Page 80 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury (House of Embers #1)

I could tell Clara wasn’t too happy to hear us strategizing at breakfast. She clenched her fork, and her eyes darted between Kieran and me. It was probably hard on her to know that I was going straight into the heart of danger and she couldn’t do anything about it.

“Do you think I could see Umara?” she whispered to me once we put our dishes away.

I couldn’t say no to her, not when she’d been so distressed all morning. I spared a glance where Wes lingered, distracted by Nimue. Gods, I fucking love her. I’d have to do something nice for her later. “Alright, but we’re not telling your guard.” No need for him to flip out.

Clara smiled. “Okay.”

So here the two of us were, standing in the field after taking a carriage to our training grounds.

It was a little longer than going on horseback, but I didn’t want to tire Clara out before we even started.

Besides, it was nice to watch her expression as we strolled through the capital in luxury.

This was a life we never thought we could dream of. And it’s ours. It’s all ours .

I breathed in the air, loving how the smell of pine trees filled my nose. Then I reached for the bond Umara and I shared and tugged. We didn’t have to wait long for Umara to come. Her curiosity was so strong, I could’ve mistaken it as my own.

When Umara was first spotted, Clara reached out to grip my hand, squeezing it so tight, it ached.

The ground shook as she landed. Umara stood tall, not bothering to make her appearance less intimidating, but I wasn’t worried.

Umara might hate everyone, but she’d never harm my sister.

Not when she knew how important she was to me.

Those intelligent golden eyes looked down at us, so ancient it took my breath away.

Clara released my hand and walked over in a daze.

I had half a mind to pull her back, because while Umara was my dragon, she was a dragon with a ridiculous sense of pride.

Clara stopped inches before her. Umara didn’t lower her neck, still looking down at her.

Her golden scales glittered in the sunlight, so breathtakingly beautiful.

I never tired of it. Umara was by far the prettiest dragon here.

“Thank you,” Clara said loudly. She didn’t shake, didn’t lower her gaze. “Thank you for looking after my sister.”

Umara purred. She lowered her head until it was inches from Clara’s face.

I grinned. “She says you can pet her.”

Clara didn’t take her eyes away from Umara. “She can talk?” She sounded almost wistful.

“Not through words. She sends emotions, but it’s like talking.” And what was going through the bond was pride, joy, fondness, wistfulness, sorrow, hope. If I were to put it in words, it’d be something like a mother calling to her nestling. Clara had just gained a powerful protector.

Clara slowly raised her trembling hand. Inch by inch, she got closer to Umara. When she connected with her golden scales, Clara froze. Time froze as they stared at one another. After a beat, Clara smiled and stroked her scales. “You’re the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.”

Umara purred and nudged her head against Clara’s hand.

Wind rustled the trees from up above. We looked up to see Thaleia flying up ahead. She circled above us before landing right next to Umara. After she licked Umara’s jaw, she stared at my sister. Those intelligent eyes focused on her with an intensity that made my stomach flip.

But then Thaleia lowered herself onto her belly and inclined her head toward Clara. The intention couldn’t have been any clearer.

Clara’s breath hitched. “Does she—?”

“Yeah,” I breathed. “You can pet her.” Umara would’ve sent a warning through the bond if it was dangerous. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Thaleia had never done the same for me. But I wasn’t offended. Clara was just that perfect.

Clara looked at Umara, who nodded her head. Clara beamed and turned to Thaleia. “You’re also very beautiful,” she murmured .

Thaleia licked her hand, and Clara giggled.

I felt like I was in a dream. “Do you think I could ride with you?” Clara asked, her voice so soft, so hopeful that my heart clenched.

Gods, she looked right at home. In another world, this could’ve been her.

Should’ve been her. But those three dragon eggs, even once they hatched, would never go to her.

I looked at Umara and sent all my complicated feelings down the bond. Umara grumbled, but she lowered herself so that we could climb on. ‘Thank you.’ I smiled at Clara. “She said yes.”

Clara beamed. “Thank you.” She patted Umara’s scales reverently. I couldn’t believe my eyes when Umara arched into her touch. She’d only ever done that with me.

Clara trembled with excitement once I helped her climb up. I made sure to strap her in and place her in front of me. I wasn’t taking any chances. I never knew my sister to be such a daredevil. When I rode on Aureli’s and Nimue’s dragons, I was scared shitless. Not Clara.

