Page 12 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury (House of Embers #1)

“Thanks,” I said to Nimue as she handed me the bright red rouge I’d asked for last night. When I put it on, I felt like myself once again. I looked in the mirror and admired the color.

“You look stunning, though I’m not sure why you want to wear it for training.”

I smiled at her. “We all have our good luck charms.” And I needed it to give me strength to endure today.

Nimue hadn’t left my side the entire morning. She even kept her horse practically pressed against mine as we rode to the training grounds. “You don’t have to guard me every second of the day,” I muttered.

Nimue arched a brow. “This is a pivotal time for anyone of the other Houses to send assassins after you. I bet you it was Aurelia that did it. Don’t worry. I made sure the guards were properly punished. Someone had knocked them out but… well, they won’t make the mistake of getting defeated again.”

The smile was enough to send a chill down my spine. “Good. Fuckers deserved it.”

She grinned, all teeth. “Damn right they did.” She yanked her horse’s reigns. I yelped when my horse followed her lead. Nimue threw back her head and laughed. “Come on, Selena, you’ve done scarier things. Don’t let this get to you.”

I clenched my jaw. “I’m not.”

Ben cheered when I dismounted. “At least you didn’t trip this time.” He laughed when I did a vulgar gesture at him. “You could ride me if you want. I mean, my dragon. You could ride my dragon if you want.”

Nobles. I rolled my eyes. “No thanks.”

“Back off, Ben. She’s riding with me or Kieran.” Nimue folded her arms.

I fell silent as we waited for Luther, Kieran, Gareth, and Aurelia to arrive.

I didn’t trust the glint in Luther’s eyes when he slid off his dragon’s back and prowled over to us.

“Traditionally, you’d ride with your captain.

However, Aurelia brought up a good point.

She should be the one to give you your first flight.

After all, you two that have the most… difficulties.

This flight will smooth over ruffled feathers. ”

I stiffened and opened my mouth to respond, but a hand on my arm stopped me. Nimue shook her head, her face devoid of any amusement.

Kieran frowned. “Aurelia doesn’t have as much flight experience as I do, let alone with a civilian. As her captain, I should be the one to do the flight.”

Luther’s jaw twitched. “No. Aurelia will do it.” Any other moment, and I would have been pleased to see someone put Kieran in his place. But while I sure as fuck didn’t want to ride with either one of them, Kieran was the lesser of two evils .

“Luther—”

“That’s an order from your king.” Steel backed Luther’s words. He raised his chin.

Kieran’s hands flexed, his pride obviously wounded. “Alright.” He inclined his head. “We shouldn’t waste daylight then. We need to spar first.”

Luther rolled his eyes. “Very well. We’ll save the flight for after.”

Kieran was a petty asshole. He barked out orders for us to run through an obstacle course.

Then once we finished that—I came in last place—as punishment for being last, he made me do six sets of repetitive sprints until my lungs burned.

Then once I finished, he said I barely jogged the last round and made me do another round of six sprints, barking orders anytime I so much as slowed my pace down by a hair.

What was worse was that I was the only one who had to run the sprints. Everyone else sat on the sidelines. Ben and Gareth grimaced in sympathy and Nimue seethed silently. I wanted to kill Luther, Aurelia, and Kieran. They had no right to look so amused by my suffering.

I struggled to get air into my lungs, and my legs felt like jelly when he finally said I could stop. I kept my hands tucked behind my head and gasped for breath. “Asshole,” I muttered.

Nimue handed me a canteen, and I greedily gulped down the water.

“Pathetic.” The sheer amount of loathing in Kieran’s tone was almost impressive. He looked at me like one might look at a cockroach. “Go run to the well and fill up our canteens. If you’re not back within thirty minutes, you’ll do sprints until you puke.”

I glowered as I grabbed the canteens and forced my protesting body into a run. The well was a thirty minute walk. Running there… it’d be close. Kieran wasn’t exaggerating. He’d truly make me run until I threw up.

I didn’t know how I did it, but I managed to make it back in time. But there was no hint of approval in Kieran’s eyes, only disdain. I couldn’t even try to look like I wasn’t dead on my feet. My face burned as I struggled to take in oxygen and panted for breath.

“Less than a minute to spare. If you don’t beat your time by two minutes tomorrow, you’ll stay an extra hour for training.” When I didn’t say a word, his jaw clenched. “Respond.”

“Fine,” I bit out.

His lips twitched in amusement. “We can spar—”

“No.” Luther stepped to Kieran’s side. “Time for the flight.”

