmitri and whoever he was currently attacking. A part of me worried it had been Senya or, stars forbid, Aleksandr again, but it was a dragonling I couldn't recognize. Her scent was familiar... but I couldn't place it.

"Dmitri." I hissed, turning to him. "What-"

"It's Mariya." Dmitri cut me off, his eyes watching her over my shoulder.

I tensed and turned my head to watch her, eyes narrowing on their own accord. Mariya glared right back as she found her paws, wings half-raised defensively. The silence grew between us and, though the market was still abuzz with sounds and life, it felt like I was alone with her and Dmitri.

I hadn't seen Mariya since before Kirill had murdered my children. Lord Edik had hidden her away from Dmitri and me before we departed and I hadn't returned since, nor did I ever want to. My heart began to beat harder as I remembered that this was the dragonling who had ordered the death of my children. She'd taken everything from me... and yet... my blood cooled as I stared down at her. She was... nothing. Nothing to me or my mates or the people I'd come to call my friends. I had picked up my life and moved on. Yes, the ache was still there, but it was like a scar that had healed over. I could feel the skin tug and pull, but it didn't bleed.

"Dmitri," I said again after a long moment. "It doesn't matter. She doesn't matter." Dmitri's face was full of surprise, but he straightened up wordlessly and nodded. I walked off, head high, and used my wing to draw Dmitri after me.

We walked in silence for a little while before Dmitri finally spoke. "Are you going to tell me why you're so calm?"

I took a deep breath. "No. I mean, I don't know. I'm just not... angry anymore."

"I see," Dmitri said, though his voice was quiet. "I'm... glad."

The silence continued as we made it back to the room. I shifted and blinked, allowing my eyes to adjust to the dusky lighting. The room was empty, the fire in the center slowly burning out, and I suddenly remembered why I had to come back in the first place. Cursing, I turned to Dmitri. "I need you to go find Alek and Senya... and probably Mako as well. And, well, Shurik."

Dmitri raised an eyebrow at me. "You do realize how big this place is, right? That's going to take-"

"Please, Dmitri." I took his hand to cut him off. "It's... really important." He stared down at me for a long moment before sighing and kissing the top of my head.

"I'll figure it out," Dmitri promised before walking out again.

I sighed and closed my eyes, rubbing my temples as everything Queen Galinda and King Andrei said came back to me. It sounded even more foolish now that I was alone. Me? As queen? It sounded incredibly stupid, even for me.