“Are you sure you don’t want to back out?” I asked. “Umara won’t mind.”

Clara’s smile outshined the sun. “Let’s do this!”

When Umara launched herself into the sky, Clara laughed louder than I ever heard her. Thaleia crooned and flew alongside us. Clara watched it all with wonder. I had to hand it to Umara. She knew how to give a first class flight as she glided over the village and through the clouds.

Clara giggled when we went through the first one and ran a hand through it. “This is amazing,” she whispered. “You’re so lucky.”

My stomach rolled when Umara banked left, and Thaleia alongside her.

My eyes widened when I spotted Hesperos gliding toward us.

At first I thought Kieran was with him, but he wasn’t.

Kieran must’ve put him up to this. Because it clearly made Clara’s day.

Though another glance and I spotted the other dragons lingering off in the distance.

Today must’ve been a hunting day for them.

Clara’s cheeks probably hurt from how wide she smiled. She cheered when Umara swooped down and threw her hands up. It gave me a heart attack even though I knew she’d be fine. Still, I tightened my grip around her.

I wanted to enjoy Clara’s first flight, and for the most part, I did.

But there was another thought that lingered in the back of my mind and wouldn’t go away.

This should be Clara. Up here in the skies and with the other dragons, she was clearly at home.

She loved it, even though her eyes were stinging with tears since she didn’t have the resistance I did to the rough flying.

I had always strived to give Clara the world, but this was one thing I couldn’t give her.

Clara kept smiling even when we landed. She lingered on Umara’s back, patting her scales with obvious reverence. “Is it always like this?”

I smiled. “Always.”

Clara hugged me when we dismounted. “Thank you for taking me. If Umara doesn’t mind, I’d love to do this again.” Umara nudged Clara’s shoulder, and Clara giggled.

My smile was more genuine now and less forced. “She’s down.”

And from the looks of it, Thaleia and Hesperos were down to join us.

“You did WHAT?” Wes’s eyes bulged as he listened to my sister’s enthusiastic recount. His gaze whipped to me. “And you allowed this?”

I narrowed my eyes. “It was perfectly safe.” I knew this would happen the moment we got back. Even though Wes wasn’t officially reinstated as her keeper, he’d gotten ahead of himself and ambushed us in the dragonsguard living room.

Wes scoffed. “Because you’re a perfect judge of character.”

“Don’t fight.” Clara’s soft tone packed steel despite its lightness. “It was perfectly safe.”

“Thaleia came out of nowhere and let her pet her,” I added. “Thaleia won’t even let me look at her without growling.”

Clara giggled.

“The rest of the dragons were out there too,” Nimue chimed in. Because of course Wes had decided to ruin the moment in front of everyone. “They went to stretch their wings today and get in some hunting. She was perfectly safe.” Her smile had an edge to it.

Wes clenched his jaw. “She’s not a rider. None of the dragons are sworn to protect her. She could’ve been killed.”

I hated the way Clara flinched and hunched her shoulders.

“Our dragons are trained to carry people if need be,” Kieran cut in, a glint in his eyes. “Umara isn’t inexperienced, and she’s bonded to Selena. She’d never harm her family.”

I could practically see the steam coming out of Wes’s ears. “This was a needless risk.”

Clara wrung her hands together. “I—I had a lot of fun. And… and it was safe. Really, I never felt safer.”

Wes softened. “I’m glad you had fun, but you can’t do this again.” He looked at Kieran. “You said it yourself. Riders don’t control dragons. Anything could have happened.”

My anger burned hot. Hours later and it hadn’t let up.

How fucking dare Wes kill Clara’s smile.

She’d been silent all through dinner. I was relieved when she let me bring her back to my room.

“That looks like Umara.” For the first time since Wes fucked everything up, Clara had a soft smile on her face as she pointed to the golden dragon plush on my bed.

I flushed. “It was modeled after her. I got it at my welcoming festival.”

Clara held it up, and I had to resist the urge to take it from her. “Who gave it to you?”

“Who said I didn’t get it myself? ”

She shot me a look. She had me there. I wasn’t the type to buy something so frivolous. “Kieran got it for me.”

Clara’s brows rose. I thought she’d comment on it, but she didn’t. Instead, she said in a soft voice, “I’m happy you kept it.”