Page 14 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury (House of Embers #1)

I’m such a dumbass. Yes, it’d felt great to punch Aurelia in her stupidly smug face, but the brief win might just cost me everything. I closed my eyes. A headache pounded at my temples. The dull throb, along with the tightness in my chest, was a constant companion through the night.

“We were all disappointed when Gareth healed Aurelia right away,” Nimue said. I opened my eyes to see her and Gareth standing on the other side of the cell.

“It had to be done.” Gareth folded his arms. “What were you thinking? Of all people to attack—King Luther’s fiancé? Besides the king himself, she’s the most protected person in the kingdom.”

Heat flooded my cheeks. “She almost murdered me, or did you forget that?” I jumped to my feet. “What—am I just supposed to let it go? I would’ve been dead if Kieran hadn’t stepped in.”

“Yes, you’re supposed to let it go,” Gareth said bluntly. “You’re powerless without a completed bond from Umara, not to mention expendable.”

Fuck. “What’s going to happen to me? To my sister? ”

“King Luther doesn’t want to see you.” Gareth fiddled with his gloves. “Your punishment, all things considered, is relatively light. You won’t be able to deliver any of your letters to your sister until the bond is completed. And her letters, until the bond is completed, will be burned.”

The coil that’d been wrapped around my heart unwound, and I almost fell to my knees. “So I haven’t… she’ll be okay?” The letter burning hurt, sent another spark of rage through me, but it was a light sentence. That I could admit. And I’d take it over her being punished any day.

Gareth softened. “She’s okay.” He confirmed and jammed the key into my cell door. “I’ll see if I can save some letters, but don’t count on it.”

I breathed a sigh of relief when I stepped out. From here on out, I couldn’t let my anger get the best of me. Or let my guard down. Even with Umara’s threat hovering over Luther, I wouldn’t put it past him to try another assassination attempt.

My eyes flicked to Nimue. “What did Kieran mean when he said our dragons are mates?”

Nimue grinned. “Exactly that. They’ve been mated for almost five hundred years.

It’s why Luther and all the past rulers have let her be.

Umara might be a rebellious little shit, but she’s not actively antagonizing us and with Thaleia here, she’s not defecting to Andova either.

That’s why Luther doesn’t consider it a loss if you were to have a ‘ training accident.’ At least not until I told him Umara’s plans. ”

That she would have burned down the capital for me. In the back of my mind, Umara purred. What the fuck? “Why would she…?” I couldn’t even finish the sentence.

Nimue smiled, a knowing tilt to her lips. “The bond isn’t fully cemented, but it’s already so strong. Dragons are ride or die for their chosen riders. You’re hers, and she’s yours. Luther’s going to think twice before he tries to assassinate you again.”

But that was it, wasn’t it? My safety wasn’t guaranteed. Not until the bond was completed. “I still don’t get it. Why did Kieran save me? He hates me.”

Gareth’s gaze flicked to Nimue. “The bond might not be cemented with Umara, but you’re still one of us. The dragonsguard looks out for their own.”

I bit back a retort. Not all the dragonsguard. And I sure as fuck didn’t believe Kieran did it out of the goodness of his heart. He had a motive, and I was going to find out what it was.

The others were gathered around the dining table by the time we made it back to the riders’ quarters. Only Ben wore an easy grin.

“One night in the dungeon wasn’t enough.” Aurelia huffed. “Next time, I’ll drop you where—”

A shadow rose up from the ground and latched itself over Aurelia’s mouth, briefly stopping her words.

Her eyes bulged, and fury contorted her features.

Not even a half second passed, and the shadows pulled away, but not before tightening around her wrist in a blatant warning.

But Aurelia wasn’t the only one affected.

Shadows tugged Gareth, Nimue, and me to our seats, pinning us in our chairs.

“Behave, children.” Kieran’s dry voice cut through the tension like a knife. Unlike everyone else, he was perfectly relaxed in his seat, surveying us with clear amusement. “Daddy doesn’t like to get involved.”

“That’s disgusting,” I said, the words leaving my lips before I could even think to hold them back.

Kieran snickered. With a snap of his fingers, the shadows slipped away, releasing all of us.

It was odd to see him so relaxed, especially after what happened last night.

Gareth’s healing skills are top notch. This wasn’t the face of a man who’d been humiliated.

If anything, he looked as if he’d just been given a promotion, like nothing could shake his confidence.

