Page 150 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

Who is the real enemy here?

The king’s gaze turned distant, cold. “The Order is behind the attacks on our warders and nobles.”

My pulse stuttered.

Warders and nobles?

I glanced sharply at Remy, the question already forming in my mind. Nobles had been murdered?

Why hadn’t Zander mentioned this?

Remy tilted his head, just slightly. “Was a member of a royal house murdered? I was unaware of those events.”

So he hadn’t known either.

Zander wasn’t the only one being kept in the dark.

The king nodded gravely. “Yes. A few, but not in Warriath. We have kept these events quiet so we don’t alarm the nobility. But we can’t afford to lose the true bloodlines. Not now.”

The implications rolled through me like thunder.

Nobles were being killed.

Warders were dying.

And all of it… hidden.

Not to protect us.

But to protect a legacy.

And if the Order was truly behind it?—

Then war had already begun.

And we were already bleeding.

Just as Siergen warned.

Theron’s gaze slid toward me, sharp and condescending. “Perhaps we should discuss these things in private. The girl is still a prospect. Her dragon could still reject her.”

Kaelith stirred in my mind, her voice like velvet lined with fire.I could also burn that royal imbecile in dragon flame and do the entire kingdom a favor.

It took everything in me not to laugh, but I covered my mouth and gave a convincing cough. The king’s lip twitched, just slightly, but I saw it.

He’dheardsomething like that before.

He’dlivedit.

I hadn’t seen the king’s dragon, Eldarn, since the day after I joined the guild. A massive silver striker with wings like rolling thunderclouds.

Kaelith,I whispered through the bond,where is Eldarn?

He remains on the Dragon Isle,she answered solemnly.He cannot communicate with his rider due to the illness afflicting the king. It… hurts him to be so distant.

Her words coiled around my heart, tightening with something I hadn’t expected,grief.I suddenly wondered just how deep a dragon bond could go once the acceptance was sealed.

It depends on time,Kaelith said, reading my thoughts with ease.The human king has been bonded to Eldarn since he was nineteen years old.