Page 20 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury (House of Embers #1)

“Don’t be stupid. He’s been doting on you since you sat down. And, you know you’re hot, Selena. Your boobs are to die for and that hair of yours is so fucking grabbable. Not to mention your eyes. It’s very, ‘ fuck me.’ So use it. Enthrall him.”

I batted her hand away. “It won’t work. Maybe he thinks I’m hot, but that’s it.

He can’t stand me and the only reason he’s ‘doting’ on me is because he wants to use me for his own gain.

That’s not concern.” I sure as hell hadn’t forgotten his threat.

He’d off me as soon as I stopped being useful to him.

Brynn shook her head. “Just get on his good side. Keep that destructive side of yourself in check.”

I hugged her. Some of the fog faded from my mind, but I still felt terribly unbalanced. “I’ll try.”

Brynn stood and helped me to my feet. “You’ll do more than try. You’ll succeed. Visit when you can, okay?” Her eyes had a glassy look to them. We both knew I wouldn’t be able to see her often, not right away, not without putting a target on her back.

We talked for a while longer before Brynn led me back to the table.

“You came back!” Ben grinned widely from where he stood leaning against our table. “We missed you. Though not Aurelia. She’s waiting for when she can go home.”

“I’m honored. What happened to getting some ass?”

Ben barked a laugh. “A quickie in the bathroom satisfied the urge.” He leered at a nearby man, who flushed and sipped his ale.

Ben’s grin had a wicked edge as he poured himself another vial.

“We should dance. You look like you’d be a great dancer.

” Ben chugged his drink before setting it aside.

As he walked to me, he pointed lazily at Kieran.

“I promise I’ll be nicer than that asshole.

We can have a good time. Hey! ” He went down with a yelp, looking like a marionette whose strings were cut. “Not cool.”

It took my brain a second to process what happened. Kieran had used his powers to trip Ben. “What’s your problem?” I scowled at Kieran.

“I don’t have a problem.” But his tense arms told another story. Even Gareth shot Kieran a look. “Haven’t you noticed all the eyes on us?”

“You were perfectly fine to let Ben fall on his ass.” I folded my arms.

“Because he doesn’t matter ,” Kieran hissed. “Or have you forgotten you were a traitor not even three weeks ago?”

“Lay off,” Gareth ordered, his voice sharp.

Kieran clenched his jaw. For a moment, I was sure he was going to bite back, but then he slumped gracefully against his chair. “She has a reputation. And unlike ours, she has nothing to rely on if it gets tattered.”

A chill shot down my spine. Couldn’t I have one fucking night where I didn’t feel like shit? I looked at Ben, who sat cross legged on the ground. “Want to dance?”

Ben scrambled to his feet with a speed I couldn’t help but admire.

“Hell yes. Let’s have some fun.” I grabbed his hand and led him to the center of the room.

Eyes followed us, but I didn’t care. Ben paused, the easy grin never leaving his lips.

“I’ve done some stupid shit, but pissing off Kieran the Dragonslayer might take the cake.

” He laughed and put his hands on my hips, yanking me against him.

“Are you scared?” I asked him. Ben was fucking hot. There was no denying that. And a part of me was interested. It’d been a while since I’d gotten laid. But there wasn’t that spark. Not like the one I felt with… It doesn’t fucking matter. Fuck him.

“Hell no.” Ben twirled me. “I’m here to have fun. It doesn’t need to be serious. Watch.” I blinked in surprise when he pulled away and danced around me, his movements close but sensual and yet utterly ridiculous at the same time. And yet he moved with a fluidness I didn’t expect.

I laughed when he came back to me and tugged me close. “What was that?”

“I like to dance.” He twirled me. “Who cares how you look if you’re having fun?”

“I think many would disagree.”

He hummed. “True. It’s why I prefer more of a free style, but I did some traditional ceremonial dances in the past. Those were a little boring. But enough talk.”

I lost myself to the music, to the rhythm. Ben was right. As curious as I was about his past, I didn’t want to think. I wanted to feel. And so I did. Song after song, I let myself go until the music slowed down and sweat pooled at my temples .

“If you ever want to have some fun, I’d be honored to have you in my bed,” he murmured in my ear.

“Maybe.” I pulled away. “Thanks for the dance.” He winked and went to find another partner. I glanced around the room, my eyes widening when I spotted Nimue in the corner of the room. Brynn sat in her lap, and the two of them locked lips. I grinned. They deserved to have a good time.

