Page 74 of A Court of Thralls and Thorns

“What is going on?” Zander demanded, his voice cutting through the tension.

Theron thrust a finger at Dorian. “Ask him. We were in the middle of training exercises when his dragon riders took over the grounds.”

Dorian crossed his arms loosely, looking entirely unbothered. “You have your own section of the courtyard for training, brother,” he said smoothly.

“It is too small,” Theron snapped. “We were using the full space. My men need endurance training, and you and your riders waltzed in like you own the damn castle.”

Dorian gave a mocking tilt of his head. “I do, in part. Last I checked, we’re fighting a war that requires dragons. You’re training infantry, Theron. Foot soldiers.” His voice turned sharper. “Do you honestly believe your men will survive on the battlefield without air support?”

“You don’t get to dictate how I train my troops!” Theron shot back. “Not all of us get to fly above the fight. Some of us actually have to stand our ground. My men are just as important as yours.”

“Are they?” Dorian asked, his tone mocking, but there was a dangerous glint in his eyes.

That did it.

Theron lunged forward, his fists clenching, but several of his men reached for him, holding him back before he could get into Dorian’s face.

The entire courtyard went silent.

The soldiers from both sides looked between their princes, their unease obvious.

Zander stepped between them, his shoulders squared.

“Enough,” he said, his voice low, warning. “There’s already tension between the guilds. If we divide our own forces, we’ll be torn apart before we even make it to battle.”

Theron barely looked at him, his focus solely on Dorian.

Dorian sighed as if this whole ordeal were tiresome. “We’re not divided. I was simply reminding our dear brother that his foot soldiers are not the priority.”

Theron’s entire body tensed, his fury boiling over, but this time he didn’t lash out—he turned his glare on Zander instead.

“You always take his side,” he snarled. “Because you’re one of them now.”

Zander stiffened, his jaw tightening.

“I take no one’s side,” he said, his voice controlled. “But I fight to keep this kingdom standing. And that means we work together.”

Theron scoffed. “You stopped being a part of this kingdom the moment you bonded to one of them.”

The words landed like a strike.

For the first time, I saw a flicker of something in Zander’s face—something raw.

Isolation.

Like he had been trying to keep the peace for years and had only ever been met with distrust.

Dorian noticed it too.

“That’s enough, Theron,” he said, his tone no longer mocking.

But Theron was already storming off, his men trailing after him.

The tension remained even after he left, the assembled officers shifting uncomfortably.

Zander stood still for a moment, his expression blank. Then he let out a slow exhale and turned back to Dorian.

“You could’ve handled that better,” he muttered.