Page 29 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury (House of Embers #1)
He laughed. “I doubt that. You don’t have it in you to behave, little thief. But fine. I’ll humor you. I want a world where we’re not warring against other dragons, a world where civilians don’t pay for riders’ hubris.”
“That's never going to happen.” I almost wanted to laugh. Only a noble could think of something that na?ve.
“You might want to reconsider your own plan.” He looked down at me, sending a thrill down my spine. “You keep fighting the king, and what comes of it? He hides your sister. Even if you run, even if you take her, you’ll be hunted down like a dog. Swallow your pride and work with him.”
I pressed my finger into his chest. “Some of us aren’t spineless.”
He captured my hand into his and held it there. “No, some of us aren’t selfish and can act for the greater good.”
My pulse skyrocketed as I felt his chest underneath my palm. “I don’t believe you’re as noble as you make yourself out to be. No highborn is.” I pulled my hand away, trying to ignore the warmth flooding my cheeks. “How can I feel safe when someone is trying to kill me every other day?”
“You could start by being more alert,” he said dryly. “Other than that, you continue training and complete your mission. Once you gain a reputation, the people will back off. The festival will only cement your position.”
I bit back a retort and instead said, “What was in the treasure chest?”
His brows raised. “Why should I tell you? You’re emotionally volatile at best. Unstable at worst.”
“Thanks, I try.” I folded my arms and grinned.
“You keep saying we need to trust each other. Why not try practicing that? Beyond giving me useless mundane information, that is. The treasure chest must be a big deal if they’re doing the execution this fast.” Please don’t be Randall.
It must’ve been that Raven person. But I wasn’t going to say anything and potentially lead them to Randall .
Kieran exhaled. “You’re infuriating, you know that? It’s like dealing with a child.”
My lips twitched. “Come on, O Fearless Captain, spill it. I’ll keep my mouth shut.” The words surprised me, because I meant them.
Kieran flicked his wrist and shadows rushed outward, exploring every crevice in the room. The silence weighed heavily on my shoulders, but I didn’t dare look away from Kieran, or the tension lining his jaw and neck.
“Dragon eggs. That’s what’s in the chest.”
My eyes widened. The last dragon eggs were laid sixty years ago and almost ignited another war between Lusadia and Andova. Three Lusadian dragons and riders died, and one Andovan had fallen as well. “Why were you taking a carriage then?” It seemed so needlessly risky.
“There was nothing in the treasure chest. We know there’re Andovan spies, so we lured them out.
Unfortunately, we only got the grunts who knew nothing about who hired them.
The trail went cold. We only know their alias: Raven.
That’s why I’m not entirely sold on your theory of it being a Lusadian mastermind.
If they’re the same person who hired you, then they’re Andovan or connected to Andova. ”
My mouth dried. He was right. I’d been played like a fiddle. “Where are the eggs? Why haven’t they been hatched yet?”
He frowned. “The location of the eggs is top secret. Even I don’t know where they’re at. It’s a delicate matter. ”
“Wouldn’t it be faster if you or one of the riders transported them then? You fly all the time.”
“It’s too risky. That’s how we’ve lost dragons.
As much as we like to pretend we control our dragons, they’re creatures first and foremost. They’re extremely protective over their eggs and more so once they’ve hatched.
If our dragons were to cross, we could easily lose control—especially if their prides were wounded.
Besides, the dragon eggs are useless to anyone other than Luther and King Tancred.
Only someone with royal blood can hatch them, so we don’t have to worry about someone else hatching them. ”
I fought a shudder. What Kieran said—about losing control of our dragons—I had experienced that earlier when Umara torched that man. She didn’t listen to me, too angered and panicked by the threat to my life.
“We have time, but not much,” Kieran continued.
“Andova wants more dragons. Tancred was fine with not having Umara because it was almost guaranteed she would never claim anyone. But dragons love to prove us wrong. Her claiming you has shifted the balance. Her magic has only grown stronger with her age—magic that will channel through you once you receive your Dragon’s Gift. ”
My bond mark tingled, and I glanced at his rider tattoo—the black strokes that swept up his neck and stopped just under his jaw. The longer the mark, the stronger the rider. Mine went up to the corner of my jawline—just barely inching out his.
When that manifested, when I became a proper rider, then I’d be a threat to take seriously. Kieran was an asshole, but he had a point. It was time to stop thinking with my emotions.