Page 60 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury (House of Embers #1)

I clenched my jaw. “I can fend for myself. Where’s my sister if you’re here?” I looked over his shoulder, even though I knew she wasn’t here. No way in hell would Luther let her come here. It’d be too easy for me to grab her and run, even though I’d already committed to staying.

“She’s okay. Not with me, obviously, but she’s in good hands, and I’ll be back with her tomorrow.”

I scrunched my nose. “Remember, keep your hands to yourself, or you’ll lose something precious to you.” I glanced pointedly at his groin.

He scoffed. “You’re so controlling. If Clara—”

“Don’t. Touch. Her.” She was vulnerable, and if things crashed and burned between them, she’d be stuck under his thumb. It was a recipe for disaster. “She’s relying on you.”

“I could say the same.” He narrowed his eyes. “He’s easy to trust, but that’s a ruse so you let down your guard. He’ll lead you into danger and stab you in the back.”

My mouth dried. “Just—stop it. I know what I’m doing. I won’t put Clara in danger.”

His jaw flexed. “Even without her life on the line, he’s dangerous. He won’t hesitate to use you, and as soon as you’ve outlived your use, he’ll cut you loose.”

It was only because I saw true concern shining in his eyes that I didn’t shout at him. What if he’s right? What if it’s a trick? I straightened my shoulders. “I can take care of myself. ”

Wes’s nostrils flared. “Fine.”

I sure as hell wished I could step away from this conversation, but I knew the moment I left Wes, another noble would make me dance with them. “How’s Clara doing?”

“She misses you, but she’s thriving. She looks forward to your letters. They come every first of the week. Whenever it gets delayed, she’s quiet for the rest of the night. It truly devastates her.”

That judging look made me see red. I dug my nails into his hand.

“Listen here, asshole, you’re not her friend.

You’re her jailor. I might’ve made mistakes with her, but I’m the reason she’s alive.

I worked my ass off through her entire childhood.

I made sure she had food in her belly, and medicine when she needed it.

I raised her. She’s mine. You can fuck off with your concern.

I’ve looked after her my whole life, and I’ll keep doing so.

You can step off your high horse, because what you are to her? It can never compare to me.”

I pulled away, weaving my way through the crowd until I found a relatively safe space to sulk.

Red dotted my vision, and my hands trembled.

I wanted to throw something. The nerve of him, the absolute fucking nerve.

Everything I did was for Clara. I snatched a strawberry from one of the dining tables and bit into it, too angry to appreciate the sweet taste that filled my mouth. Asshole. Prick. Cocky little—

“What did that poor strawberry do to you?”

I exhaled and turned to see Kieran striding toward me. “What do you want, Kieran? Aren’t you supposed to be kissing Queen Nasreen’s ass?”

He smirked. “Don’t be jealous because you want me to kiss yours.”

I flushed. “S-shut up.” I turned away, not wanting to see his gloating gaze. “Your brother came to warn me. He thinks I’m easily manipulated.” I looked up at Kieran through my lashes. “Are you trying to manipulate me?”

Kieran’s eyes darkened. “I want us to be a team, and I want to fuck you. If you consider that manipulation, sure. But you’re manipulating me too, little thief, making me want you. Absolutely despicable.”

I exhaled. He knew what he was doing. He’d done the same thing the night he stopped me from murdering Luther—pushing my buttons to get a reaction out of me. “You’re such a dick. So is your brother, by the way. Trying to lecture me about my own sister when he’s her jailor.”

“Don’t forget he’s loyal to the crown first and foremost.”

I arched a brow. “Couldn’t I say the same about you?”

He smiled. “You know what drives me, and it’s in Daeva. The same can’t be said for Wes. He’s a soldier through and through. I hope that’ll change, but don’t forget his priorities when you’re dealing with him.”

I glanced around the quad and spotted Nimue.

Our eyes locked. She waved me off, giving me the all clear to not play buffer.

I frowned but didn’t argue with her. Instead, I looked around at the other members of the dragonsguard.

“What happened to avoiding their families?” Both Ben and Aurelia were in the middle of talking to their families.

“A necessary evil. The festival’s main goal is to make the major Noble Houses feel heard. The Houses will make their way around to all of us and do their bitching. In return, they’ll go back to their lands and talk up how important and powerful the dragonsguard is.”

I grimaced. “Do you think they’ll come up to me?”

He laughed. “Of course. They’re waiting for the perfect chance to annoy you. But what do you say we escape for a bit?” He held out his hand.

