Page 2 of Court of Embers (Dragonesse #2)

Instead of tossing the blade away, I remained standing over Asura’s body with the steel shining in the sun for Illiae’s benefit. The Ascendant made terrible noises low in her throat, sinking down onto her haunches like a wounded dog as she gazed at Asura.

I pushed aside the spurt of pity I felt for her. She was a true dragon, and had seen thousands of descendants die; she would survive this one’s breaking.

I needed to salvage what I could, but looking at the carnage, no words came to mind, until Elinor raised her head from her ministrations to the Lady of her House.

“Are you happy?” Her voice shook. “Look at the chaos you’ve caused. You’ve harmed my Lady, and killed a strong dragon. Asura might never come back from this. Everything you’ve been doing this entire time…all it’s done is destabilize us all.”

She raised her hands, red with Chantrelle’s blood, and the fallen draga prised her eyes open to stare at me accusingly.

“She’s right,” Chantrelle whispered hoarsely. “You…you lying whore, as bad as your mother. Was that her plan? To send you back and break the Houses?”

For a moment I was speechless with the ridiculousness of the accusation. My mother was dead. As far as I knew, there had been no plan in her head but survival from the very moment my father ruined our lives.

Beyond that, what would Nerezza have gained from the destruction of Akalla’s Houses? She had enjoyed her life, loved Varyamar, appreciated the comfort of being the Drakkon’s mistress with none of the commitment of a mate bond.

All she had wanted was for me to live long enough to escape Mistward—and I had done that. Now I had a greater purpose, one that affected us all.

“I’m not here to break the Houses. I’m here to stop you from making a terrible mistake.”

“Ah, yes. The terrible mistake of backing Asura and Cyran. You couldn’t just sit back and let a properly bonded pair take the throne, could you?” Elinor asked bitterly, her lip curling.

Yes, we had broken the Law, but I wasn’t going to lay down and die for them.

“They don’t know what they’re dealing with.” I took a breath and straightened my back. “I do. And this infighting, the constant division, will be the end of us in a way you cannot fathom.”

I felt Rhylan nudge inside my mind, his curiosity palpable.

There’s something I must tell you , I thought, my bleak resignation coloring my thoughts. About Yura. I should’ve done it before.

And then, as he had fed me the memory of his father, I gave him a brief flash of that smothered memory of mine, of Yura prowling the forest, the bright, sharp pain of her teeth in my throat.

To his credit, he didn’t flinch. Not so much as a twitch of his wings. But his shock and disgust was loud and clear in my mind.

I always wondered where that scar came from—she ate flesh—did she do this to Kirana?

It took me a split-second to sort through the deluge of connected thoughts, all edged with frantic horror.

Yes , I thought.

And like that, his horror, his shock, became iron determination. He now understood my tenacious need to destroy Yura, internalized it wholly.

I could’ve wept with relief. He didn’t doubt me, not for a single second. Rhylan accepted and believed wholeheartedly.

Tyria, still safe in the coils of her son’s dragon form, crossed her arms. “This is a travesty.” She shook her head, looking with deep irritation at the chaos in the Circle.

“Our ancestors weep with shame at our behavior. What can’t we fathom here, Sera?

We were called out for a Judgment, and as much as I hated to believe in such behavior from you after the trust your parents developed—” She shot an icy glare at Rhylan.

“I see that the Judgment may have been in the right. Madness, to see such a thing in my lifetime.”

“I am not your enemy!” My throat almost choked, wanting to trip on the words. Deep down, the old, familiar terror coiled around and around like a snake, that I would speak the truth and never be believed.

Because really, who would believe such a thing, that my sister, Nasir’s second child, may be an apostate of Larivor’s teachings? A flesh-eater? If I hadn’t seen such a thing myself…I too might doubt.

But it was no longer time to fear. With Rhylan in my mind, backing me with his inner strength, I spoke.

“Yura is the enemy we need to fear. My sister…has abandoned Larivor’s precepts.

She eats dragonblood flesh. If we split our strength, we give her the opening she needs to take the throne, and I tell you truthfully—if that happens, none of us are safe.

Your children will not be safe. Larivor will no longer hold sway over Akalla. ”

A silence fell over the Circle. Even Illiae, furious and grieving as she was, went still.

