Page 15 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury (House of Embers #1)

“Not. Now.” Kieran’s gaze flicked to the others. I wanted to press him, wanted to shout at him, but instead I jerked a nod. There was something about this man that made me lose all sense.

“Fine, but you're not getting out of this.”

A faint smile touched his lips. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Later that night, as soon as I was certain everyone fell asleep, I stalked over to Kieran’s door. Before I could so much as knock, a shadow jumped out from the door and captured my wrist.

“Little thief,” Kieran’s voice said from behind me. A shadow teased my throat, and I fought a shudder, trying to ignore the way my body tingled at the touch. “I’m flattered you want me to… entertain you.” Another shadow curled under my chin.

“Shut up!” I swirled around and shoved his shoulder. “You said we would talk later. It’s later.”

Kieran vanished and reappeared leaning against his bedroom door with his arms crossed. “And yet you chose now of all times to talk.” His lips twitched. “Are you sure you’re not interested in sharing a bed with me?”

I scrunched up my nose and tried to shove down the jolt his words sent down my body. “Get over yourself. What I want is answers, not to get propositioned from a prick like yourself.”

He hummed. “Fine, but we’re not having this discussion here.” He held out his palm. “I can take you somewhere private where we won’t be overheard. But you have to trust me.”

I looked into his dark eyes. Trust, he said. I didn’t trust this man for shit. He made it clear he couldn’t stand me and that he wanted me dead. And yet… he saved me when he had the chance to let me die. “If you try anything, I’ll slit your throat.”

He grinned. “I'd like to see you try.”

The world fell away when I took his hand.

Cool shadows pressed on my body. One second I was outside Kieran’s door and the next?

The next we stood somewhere in the castle.

I glanced around. It was a small, circular room at the highest peak of the castle.

A small door led to a three-sixty balcony.

But the oddest thing was that there were no stairs attached anywhere, leaving me well and truly stranded.

“What is this place?” It was clearly lived in.

Small little dressers lined the room as well as some boxes that had me dying to look inside.

Kieran patted the wall with a smirk. “Several years ago, I had Luther seal up the entrance to one of the castle’s towers. Now only myself or another rider can enter here—and for them, only if they get their dragon to drop them off. Welcome to Rafferty Tower.”

I scowled. That’s right. I shouldn’t let what happened yesterday sway me. Kieran was still the king’s right hand man. Clearly, they weren’t friends, but they were allies.

“Work on your mask,” Kieran said suddenly.

I blinked. “What?”

A shadow flicked my forehead. “It’s ridiculously easy to tell what you’re thinking. You think the king and I are scum. And you want to kick me in the balls. Not that I’d let you.”

Asshole. I stalked forward and jabbed a finger in his chest. “You think you’re so clever, but you’re not as smart as you think you are.

I know you don’t like me. I know you think I’m pathetic.

You’ve made that clear in not just your words but your actions as well.

You’re just like Aurelia but more composed.

You think I’m the dirt clinging to your boots. ”

His hand raised. Fear gripped me by the throat, but Kieran didn’t strike me.

The moment I stumbled back, his hand landed—not on me, but to the side of my head.

His eyes trapped me in place, heated and wanting.

“I don’t think I’m easy to read.” The words were a careful threat whispered in my ear.

I should’ve been disgusted, but a spark shot down my spine, heating my body.

“What if underneath all my anger, all my loathing, there’s something there that you’re not smart enough to see? ”

I scoffed. “Or maybe your ego is bruised because you’re not as complex as you think you are.

You’re a simple noble born with a silver spoon in your mouth just like everyone else in the dragonsguard.

The only difference between you and them is that you can’t admit it to yourself.

You want to be special, but you aren’t. You’re the king’s lackey and nothing more. ”

“Little thief,” he crooned, leaning forward to brush his lips against my ear. “It pains me to see you thinking so little. Truly, it’s depressing. And I had such high hopes for you.”

I laughed. “Really? You think I’m ignorant?