I glanced back at the nobles mingling. Now that he mentioned it, I could see them eyeing the two of us. The last thing I wanted to do was talk to any one of them. I laced our hands together. “Let’s do it.”

Kieran’s eyes glittered. I tried to ignore the way my chest squeezed at that, and the way my entire body tingled.

The man had way too much power over me. As he tugged me through the crowd, I couldn’t help but look down at our joined palms and then back at him.

For a brief second, I considered pulling away, but I didn’t.

It’s so I don’t get lost, I told myself. It’s for practical purposes.

Bullshit, a voice said in the back of my mind. My cheeks heated, and I looked back at Kieran. His eyes met mine for another half-second, and he smiled. I quickly looked away.

There was no real reason for us to hold hands.

Not when the crowd parted as soon as they saw us.

But I shoved those thoughts away and looked at the various booths we passed.

The ones closest to the quad were more extravagant, clearly meant for nobles and the upper echelon.

But the further we walked, the more normal the booths were.

Good. I’d take fried and greasy street food over the uppity food the fancy booths served any day.

People watched us as we passed. A stern look from Kieran had them moving out of our way, but excited whispers followed us the entire time.

“Where are we going?” I looked down at our palms and then at the booths.

I wished I could go into The Dragon’s Hearth.

Even though it’d be packed, I’d much rather be there than here.

“I’m starving, aren’t you?”

Now that he mentioned it, I was pretty hungry.

The stress of the dragon dance had killed my appetite this morning.

My stomach rumbled, and I flushed at the sound.

Betrayed by my own body. At first I thought Kieran was just leading us without direction, but I realized pretty quickly he had a destination in mind.

The twists and turns were too intentional to be anything otherwise.

That was made clearer when he stopped in front of a small, light yellow booth. An older man in his fifties smiled at Kieran, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “Kieran!” the man greeted. “Ya managed to sneak away. Of course ya did.”

Kieran’s shoulders relaxed. “Once I heard you were manning a booth, I had to. You should’ve sent a raven. If I’d known earlier, I would’ve made sure to send more people your way.”

The man waved him off. “I wasn’t going to, but I decided to visit my son a month ago. He’s setting up a shop of his own, so I’m helping him expand his business while he enjoys the festivities with the missus.” The man’s eyes twinkled. “Been a good fifteen years since I last visited the capital.”

Kieran chuckled. “I’m happy to have you.”

“Look at ya, all grown up. The stories I’ve heard! We all knew ya’d make a name for yaself. Now, who’s this young lady?”

Clearly, he knew who I was, but I appreciated the faux surprise.

“Selena, and she’s a pain in my ass.”

I rolled my eyes. “And he’s a cocky jerk.”

The man laughed, loud and cheery. “Nice to meetcha, Selena or should I say the Siren? I’m Finn.

The lad’s been awful busy these past couple years.

Mission after mission, so I haven’t gotta proper conversation with him in years.

He needs to visit more. Do ya think ya can hound him into coming to see his hometown? ”

“Of course.” I blinked as I processed what he said. While I was immensely curious about the village that had shaped Kieran’s childhood, the nickname I’d been given was too out of the blue not to question it. “What do you mean, the Siren?”

Finn grinned. “Ya haven’t heard? When I was travelin’ I met one of the villages ya worked with. They said ya have the skills of a siren, drawing them gryphons towards ya. Sounds awfully useful, if a bit dangerous.”

My mouth dried. “Oh.” It made sense I’d get a title and yet hearing it left me dumbstruck. Selena the Siren. Fuck. This was even more disorientating than wearing the dragonsguard uniform.

“It could be Selena the Gryphon Bait,” Kieran murmured in my ear.

I smacked him and ignored his smirk. But he had a point.

Finn saw the distress on my face and quickly said, “Don’t worry, kiddo. It was only a small group I heard use it. And they’re far from the capital. The name will only catch on ta those travelin’.”

“So, uh, where did Kieran grow up?” I’d much rather focus on that than my name being spread.

Finn narrowed his eyes at Kieran. “Where’s ya pride, boy?”

Kieran actually looked bashful—a look that delighted me. “She’s annoying and nosy. Besides, if she picked up a book, she’d know.”

“S-shut up. Are you going to tell me or what?”

Finn barked a laugh. “Both of us are from Elidad.” He grabbed one of the steaming pastries at his booth and handed them to us. “Apple tarts on the house.”

Kieran still reached for his wallet. “No. We’re paying.”