The Dragon's Queen (Dragon Lords) by Michelle M. Pillow Page B

you my world, how grand ladies were there, but I never regretted having you. You and your father are my life. Without you I am not whole.”
    “ I’m sorry I can’t be the lady you want me to be,” Mede said.
    “ The pull of the dragon is strong.” Her mother nodded in understanding. “I wish you could feel the human in you as you do the dragon. You give that side so much attention. I want more…” Grace swayed on her feet.
    “ Mother?”
    “ It’s nothing. I’m tired.” Grace smiled weakly. Her words became a little breathless as she tried to act like nothing had happened. “I want so much for you. I want you to feel your human soul. I want you to feel what it’s like to have a woman’s heart. You in love and married, would make my life complete and I would have nothing left to do in this universe.”
    Mede eyed her mother ’s pale face, worried. “I want you to see a medic.”
    “ No. It’s nothing.” She shooed her daughter’s hand away. “I’m just a little tired.”
    “ Mother, seriously. For me,” Mede put forth sternly. “If you don’t, I’ll tell father.”
    “ Don’t bother him with nonsense. He has so much to worry about with the herds.” Her mother walked away from her, fidgeting with the array of decorative old weapons her father kept hanging on the wall. They were family heirlooms, the blades dulled from centuries of use. The woman’s hand moved slowly, not really doing anything useful. She kept her face from view.
    “ What can I do to get you to see a medic? Name it.” Mede watched her mother’s back, imagining that she looked thin, too thin. Knots of worry bunched in her stomach. Grace had always been delicate. With the Draig natural lifespans, death was not something Mede thought a lot about. She never considered her parent’s mortality before. What was her mother hiding from her? Why was she acting this way? Fear gripped her. She wasn’t equipped to deal with loss. She needed her mother. Grace couldn’t be sick. “Anything.”
    “ Anything?”
    “ Yes, just agree to see the medic. I can tell something is not right.”
    “ Deal.” Her mother turned, smiling brightly. Mede froze. That was not the forlorn expression Grace had been wearing moments before. “Wait here. You are going to love what I have for you.”
    Mede watched as her mother straightened her shoulders and pushed the wayward strands of her hair back into the bun braided at the nape of her neck. Mede eyed her mother in shock. What had just happened? Did her sweet, innocent mother just manipulate her into agreeing to…what?
    “ I had this made for you.” Grace lifted a gown proudly before her. “You will be the most beautiful bride at the festival.”
    “ I’m not going to the festival,” Mede said numbly, eyeing the frilly dress. “And what is that thing? It looks like a normal dress got attacked by lacey stuff, and lost.”
    “ Don’t be silly, daughter, of course you’re going. Just as I’m going to see a medic. Your dragon honor dictates that you uphold our agreement.” Grace continued to smile, ignoring the comments about the dress.
    “ Did you just manipulate me?” Mede couldn’t move. She had not seen that coming. Yes, she knew her mother wanted her to go to the festival, but she never in a million lifetimes thought Grace would fake an illness to manipulate her into going.
    “ Oh, daughter.” Grace gave a secretive smile. “I’ve asked you for years to let me teach you how to be a lady. You silly dragons always think you have to do things with force. Your father is the same way, only he doesn’t realize when I gently push him in a direction for his own good. Had I not intervened, your name would have been Thor.”
    “ Ah.” The sound came out strangely from her throat. “You planned this.”
    “ No, I beat you with your own stubbornness. I’m actually surprised it took you this long to catch on. Did you really think it was your idea to have your room so clean as a