You might know the names to all those nobles, but I know what the world’s really like.

You’ve seen the world from high up in your castle.

I’ve seen it from the slums. I know what drives people.

You can only imagine. Bastard or not, people plastered on a smile for you whenever you walked past them.

You would never have survived in my world.

” My lips curled in a grin. “Only someone na?ve could ask me to trust a noble of all people. My people know just how expendable we are to yours.”

A muscle ticked in Kieran’s jaw. “There you go again, putting all us nobles in one category. It’s a childish worldview.” He grinned wolfishly. “That’s why I can’t take you seriously. You say you know my heart. What if you’re the one who sets it aflame?”

Kieran was inches from my face. His breath tickled my lips. Fire raged through my body. Too close. I needed my body to stop reacting to him, stop letting him make my heartbeat quicken. So I did the first thing I could think of—I shoved him.

Or rather, I tried to.

Shadows gripped my wrists and pinned them to either side of my head. Another cupped my chin and forced me to look into his eyes. Kieran’s heated gaze stared me down. “I knew you would do that. Because I know you. You’re afraid of your emotions.”

My heart stuttered. He’s so close. How the fuck did we get here? And why the fuck did I want him to lean in closer? “Just you wait until I bond with Umara.” Once I had power, I’d send him to his knees.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

I fought to keep the relief off my face when his shadows released me. He was as bad as Luther with all these power plays. “Stop playing games. Fire will rain down from the sky before I fuck you. I’d rather kiss a pig.”

“Ben will be pleased to hear that.”

Dammit. Don’t smile. “Talk. You’re the one who blabbed on and on about working together as a team. Well, I’m telling you that I can’t work with you unless you tell me why you saved me. It sure as hell wasn’t because you valued my life.”

Kieran hummed. “You’re everything I hate. But I’m smart enough to overlook that.” His stormy gray eyes locked onto me. “You have so much more potential than you believe. You, little thief, are the perfect symbol.”

The way he looked at me… it was hungry and calculating. My skin tickled. “What do you mean?”

He played with a lock of my hair, tender despite his biting words.

“I wanted to execute you after what you did. But that changed when Umara claimed you. You being alive is better for the commoners. Given time, you’ll be a symbol.

Your presence proves things don’t have to be so shitty for them, that they don’t have to lick nobles’ boots, that they can want more, demand more.

If a simple peasant—one who stole and was on the brink of execution—can rise up and serve the kingdom with honor, then maybe they can too.

Luther usually only chooses nobles to be knights, but commoners might one day gain that prestige as well.

It’s not as drastic as claiming a dragon.

” His eyes darkened. “That’s why I saved you. Because you’re useful for my goals.”

The message was clear. When I stopped being useful, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill me.

“You think of yourself as a puppeteer, but you’re a pawn just like me,” I spat, taking great delight in the way he clenched his jaw.

“I’m not going to let myself be a puppet for anyone.

” It was all too clear that I needed to finalize the bond with Umara, but after that?

After she trained me and my power manifested?

I’d take my sister and get the hell out of here.

Kieran huffed a laugh. “If Umara hadn’t claimed you, you’d be ash scattered across the gallows. Your sister would be marked as a traitor. Now, because you’re a pawn, she’s living securely. And you have a chance to reunite with her if you behave. Don’t fuck this up for her and everyone else.”

“What about you? Do you really think you’re not a pawn? The lashes from last night say otherwise.”

His eyes flared. “We’re all pawns to each other.

Who gives a shit so long as we get what we want out of it.

It’s time to stop pouting and accept your situation.

You can be helpless, or you can take control.

” He stepped back. I leaned back against the wall, trying to ignore the way my thighs trembled.

Kieran either didn’t notice or didn’t care.

“Don’t be so dull, little thief. There’s work to be done. ”

My jaw wound tight. “Whatever. Take me back to our quarters.”

It was just as I suspected. Kieran wasn’t my ally. He was dangerous. Maybe even more so than Luther.