Page 28 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury (House of Embers #1)

“Told you you’d love it.” There was no smugness in Kieran’s tone, only wonder. I probably had a stupid grin on my face, but I didn’t care. “These are called father trees.”

I pressed my hand against one of the trees.

“Of course it’s named that. Let’s walk through the trail.

Umara, did you want to fly or stay with us?

” She shuffled to me and nudged her head against my shoulder.

Affection coursed through the bond, and she curled up on the ground.

“Okay. We’ll explore first and then meet back up with you.

” I looked back at Kieran. “How long can we stay?” I never wanted to leave.

“A couple hours.”

Hesperos stayed behind so it was just Kieran and me walking down the path. I couldn’t believe just how massive these trees were. “They’re so beautiful. I’m surprised they haven’t been cut down.”

“In ancient times, people thought it was the Father in physical form, so they worshipped them instead. That’s how they got their name.

Another popular belief was that after the Mother created the land, the Father had some complaints.

He felt the trees and lands were shaped solely for the mortals, and he wanted something for their Family. So he asked the Mother to craft these.”

“I’d call him ungrateful, but it’s beautiful.

Though I definitely think the Mother created these.

I bet a man came up with that legend.” No doubt it was probably someone from the Markos Province.

Many of the people in that region believed that the Child was actually the Son.

I preferred to think of the Child as someone of all and no genders.

Kieran inclined his head consideringly. “A few centuries ago, people almost brought the father trees to extinction. One of the Caddel lords outlawed the practice of cutting them down unless they’re unstable. This forest is one of many that’s under the Caddel family protection.”

“I’m glad.” And I wasn’t surprised. People could never handle having good things.

They always tried to ruin it. “I want to take Clara here someday. She’d love it.

” Clara never said it aloud, but I knew she hated being confined to the tent.

When she was younger, she was always trying to run off and explore.

The second time she almost died from an illness was when she finally understood staying indoors was for her protection.

But if we traveled by dragon or used some of the dragonsguard luxuries, surely, I’d be able to transport her safely.

As we walked, we came across a small pond and spotted some birds floating in the water. At least they got to live undisturbed. I caught a glimpse of my features and froze. My ears. They were no longer rounded and now had a sharp point to them that screamed dragon rider. How had I not noticed?

“It suits you,” Kieran said.

My mouth went dry. The lightness I felt faded. “I don’t think so.”

Kieran softened. “It’s hard adjusting, but you will. I know because I struggled too. You’re not alone in this feeling.” He looked down at his own reflection and the Rider’s Mark that was forever inked against his neck.

My heart stuttered. Of all things for him to say, it wasn’t that. At first I wanted to dismiss his words and yet… he’d taken me here and given me some much needed space to breathe. ‘You’re not alone.’ He’d ensured that. “Thank you,” I whispered. I didn’t look away from the water.

Kieran’s reflection turned to me. “It was the least I could do.”

Two weeks after the attack, we were pulled straight from training with a message from a raven to head straight to the dragonsguard meeting room.

I kept my expression impassive as I walked.

Kieran led the way and made a point to stand in front of us all, but also concealing me from Luther’s view.

Gareth and Nimue flanked me. My stomach clenched.

After the Aurelia and dragon bonding fiasco, I’d hardly seen him.

Hopefully, he’d let go of his anger toward me and didn’t plan to make Clara’s life hell.

Luther straightened in his chair, and the rest of us took a seat around the golden circular table. Kieran sat on my right and Nimue on my left.

“We found who hired the man who attacked Selena,” Luther announced to us. “And he was the one who hired Selena to attack the carriage.”

I blinked. Out of everything I thought he’d say, it wasn’t that.

“What?” Were they talking about Randall?

But no way would Randall hire someone to take a hit out on me.

He had a few lines he wouldn’t cross and one of them was that.

Not to mention, the attack was too public—the exact opposite of what he’d do.

Too much risk for something guaranteed to fail. But if not Randall… “Who?”

Luther’s expression tightened. “Kieran can fill you in later. The man’s still being interrogated, but he will be executed in three days. It’ll be death by dragonfire, so you will all be attending. Make sure you get his full confession before he dies.”

Kieran’s shoulders tensed. “Of course.”

