I was going to punch someone. This meeting was taking way too long. How hard was it to tell the Regents that we caught Zair and were moving on with the wedding?

Apparently over an hour. This was some of the stupidest shit I’ve had to fake-smile my way through. About halfway through, Ric asked to be excused to personally check on the Dragon; ‘make sure it wasn’t scaring anyone’.

‘If only I could just ask to be excused’ I thought, pitying Kieran for being the one to report everything. Jillan, Kalde, Ric, and I were just there for formalities and to confirm everything Kieran said. After a practical eternity, we were all dismissed, and as soon as the door to the throne room closed with a bang, Jillan let out a huge groan, dramatically falling backward until Kalde expertly caught her. They seemed to be used to her doing this; the movement was automatic and bored, if not for the amused look in their eyes.

“That was so. Fucking. Boring. Why did we have to do that?”

“You mean why did I have to do that,” Kieran grumbled. “And I have no idea. Mum and Father are sadists?”

“If they were sadists then at least they would be interesting,” Jillan huffed.

Kalde stifled a chuckle and glanced at me, knocking their shoulder with mine.

“You good?” they asked.

“Yeah, just tired. That was the worst-wasted hour of my life. Is this what it’s going to be like when I marry Ric?”

At this, they glanced around, surprised, and asked the chattering siblings, “You didn’t tell her?”

“Tell me what?” I was a little nervous now.

“Oh, you don’t have to marry Ric.” They looked around quickly, like they were checking for any eavesdroppers, which there might have been. When they confirmed we were alone in the hall, they continued. “We made an excuse; since the totally evil Dragon crashed your wedding, 'it' must not want you to get married. So, we’re going to capture said Dragon and make 'it' the only guest to your all-new-completely-exclusive-totally-real wedding. Guestlist comprised of one Dragon to a definitely-happening wedding,” they said, finishing with a deep and dramatic bow. It was… a really shit plan that had so many holes it was confusing. Did Ric make it up or something? But it seemed to have worked, so…

“I don’t have to actually wed him?” I repeated in disbelief.

“Yup. It’s all for show. You get the influence, Ric gets our parents off his back, and you both get to keep your hearts and souls for the real loves of your lives,” Jillan confirmed.

“Oh. Oh my Gods YES! No offense, but I really really didn’t want to marry Ric. Oh, thank Gods. Sweet Mother of Earth, yes.” I pumped my fist in the air, doing a tiny happy dance. I was probably overreacting, but now I was able to get the power and influence I needed to help Zairyn without marrying a person I held no attraction for? Hell fuck yeah. And I could stop pretending to Zairyn too! I knew he was this close to killing Ric when I told him we were engaged. Now that the whole thing was officially off (to us), I could finish my plans without tying myself to anyone. Not like that at least. Not yet.

“Oh crap, we have to tell Zair! Then maybe he won’t try and maim your brother when he gets the chance,” I told Jillan. She chuckled while Kieran full-on belly laughed, like he always does. Kalde started chuckling too.

But then they stopped, looking down the hall from us. When I noticed this, I turned to where they were looking.

It looked like… Ric? Running towards us, looking very disturbed about something.

“Guys… Guys!” he shouted, stopping in front of us to catch his breath. “Something’s wrong with Zairyn. I think the cold is back! I don’t think he’s doin’ so well right now, we need to get him some help.”

My heart, still high on the great news I had gotten only moments before, dropped to my stomach.

Beside me, Kieran muttered, “Damn it.”