Private Tales The Loved and Lost Club

[Cullen]

Cullen cast a glance toward Nadya as her elbow dug into his ribs, sharp enough to be a warning, gentle enough to be familiar. A muscle in his jaw twitched, but he held his tongue, even as Orissa spoke with that calm, unbothered grace that made his teeth clench. He snorted at her mention of his "abruptness," but whatever sharp retort had been poised on his tongue, he swallowed it for Nadya’s sake.

His arms crossed, brow furrowing deeper with every word. He watched Orissa carefully, noting the way she moved, the way she paused before mocking Ilir's so-called “succession.” Alright, she earned a few points there. Anyone who could laugh at that smug bastard had a grain of sense.

He was already frowning as the the reason for their 'recommendation' was revealed, but his expression darkened further when Nadya looked at him. He saw the shift in her, felt the weight of her fear as clearly as if it had taken form and coiled around his ribs.

Cullen let out a long breath and dragged a hand down his face, scrubbing at the stubble on his jaw. Of course. Of fucking course.

“Fine,” he muttered, dry as bone. For Nadya's sake, he'd agree to help. “Then I can assume my punishment for abandoning my post has been expunged? Excellent.”

He didn’t wait for an answer. Just started off toward the royal tent.

“Let’s go, then, shall we?" he called back abruptly...

 

[Nadya]

Nadya knew she didn't have to explain Cullen if Orissa had already made his acquaintance. Instead, she waited for the Princess to follow Cullen. Cadoc walked past as he always was the closest to the princess. Then the rest of the Wings began to follow, but a familiar face lagged behind and gesture for Fedyr and Nadya to go first.

Malennis. A cousin way down the line from inheriting the title, but was one of the rare members to bond to a Moon Dragon. Nadya remembered Sirene, how she was always so quick and quiet with her efficiency. One had to be in order to impress enough and get appointed as one of the six Gilded Wings.

The group filtered into the Royal Tent, remnants of the Princes' presence strewn across the large table in the center, all filled with pages and books and maps. Orissa turned around the table, not looking at the maps.

"We have reason to believe two men have stolen an egg from the Royal Collection. Not only is it a crime to steal or harm dragon eggs, to steal from the Royal Collection is an offense that results in death. I do not speak as a royal on that matter, I speak for the tradition, the contribution from every house bonded to a dragon. I overheard your..." Orissa's face softened as she watched Nadya. "You have done your family well to have brought back another Storm Dragon, and an even more immense effort to return home with a clutch of eggs safely."

Nadya had not told Cullen, nor anyone else, her declaration made upon arriving to the Hatchery. There were four eggs handed over, and Nadya insisted one go to the Royal collection. She didn't know why, but the handlers were being difficult that day. All she had wanted was to do her part, to be part of the traditions the higher house Calaerys were part of in gifting the royal family an egg from their dragon's bloodline.

All she had wanted was to do her part.

She frowned. "I should go alone." Retrieving an egg didn't need a large response. Unless... "Why do I need to put a team together?"

Cadoc, the Captain, cleared his throat. "This is the work of four men. They split off, one set carrying a decoy. We founds plans in a home of one of the suspected riders. Four dragons in total." From his pocket, he retrieved a letter. Slid it across the table for Nadya to catch. "The King has granted kill orders." The Princess clicked her tongue at that.