To my surprise, I felt no shame or fear, but a deep relief that I had finally told them the truth I already knew. It was out there, and now, even if they willingly chose not to believe, they would know.

It was Elinor who broke the silence. “Liar,” she said, staring at me through red-rimmed eyes. “What a ridiculous claim. Why should we believe you? You faked the mate bond, now you’re coming up with insane stories about Yura?”

“Here. Look.” I popped the top button of my leathers, pulling down my collar and tipping my head to expose my throat, and the wide, pearly splotch of scar tissue my sister’s teeth had left.

“When we were in the Training Grounds…she did this to me. She tried to bite out my throat. And she’s told me I’m not the only one. Kirana was—”

“For all we know, you got that scar on Mistward!” Elinor hissed. “You have no credibility!”

Rhylan pushed into my mind, steadying me. She’s going to fight to the bitter end , she said.

I know , I told him, and took a deep breath. “I know,” I said aloud. “What we did…we did out of necessity. But I am telling the truth about Yura. Rhylan will back me up, as will Kirana.”

If Kirana remembered what happened when Yura attacked her…but if Rhylan believed, I thought she would, too.

“Of course Rhylan will back you up. He was in on it, too. I can’t believe any of you are listening to this!” Elinor burst out, and I realized with surprise that everyone else was listening.

Maybe not believing, but listening, which was more than I could’ve hoped for after the Judgment.

Doric stared at Rhylan, his brow furrowed, arms crossed, but he looked thoughtful, not angry. Maristela’s head was tipped towards Gaelin’s, both of them clearly mind-speaking. And Tyria…she still looked disgusted, but she wasn’t shooting down my claim.

“Doric, please,” Elinor pleaded. “This makes no sense. Are you really going to take their word after what they’ve done to Asura and Cyran? My gods, they’re not even bonded. They’re untrustworthy.”

They’re not going to understand , I thought despairingly. They’re not going to believe it. Who would want to believe it? It’s something…only a Primoris would do.

Rhylan mantled his wings, finally tearing his gaze from Illiae to look at me. The warmth in his eyes heated me down to my bones. You’ll keep trying, Sera. I know you will. And I’m here. I’m with you all the way.

I nodded, tucking my despair in a little box and throwing it away—I could feel it later, when I’d done what needed to be done. There was no room for despair in the will of a Dragonesse.

“We are bonded,” I said evenly, and Doric met his mate’s eyes.

“She’s right,” he said, his tone cool. “They’ve been mind-speaking this entire time. Emotions of great desperation can force a bond into place. How ironic, that the Judgment you called down forced exactly the outcome you wanted to punish them for, Elinor.”

I wanted to sigh with relief, until Doric turned those icy eyes on me.

“But now the burden of proof is on you, Sera. Rhylan,” he said, nodding to his friend.

The same coolness he showed me was in the gesture, and I found myself hoping that their friendship would survive this.

“The scar is compelling, but not proof enough for a claim like that. If it’s true, then you’re talking of more than casting the Gilded Skies down into a House of Ashes.

We’re speaking of the annihilation of an entire bloodline, and their Ascendant, for allowing it.

Before I believe it, I need ironclad proof. ”

“She is one of Ustrael’s acolytes, and you’re playing directly into her hands if you choose to disregard me now.” I met his gaze evenly, while everyone else flinched ever so slightly at the name of the Other. Even in full daylight, it was a dangerous name to speak aloud.

But they needed to understand the full import of the situation.

“Nonetheless.” Doric winced slightly. “We must have solid proof. Consider it your atonement for this foolishness.”

“The prince of Lunar Tides is correct,” Tyria added, with a scathing glance. She climbed into the cage of her son’s claws. “I’m done with this farce. Bring us proof, Sera, and we’ll consider you washed clean of your prior sin.”

The emerald dragon glanced at Cyran’s body and Asura’s comatose form with narrowed eyes, and launched into the sky, cupping his mother carefully.

I glanced around and found Mykah clinging to one of the Circle’s columns, watching everyone warily. She was out of Elinor’s line of sight, and I was content to leave her there, away from the vitriol that was surely coming for her defection.

We’ve planted the seeds. I think…that’s all we can do for now. At least we leave here with our lives.

Agreed . There was strain in Rhylan’s mental voice. We should go home to Kirana and…I want you to show me everything, Sera .

It’s ugly, but I will.