When I sat down at our table, the others were also looking in Nimue’s direction. “Are you guys going to sit here all night?” I arched a brow. “Have you taken any vials?” I asked Gareth. “I mean, ten out of ten. I recommend.”

Gareth snorted. “I’m not fond of drinking. Let alone out in public.” He certainly didn’t look comfortable here.

“I’m done suffering through this.” Aurelia stood. “If she so much as brings that serving wench home—”

“You jealous?” I smirked.

Aurelia stilled. It was like all the life was sucked out of her. Then she exhaled and collected herself. “I’m going home.”

Gareth stood. “I’ll escort you back.”

That left just Kieran and I at the table.

Alone. I had half a mind to join Gareth if it wasn’t for the fact that it was nice to get out of the stuffy castle.

I can deal with Kieran. He’s not going to win.

I leaned forward and closed the distance between us.

“Why have you been glued to your chair? Do you secretly have two left feet? There’s no way you have a stick so far up your ass you’re afraid to let loose. ”

A muscle in his jaw ticked. “For the record, I’m the second best dancer here.” He looked upward and exhaled. “Not that it matters, but this event isn’t worth my time.”

“Do you have to be such an ass?” My hand tightened into a fist. “You’re going to have to deal with me because I’m not going anywhere.”

His eyes narrowed. “I never wanted you dead.”

I snorted. “Says my executioner.”

He took a sip of his water, the move so effortless and elegant I hated him a little. “Says your captain. As for your failed execution, it’s a job. It wasn't anything personal.”

“What a load of bullshit. It sure felt personal.” I folded my arms. “You might be worse than Aurelia. At least she owns up to her shittiness.”

His nostrils flared. I was sure he was about to rip me a new one, but before he could, a small pair of arms latched around my stomach.

My first thought was that I was about to get stabbed, but the alarm bells wavered when I saw the arms belonged to a small child no older than seven.

At least my coin purse was tucked into my breastband, so I didn’t have to worry about that getting stolen.

“Uh… can I help you?”

The child clung tighter, burying her head into my stomach. What. The. Fuck? She wasn’t trying to rob me, so what the fuck was she doing?

A sharp laugh broke through my musings. I looked up to see Kieran grinning. “All along, children were your weakness?” He focused on the child, and his features softened. “Do you need help? Where is your guardian or parent?”

I was sure I was trapped in some sort of alternate reality. This man could never be this soft, but the reality sat right across from me.

The child finally looked up, her big brown eyes widening, and she pointed to a trembling older man at the entrance of the bar. The man flushed, a pinched expression on his face as he took a hesitant step toward us.

“Um, what he said.” I patted the girl’s arm. “If you tell us what you need, we can do our best to help.”

“I saw the claiming ceremony!” The child grinned. “Do you think I can be a rider someday? My pa says we can’t because we’re only farmers, but I wanna be a rider too.”

My throat tightened. I was all too aware of Kieran's eyes on me. I wanted to say no, that the dragons only chose royals and that I was an exception. That I got lucky. But even the thought left a sour taste in my mouth. Royals weren’t the only ones deserving of dragons.

I knew that in my bones. Past royals and nobles just liked to say otherwise. No one’s blood made them better.

Really, the only advantage nobles had was their proximity to the dragons. Peasants never got a chance like that—Lusadian royalty ensured that. “Maybe someday,” I croaked. “But I’m afraid there’s no extra dragons right now. You’ll have to be patient, okay? ”

The sunny smile the child left me sat like a stone in my belly.

As did her promise to cheer me on before she flounced off to her father.

Kieran’s smugness radiated across the table.

The man didn’t even have to say a word. People were looking at me.

They wanted me to be a beacon of hope for them. I didn’t ask for this. Any of this.

“See what I mean?” Kieran murmured. “This is why I won’t allow you to die. This is what you being alive does for these commoners. Look at them, look at how hopeful they are.”

I made a noise of disgust. “I’m ready to go back. I’ll be waiting outside. You get the others.”

“You can’t run from this,” Kieran called, but I ignored him and stalked outside.

I took a deep breath and stared up at the night sky.

The stars shone impossibly bright. If I flew up there with Umara would I be able to touch them?

The thought made me smile. Most definitely not.

I closed my eyes. The breeze was a blessing against my heated skin.

I didn’t want it to end, didn’t want to go back to training or playing Kieran’s games.

“Help!” Came a cry off in the distance, in one of the alleyways a few streets down.