Page 149 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

The court regent could run the day-to-day demands of a kingdom, but he couldn’t counter the king’s decree.

The king blinked slowly, his expression vague as he looked around the throne room, as if he’d only just remembered where he was. Then his gaze fell on Theron, still standing a little too tall, a little too regal atop the marble steps.

The king’s brow furrowed. “Theron, why are you sitting onmythrone?”

Theron descended smoothly, his robes whispering across the stone. “I was only taking care of business, as you requested, Father. I am here to serve you, as always.”

The king watched him for a long moment. Something in his eyes shifted, doubt, perhaps, or distrust, just a flicker, but it wasthere.

Then he nodded once. “Well, I’m here now. What happened?”

Theron gestured toward Remy with a slight flick of his hand. “He was interrogating a suspect, one who attacked him. During the altercation, his dragon intervened. The tavern was… demolished. It was set ablaze. The palace guard is still assisting the townsfolk in putting out the fire.”

The king considered this. “They should know better than to attack a dragon rider.”

Theron’s jaw visibly clenched. “Father, dragons are not allowed to?—”

The king turned sharply, cutting him off with a wave of his hand. “Dragons do not serve at our whim, boy. They have their own rules. Their own oaths. If a dragon finds a rider worthy, they will protect him at all costs.”

The air chilled.

“You would know this,” the king added, voice clipped and cool, “if a dragon had chosenyou.”

The slap in his words echoed louder than any shout.

Theron’s face went still, pale and furious beneath the weight of the rebuke, but he recovered quickly, schooling his features into a careful mask.

“Of course, Father,” he said smoothly. “Remand will not be held accountable for Katama’s actions.”

I stared at the king, my heart thudding. There was a clarity in his eyes now, sharp and focused, the haze thinning. Like being in this room, with us, anchored him.

He looked… more lucid than I had seen him in weeks.

And if that frightened Theron?

Then I’d stay in this room as long as it took.

The king’s gaze shifted, and then it landed squarely on me. The force of it felt like a stone pressing against my chest.

“If you werenota rider,” he said, his voice stronger than I remembered, “and Remand hadn’t vouched for you personally, I would have had you court-martialed.”

My mouth opened, instinct firing to defend myself, but from the corner of my eye, Remy’s hand moved.

Stop.

He signed it low and sharp, fingers twitching with warning.

I swallowed the retort, steadied my breath, and said, “I am loyal to my dragon. Kaelith is my first priority.”

The words came before I’d even realized I believed them.

The king tilted his head, studying me in silence. Then he nodded.

“As it should be,” he said. “She is an impressive dragon. Do not waste the gift you’ve been given.”

“I won’t, my king.”

It felt strange, saying the words—my king. The title had always burned on my tongue. I’d spent most of my life hating the crown, resenting the corruption, the silence, the way the system overlooked people like me. But as I stared at him now, I began to wonder?—