Half Bad: A Dragons vs Elves vs Humans Coming of Age Fantasy by Mia Hall

Author:Mia Hall [Hall, Mia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-12-05T05:00:00+00:00

11

Shortly after the announcement of the impending ball, the assemblage filed out of the room. The king went first and was soon followed by his entourage of attendants and advisors. Part of me felt very relieved to see them go. But another part of me was filled with dread. Because, of course, Kayley and I were now staying in Alartha and going to a ball later. So sometime in the near future, we would be surrounded by even more shapeshifting dragons.

And the king would be there again. The king who had likely lied to me and who was trying to keep me here, even though I didn’t want to stay.

My gaze settled on Ajax. He was speaking in Alarthan to the golden-skinned man who had stood by his side. They seemed to be having some kind of argument. Ajax kept shaking his head. The golden-skinned man put a hand on his shoulder.

“Come.” Nyx was suddenly near. “I’m to show you and Lady Kayley around the palace, now.”

“But, uh…what about Ajax?”

Nyx glanced at him. “He is needed by his father at this time.”

“Oh, so that’s Ajax’s dad?” Kayley nodded at the big man who was now guiding a reluctant-looking Ajax out of the room.

“His Highness, Prince Axel Gryffon,” Nyx said. “My father’s younger brother.” He gestured at the big, bearded man he had stood near him. He was also filing out the door and gave Nyx a piercing glance. “And that is His Highness, Prince Gray Gryffon, my father, the king’s brother.”

The austere Prince Gray gave us a solemn nod, then exited.

“Come,” Nyx said, his voice sounding a little hollow in the suddenly emptied chamber. “And I will show you around.”

“Hold on,” Kayley said, “No offense Nyx, but we were supposed to get breakfast, and I’m kind of starving. Before we go tramping about the palace, could we possibly eat…?”

The red spots of color appeared on Nyx’s cheekbones again. He looked down, embarrassed. “How could I forget? I am sorry,” he murmured. “Of course you must eat. Come.” He led us towards the abandoned table.

Kayley picked the covers off some of the dishes and sniffed them. “I gather the king doesn’t pay a visit to this dining room very often?”

“No, he never has,” Nyx said. “This event was unprecedented.”

“So, why do you think the king came today?” She had found some maaka and pinched a few wafers, sitting at the table.

“I really couldn’t say.” Nyx shifted his eyes.

“Oh. You couldn’t say?” Kayley gave him a hard look as I sat beside her.

“I can’t speak for the king.”

“Right.” Kayley munched her food and swallowed. “But I mean, usually if a couple of stray human girls show up in Alartha, the king doesn’t make a great big deal of it, crash a breakfast, and then announce a ball?”

“No.” Nyx stared at the table.

“The king doesn’t usually submit some poor human girl to the third degree either, right?”

“I don’t know what you mean by that.”

She snorted. “Come on. He only wanted to talk to Carina.

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