Kieran clenched his jaw. After a beat, he nodded, and we all walked toward the dragons.

My heart was in my throat as I stared at Aurelia’s silver dragon, Enmei.

Aurelia looked tiny in comparison. Smugness radiated off her as I gingerly approached her dragon.

Enmei was practically her twin as he stared at me, his eyes daring me to climb.

It’s like they both think I’m trash. I fought a snort. No wonder they bonded .

“You’re lucky, commoner,” Aurelia called down at me. “The only reason Enmei doesn’t turn you to ash is because Luther and I will it.”

Enmei huffed smoke in my face. I didn’t flinch, but it was a near thing.

Taking a deep breath, I hauled myself up until I sat behind Aurelia.

“You don’t will shit,” I whispered in her ear, smiling when she stiffened.

“He’s the one with a crown on his head. How many years have you been engaged?

Eight years, right? If he truly loved you, he would have married you by now.

” Sweet little Gareth had given me that kernel of information, and I’d been frothing at the mouth on when to use it.

Aurelia snarled. That was the only warning I had before Enmei launched us into the sky. I immediately gripped Aurelia’s waist, forgoing any sense of pride I had as an animalistic need to survive took control of my body. Aurelia tried to elbow me off, but I was scrappy as hell and tightened my grip.

“Let. Go.”

“Fuck you!” My stomach dropped to my toes, and I tensed. Unlike Aurelia, I wasn’t strapped in. If Enmei’s prick self decided to go upside down, I’d plummet to my death. Street rat instincts could only go so far, and my thighs weren’t strong enough to withstand that amount of strain.

“Not so mouthy now, are you?” she drawled.

I fought to control my breathing, to not show how freaked out I was, but my death grip around her waist wasn’t fooling anyone.

One by one, the other dragons rose, all except Luther and his earthy brown dragon, Saanvi. She was the smallest one, and the second fastest.

“We’ll do a quick flight around the castle and then land,” Kieran shouted.

“Same formations we’ve always used.” Without a second glance at us, Hesperos took the lead.

At first I wondered why Enmei didn’t flank him, but then I realized…

the front positions were the riskiest. Of course Enmei and Aurelia didn’t want to risk their asses.

Instead, Nimue and Gareth flanked Hesperos.

“Keep it together, commoner,” Aurelia said, and then Enmei flew forward, easily joining the back.

I kept a loose grip around Aurelia’s waist. No longer did panic grip me by the throat.

If I was accompanying Nimue, I might’ve been able to enjoy the flight—the way that the houses looked so small.

Though my eyes burned something fierce from the wind—something that didn’t seem to bother the others at all. Damn fae enhancements.

I thought back to the day of the heist when Umara flew above the capital. To think, someone might see me flying her someday. Umara chuffed in the back of my mind, and a tendril of excitement pulsed down the bond. It was such an odd thought but a welcome one.

Aurelia stayed silent until we headed back to the training zone. “I haven't changed my mind. The only other person allowed to ride Enmei is Luther. Everyone else who dares to will die.” She turned back at me, a glint in her dark eyes. “I’d say it’s been a pleasure, but I’d hate to lie.”

My world flipped upside down. A scream lurched in my throat.

I gripped desperately at Aurelia. Blood flowed to my head.

Please, I tried to say, but no words would leave my throat.

Aurelia’s grin tightened when my nails drew blood, but she knew.

She only had to wait me out. Umara roared, blind fury shaking our bond. Please.

Each second felt like an eternity. Our eyes locked. Please. Such viciousness lurked in her gaze… a harsh cruelty that only a noble could exude. My arms screamed at me, and my shoulders throbbed. Please.

My hands slipped, and I tumbled through the sky. The air threw me around like a ragdoll. Panic consumed me. Clara. I closed my eyes. My hands flapped uselessly. I tried to gain control, but I had no chance of survival. . I’d been such a fool. What would happen to my sister?

I’m sorry.

Suddenly, I stopped flailing. At first, I thought I’d died.

That my brain was trying to protect me. But then it hit me.

Something cool had wrapped around me, covering me in darkness.

I squirmed and the shadows followed, tightening their grip.

They flipped me onto my back and lowered me slowly. It was like being wrapped in a blanket.

My breath hitched. Why? How? I barely processed when the shadow concealing my vision slipped away, leaving me lying on my back on a bed of shadows.

The sunny sky stared down at me. My heart hammered against my ribcage.

I’m not dead. Tears pricked at my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I’m not dead.