“It’s seriously unattractive.” Nimue tucked her hand under her chin. “The only one who should be called ‘daddy’ is me.”

Ben reached across the table and high-fived Nimue. I shook my head. “No. Just no.” No shame to anyone else, but I wasn’t into that.

“This is bullshit.” Aurelia slammed her hand on the table. “So we’re just going to ignore that that little street urchin laid her hands on me?”

“The break was healed.” Gareth used his fork to point at her nose, ignoring Nimue’s muttered, ‘ unfortunately . ’ “And King Luther had her properly punished. She’s paid her dues.”

“I’m not working with her.” Aurelia sneered. “She doesn’t belong here. You all know this, so why humor her? Umara made a mistake.”

This time, it wasn’t in my head, but off in the distance, a roar rocked the table. Umara. Her fury sent warmth coursing through my body.

Silence swept across the room. Kieran smirked. “Do you want to say that to her face? Umara’s made her stance clear.”

Aurelia paled, and her hand tightened around her spoon. “This is ridiculous. She hasn’t trained for this. Her presence sends discord through the kingdom. My family House should have been the one to be claimed.”

“I wouldn’t take it up with Umara,” Ben muttered, taking a sip of his chalice. “She’s terrifying.”

Kieran rolled his eyes. “We don’t have to like each other, but we must work together on the field.

Remember Lord Zephyr? He died in combat because his dragonsguard captain neglected their training.

When he fell off his dragon, his teammates hesitated to catch him.

I don’t give a fuck if you like each other.

If one of us is in danger, we all need to give a shit and rescue them. Is. That. Clear?”

Aurelia gritted her teeth. “Unlike the street rat, I know how to stay on my dragon.”

My blood boiled. “If you think I’m going to trust her pompous ass, you have another thing coming.”

Kieran lazily waved his hand. “And therein lies the problem. We’re training today.”

“You said we had today off,” Ben protested. “You got my hopes up. ”

Kieran bared his teeth in a smile. “And I changed my mind. It’s more important than ever we’re in sync. Tancred—that’s the southern king—”

“I’m not a fucking idiot. I know who the king of Andova is,” I retorted.

“Could have fooled me,” Kieran drawled. “His dragons have been spotted right by the border. He wants us to know he’s unhappy, and there’s no doubt in my mind he’s sent his assassins to come for you, little thief.

Not to mention, there’s been increased gryphon activity.

Both the Caddel and Benson Houses have reported sightings.

Luther informed me earlier today that he’ll be sending Ben and Aurelia to investigate the reports. The rest of us are on call.”

Training was just as brutal as before. Kieran forced me to spar with him first, taking every opportunity he had to further beat me into the ground.

By the end of it, my ribs burned, every inhale hurt, and my limbs throbbed.

Asshole. A dark part of me almost wished Gareth hadn’t healed him.

Then he wouldn’t be able to do this so easily.

But I immediately shoved the thought down.

He got hurt because he saved me. Even if I had no clue why he’d done it, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for him.

Though it definitely wasn’t because he was coming around to me.

It was a relief to move onto sparring with the others.

At least with them, it wasn’t a totally one-sided beatdown.

I managed to get a few good shots in, though I always lost. After that, we ran laps.

It burned my pride when I came in last, huffing and panting while the others only had small beads of sweat on their temples.

“You’re a liability.” Kieran glared down at me from where I sat on the ground.

“Not all of us have been training since birth.”

His eyes narrowed. “So you’re content with your mediocrity then? Then I have a task for you.”

Said task included acting like a servant.

While the others did their training exercises with their dragons, Kieran had me refilling their canteens using the nearby well—only allowing me to take one at a time.

If I didn’t come back fast enough, he made me do push-ups until I collapsed and then had me run to the well and back.

The hell didn’t end from there. While the others practiced dropping knives from atop their dragons, Kieran used me as a gopher to pick up—and search for—the fallen knives and put them back in the bin. My cheeks flooded with heat, and I itched to punch him in the face.

It was all too obvious what he was doing. He wanted me to feel like trash, to feel lower than him. Per the rules, I should be on their level—be treated like their equal. A servant should’ve been tasked to this. Not me.

“What’s your deal?” I stalked over to him when he slid down Hesperos’ back, an annoying smirk on his face.

“Control your temper, little thief, or Aurelia will continue to think you’re nothing more than a wild beast.”

I ground my teeth. “Continue talking down to me, and I’ll kick you in the balls.” I folded my arms. “Cut the bullshit. Why did you save me?”