Page 66

“Thank you, Dola. We must be going.” I lean down, and Dola kisses my cheek. Reign stands, and we leave, walking silently down the corridor that will stay burned in my memory.

We’re nearly at Reign’s bedchamber when a guard intercepts, informing me that I’m needed in the throne room. I leave Reign and head there swiftly, entering to find Vanna and my father. His gaze is cold, unyielding as always. Vanna’s expression remains unreadable.

“Lukene, we have an issue,” my father declares, his tone thick with anger and disappointment. “Several, actually.” His words echo, sharp and biting.

I know this is about my earlier behavior in the training yard, the slaughter of those guards.

“What in the double burning hells did you do in the training yard?” My father, or should I say my king, screams, face reddened. His words echo around the room, as spittle flies from his mouth.

“I did exactly what I was trained for, Father. What you expect me to do as Captain of the guards. You gave an order not to touch the contestants, and that order wasn’t followed. I won’t tolerate disrespect toward you. I made sure everyone knows not to go against your word. I highly doubt anyone will do it again anytime soon.”

“Your king,” Vanna snaps, as if to remind me he isn’t just my father, “said the contestants couldn’t hurt each other. He didn’t forbid a royal guard from disciplining a Drifter. But you knew that, didn’t you?” She cocks her head, leaning back on the throne that should have been mine.

“Ah, a simple misunderstanding of words.” I give a slight smile that is anything but friendly. She had something to do with this—I just know it. I narrow my eyes at her. “We have plenty of new recruits, so they will be replaced. And the other issue?”

“The orange wyvern,” Vanna states. “It needs to go.”

Roughly, I rake a hand through my hair. “Why now?”

“It is a disturbance. You should have killed it years ago.” Here we go again. I shift my weight to my other leg, annoyance flaring at the repetition.

“It killed one of the recruits and two of the wyverns we trained with soldiers,” Vanna continues, her voice clipped. “I just received the information from a messenger. It needs to go, Lukene. This will be the final trial: whichever contestant can ride it or kill it will win. They have one week, or all will be sent back to the Hollows.”

“Let me handle it. I can—” I start, but Vanna cuts me off.

“No. You have your orders fromyourking. Leave before nightfall,” Vanna snaps. “You are dismissed.”

Scoffing loudly, I give a slight bow to myking, before turning around, leaving the throne room.

The orange wyvern is Wrath’s offspring. I protected it years ago, and it grew into the most massive, vicious wyvern in Wemdrah—a huge pain in my ass. No one has managed to get close to it, except me, and only when Wrath is present.

I track down Kylo and James, instructing them to round up the contestants. The few of us who ride wyverns will fly them to Wemdrah. Our wyverns typically stay along the coast near Serpent’s Reach. I can only hope they’re nearby and not out hunting for food.

Waitingoutside the carriage for the contestants, worry knots my stomach. The orange wyvern isn’t going to submit to anyone, and the chances of him being killed are slim. He’s a formidable creature. If Reign gets sent back to the Hollows, I can always get her out. I can do what I did for Dola’s granddaughter and hide her in the city. Just as my brain begins to spiral, James approaches.

As he comes closer, I notice the darkness under his eyes, his face lined with angst and worry. “Luke, what the fuck was that?”

I sigh loudly not wanting to get into this now. “What James? What do you want me to say?”

“Gods damn it, Luke.” He comes right in front of me. His tone is a fatherly, authoritative one. He sighs. “The prince fell for the prisoner.” His expression softens.

“No…no I didn’t. I was following orders. The king said no one is to tou—” James cuts me off, placing his hand firmly on my shoulder.

“You did, Luke. You did. What’s done is done. There’s no point hiding it, but mark my words, that woman will be your destruction—your downfall.”

“She will be my nothing, James. What is it you have against her anyway?” I notice Kylo exiting the palace with the contestants, heading toward us.

“I have nothing against her. I actually like her. But I have never seen you like…this. Never. And that worries me…”

“We’ll finish this conversation later. Reign and I are taking this carriage. Fill the others with the contestants and guards.” James nods as I climb into the carriage and wait for my little reckless prisoner.

James opens the carriage door and helps Reign in. Her eyes are full of questions when she sees me already inside. She settles onto the leather bench across from me as the door closes.

At first, the silence is uncomfortable. “Are we going to be the only ones in this carriage?” Reign breaks the quiet to ask. Her vibrant lavender eyes fail to meet mine as she looks out the window.

“Yes. Is that a problem?” I notice her cheek is no longer bruised.

She doesn’t respond, only shakes her head, still avoiding my gaze. The carriage begins to roll, and she continues staring out the window. I wonder if this is about the kiss, or maybe something else entirely.