Page 3 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury (House of Embers #1)

I awoke with a groan. The first thing I processed was the throbbing tempo in my head—like someone had decided to chisel their way out of my skull from the inside out.

The second thing was the realization that I had fucked up.

With each passing second my grim reality only got all too real.

It took me a moment to gather my bearings.

I was in a cramped cell with a bucket in the corner and nothing else.

The ground underneath me was harsh and the air damp.

King Luther Aesvara’s dungeon. That was the only explanation of where I could be.

The man who attacked me… Kieran Caddel… his words echoed in my mind.

‘Why would I let you die when you have such valuable answers?’

Fuck. I was in deep shit. Whatever I’d been hired to steal, it must be serious.

What will Clara think? She’d be lucky not to be punished along with me, a frequent occurrence for the family members of traitors.

At best she’d get a Traitor’s Brand, and her family line would carry it for five generations.

The Mother help me. I wasn’t one to pray, but maybe…

maybe The Mother could give my sister a little kindness.

The best case for my sister was the br and.

The worst… I didn’t even want to think about it.

I closed my eyes and balled my hands into fists.

No god would help me or my sister. They never had.

“Look who’s finally awake,” a familiar and infuriating voice drawled. A quick glance confirmed it. Kieran Caddel stood in the shadows that clung to the dungeon’s hallway. There was that same smug smirk that made my heartbeat skyrocket and my anger flare.

I wished I could get through these iron bars and deck him. As I stood, my hands went to my calves, where my knife was usually sheathed inside my boots. Of course, it came up empty. They’d stolen all my weapons. It was a miracle they hadn’t taken my mother’s pendant. “Fuck. You.”

“And here I thought you’d be grateful I saved you from Hesperos’s flames. His bloodlust was through the roof, you know.”

His eyes sparkled when I shuddered. He reveled in frightening me.

Well fuck him. I squared my shoulders. “Why should I be grateful when his flames are what I’ll see at the gallows?

And upon your orders, Kieran the Executioner.

” That’s what happened to traitors, and given that Hesperos had personally executed the men I’d teamed up with…

there was no doubt in my mind I’d meet the same fate.

Kieran had only delayed what was inevitable.

Kieran hummed, prowling closer to my cell. “Did you really think a simple wig would fool anyone? I remember your wanted poster—a street rat named Selena and a common thief. You’re nothing but a nuisance for the local shopkeepers.”

I scowled and shoved down my fear. He knows who I am .

“And you’re nothing but a monster.” I’d heard tales about Kieran.

Everyone had. He was the second person to claim one of the seven available dragons after they ended their mourning period.

And he’d quickly become the king’s trusted advisor, his executioner, his captain, and his weapon.

His ruthlessness was known across the land.

Kieran the Dragonslayer. He took out one of Andova’s few dragons, leaving them with only three now.

The man was only twenty-five and had ballad after ballad sung about his so-called ‘mighty deeds.’ One of which ended with him destroying an entire village.

He huffed a laugh, but there was no humor to it, only barely concealed fury.

“Do you have any idea what kind of mess you got yourself into? Do you know what you were trying to steal?” I tried to keep my expression blank, but Kieran must’ve seen through me, because he scoffed.

“You’re an idiot, and worse, an idiot who will die for something you knew nothing about.

And not only that, but your sister—” He clenched his fists.

“You’ll be lucky if she doesn’t join you under the dragon’s flames. ”

“Don’t you fucking touch her!” I jumped forward. The fire raging under my skin caused me to lose all focus. “She didn’t do anything!”

His eyes searched mine. “Will you die crying or cursing my name? Is it finally hitting you now? Was it worth it?” His hand hovered over the cell bars. “Such a beautiful face you have, but an empty head. A pity. ”

I’d never hated anyone as much as I hated the man standing before me. “What do you want? We already established I don’t know anything about the job. Or did you come to gloat?”

“A bit of both.” He folded his arms, the fury in his eyes dying as he cocked his head to the side and studied me. “I hate scum like you. You only feel remorse when your life is in danger.”

I clenched my jaw. “It’s so easy for you to say that. I know about you. Kieran the Executioner. Kieran the Cruel. Kieran the Shadow King. Kieran the Reaper. They call you a demon, did you know that?”