Nimue looked between us. “Is he an Andovan spy?”

“Or a delusional peasant?” Aurelia smiled.

“Andovan spy, that much is obvious,” Luther said. “This attack has weakened our public perception. A commoner cannot take out a dragonsguard.”

I rolled my eyes. “Well, there goes my plans.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “We need to show our strength and that our seventh rider is not the weakling she appears to be.” Asshole.

“Traditionally, the Dragonsguard Welcoming Festival is held four months after the rider’s first completed mission, but we’re moving up Selena’s first mission.

” He narrowed his eyes at me. “ Don’t die.

I refuse to let Andova take out one of our riders.

There’s no guarantee Umara would claim anyone after your death.

We need to put Andova in their place before they try something even more stupid. ”

So you need me. I folded my arms. “I want to see my sister. ”

Luther looked seconds away from smacking me. “When you complete the mission, I’ll consider it.”

“No.” I straightened. “You won’t just consider it.”

His eyes blazed. “Need I remind you I’m the king? Tell me, do you know where your sister is?”

My heart stuttered, but the icy fear that shocked my veins was quickly replaced by red hot rage.

I jumped to my feet. “Luther—” But before I could move, cool shadows shoved me back into my seat and covered my mouth.

I snarled through the gag and scowled at Kieran and the annoying little smirk he wore.

I’d been a fool to think that little trip changed things.

Kieran, at his core, was a controlling prick who used people for his own benefit.

“I’ll get her in line,” Kieran said smoothly.

I thrashed against the restraints, feeling like a wild animal, but they didn’t budge. If anything, they tightened almost painfully.

Luther’s lips curved into a smile before tightening in a thick line. “See that you do or it’ll be your head on the chopping block.” He left the room and the rest of the dragonsguard filed out after him. Nimue and Gareth eyed both of us before leaving.

As soon as we were alone, the shadows melted into darkness and freed me from my binds. I jumped to my feet, anger blinding my vision. This asshole. It was all so fucking unfair. I saw red and threw my fist right at Kieran’s face.

This time it wasn’t his shadows that stopped me but Kieran’s hand. He easily trapped my wrist, and his other hand snaked forward to trap the other. I yanked my hand back—or tried to, but his grip was like iron. His stormy eyes trapped me in place.

“Easy there,” he cooed, like I was a beast rather than a human.

I jerked against him. “You don’t get to do that.” I felt less than human when I reached out and kicked, only to be easily avoided. The raged cry I let out, echoed by Umara’s mental growl, only increased the feeling. “You don’t get to silence me.”

His jaw flexed. “I will if you’re being reckless. You can be as angry as you want, but Luther will kill you if he has to. Worse, he might force my hand to do it.”

I laughed but felt no humor. “Because you're his lap dog, Kieran the Executioner. Whatever he says goes.”

He raised a brow, entirely unaffected by my biting words. “Do you think by insulting him you’re going to gain his favor? You’ve done nothing to prove yourself to be anything but a problem and a menace. He’s not inclined to give any benefits to someone that’s constantly a thorn in his side.”

“Easy for you to say,” I snapped.

He exhaled, looking entirely frustrated. “You think I like being that prick’s friend? There are benefits to being on his side."

“Like what?”

“Like being able to see your sister, for one.” His words left me frozen, even when his shadows slipped away. “That’s your problem. You’re too angry to see things clearly. If you play nice and gain his trust, he will allow you to see her. Eventually, he might even allow her to live here.”

But what if I don’t want to fall in line?

“Why are you doing this? Why do you keep trying to... I don’t even know what you keep trying to do.

You think I’m going to be your friend? I’m not.

I’m never going to trust you.” The fucking mind games on top of it, when he acted like I meant something to him, were driving me insane.

I wouldn’t let myself get confused again, because I couldn’t trust a word out of his mouth. Kieran was my captain and my jailor.

His eyes burned. “I don’t want to be your friend.”

“Then what do you want?” I balled my hands into fists. “Be honest.” Because why the hell did he take me to go see the forest when he knew I wanted to get out? Why did he try to comfort me when he saw my ears bothered me? None of it made sense.

“And why should I do that?”

“Luther said you’re responsible for me. I’ll behave if you do.”