Kieran’s expression tightened, but with the blink of an eye, it vanished. “I’m glad you know my story. I’m still learning yours.”

My heart stopped. “You’re like all those other lords and ladies. You know nothing about suffering, or going hungry, or wanting a better life. You’ve had everything given to you, so don’t fucking judge me, you bastard. ”

His jaw flexed. “If you have any information to give, do so now. I’ll ensure Hesperos makes your death swift.”

His retort punched the air from my lungs. I had no future, no way to get out of this mess. But I’d be damned if I let Clara suffer because of me. “You were right. I don’t know jack shit about what I was hired to do. I took the job because the money was crazy good. Higher than anything I’d seen.”

His eyes searched my face before he stepped back. “The execution is set for a week from now. I’d say have a good night, but…” He smirked and strolled off without another word.

Only once I heard the sound of the door clicking shut did I allow myself to scream. I punched the wall, ignoring the sharp flashes of pain each hit brought.

I’m so sorry, Clara. The pendant hung heavy around my neck. So much for it being a good luck charm.

It was a surreal feeling being led to my own execution.

My legs were bound in thick iron chains—chains that had scorch marks on them.

Before that, the guards had thrown a raggedy brown dress at me to change into.

Though it looked more like a potato sack than a dress.

Surprisingly, they let me keep my pendant, but everything else was taken.

“Palms up,” the guard ordered, ready to chain my hands as well.

When I hesitated, he yanked my arm toward him.

“I’m not being difficult.” I scowled. “I really can’t put my hands palms-up. Watch.” I held out my arms and tried to twist them, but they stopped after only an inch of trying to rotate them.

“You’re defective.”

I raised my chin. “I was born with it.” And it never bothered me, but it was a mild inconvenience at times.

Half the time I forgot I had it. It was only when I needed to get change and would have to awkwardly twist my hand that I remembered I had it.

My elbows and hands were differently positioned from others.

When I rested them at my sides, my hands usually faced straight forward while other peoples naturally faced to the side.

I noticed something similar when I stretched my arm forward.

My elbow naturally pointed straight down while other peoples pointed to the side.

The guard looked disgusted, and when they adjusted my chains, they did so with more force than necessary.

Kieran escorted me personally from my jail cell, a bored expression on his face as he tugged the chain along. The gallows weren’t a far walk from the castle and were next to a river. I spotted Hesperos first, his angry dragon perched on the high ground. A crowd was scattered several yards back.

To the right of Hesperos were five other dragons all lined up.

Standing before the dragons were their riders—the five of the six dragonsguard members.

Technically, King Luther was part of the dragonsguard, but everyone knew he didn’t fight unless he had to.

No doubt he considered coming to these executions beneath him.

When I looked at the crowd across from the dragonsguard, I froze in my tracks.

“No,” I whispered as I stared into my sister’s horrified face.

Brynn stood next to her, and guards flanked them.

Instantly, I wanted to elbow Kieran and just run .

Clara shouldn’t be here. She shouldn’t have to watch this.

“No.” My voice rose an octave. “You can’t do this. ”

Kieran gripped my shoulder, the touch bordering on painful, but I barely processed it.

I couldn’t tear my gaze away from my sister.

They’re punishing her too. They had to be.

Maybe they’d give her the Traitor’s Brand after I turned to ash or…

I searched the clearing but there was no rope prepared.

Thank the Mother. My sister wouldn’t hang today.

I tried to jerk out of Kieran's grip, but it was ironclad. Even if I had escaped, the chains limited my movement, and since dragon riders were immune to their own dragon’s flames, Hesperos wouldn’t hesitate to torch me.

“No,” I whispered again. “You can’t do this. She’s just a kid. You can’t do this.”

“This is your penance.”

I should’ve expected the iciness, but I still found myself balking. “You’re a monster.” He shoved me forward, and I barely stopped myself from faceplanting. “You said it yourself. This is my punishment. Not hers. She knew nothing.”

Kieran gripped my arm, his nails digging into my skin. “If you value your sister’s life, you’ll accept your punishment.”