I can deal with ugly , he thought. I just need to know how to kill it.

“We too will consider it, once the burden of proof is supplied,” Maristela said in a thin voice, glancing once at her injured mother before turning her back and mounting Gaelin. The pure white dragon hissed at Elinor, spreading his wings and flapping hard enough to blow dust and feathers at her.

Elinor rose to her feet, her teeth still showing in a snarl, hands clenched. She stepped over Chantrelle, aiming for me despite Rhylan’s looming presence—and Doric stepped forward, stopping his mate with his hand on her chest.

“Stand down, Elinor,” he said softly. “I’ve told them what I expect. Now you’re going to help me and Illiae take your Lady and Asura home, and I will bring Cyran’s body to his eyrie.”

“You only have to deliver a corpse because of her!” she snapped, straining against Doric, and he gripped her upper arm.

“Take her, Rhylan,” he said, voice taut. “Get her out of here. I’ll settle this.”

I badly wanted to be out of the Circle, away from Illiae’s fervent stare, and I carefully backed away from Asura, knowing the Ascendant could launch herself across the Circle in a split-second and tear me in two.

But Rhylan positioned himself like a wall, and I vaulted into the saddle, reaching for the safety straps before I stopped myself.

It was an automatic reaction I’d have to train out of myself, because I realized I could feel every inch of Rhylan’s body when I focused on the bond—his hind legs tensing to thrust upward, the muscles in his back taut as he spread his wings, the warm, tickling current of the breeze and exactly how he’d angle himself to catch it.

I knew seconds before he moved and anticipated accordingly, adjusting my grip on the saddle and shifting my movements to match his. We speared into the sky, wheeling around and racing north into the night.

My own thoughts remained on the surface, but the undercurrent in my mind was all Rhylan, feeding me the sensation of flying, the warmth of the thermals supporting his wings, my own tiny speck of weight on his back.

I knew when he would tilt before he did it, felt every twitch of muscle, and through his mind, I saw through his eyes in the dusk, picking out details far below that I couldn’t see with my own third eyelids over my corneas.

We passed over plains, dotted with bright wildflowers.

A herd of deer heard the beat of wings and broke for the copses of trees.

Stone, still warm from the sun, gave way to rockier hills in the distance, the sparkle of mica in the granite veins glittering brightly under the stars.

A dragon’s senses were truly incredible.

Amazing, isn’t it? Rhylan asked, twisting over the plains, giving me the sensation of air currents buoying us both. Makes you wonder why we didn’t do this before, maybe.

I felt that he was actively trying to stay serene, the tension and anxiety he’d felt since the Judgment no longer suppressed by the need to remain calm in the face of impending death.

Yes , I admitted. I wonder why, now. It seems so ridiculous to pretend when…we could’ve had this the entire time.

You know why.

I know . My thoughts were a mere whisper.

I was afraid, Rhylan. I was afraid I wasn’t good enough, and afraid you would see what I was, not what I could be.

And now…I can’t lose you. I could never lose you.

I will never again put us in a position where that could happen.

I should’ve known we were being set up, but I was too desperate to think it through.

Hells, I should’ve seen it, too , he said, but given the circumstances, I don’t think either of us were thinking too clearly.

I snorted and reached out to rest my hand flat on his back, and felt the purr of his satisfaction at my touch.

I’m just glad we made it through , I told him.

Not only that, but the world seemed so much more clear to me now. When he flooded my mind, sparking an inferno inside me, I no longer saw myself as a pretender, a poseur, an unworthy draga.

I alone knew of Yura’s true nature, and no matter what it took, I’d stand between her and the rest of the world as its shield. There was nothing I wouldn’t do to stop Rhylan and his family from experiencing any more pain.

Yes , Rhylan growled in my mind. It’s about godsdamned time you figured it out. You’ve been worthy the whole time, Sera, you just needed to see it in yourself.

Well, it took knowing I was about to lose my head, I suppose.

And having that come that close…never again would I waste a second of my life thinking I was lesser. Maybe I had been raised to become a social-climbing, cold-hearted draga, but I didn’t have to be Perfect Serafina.

I could just be Sera, and do what needed to be done: right the scales of balance, remove Yura from this world, avenge Loralei, and prove my worthiness to become Dragonesse. I would make the most of my privilege to be Rhylan’s mate.

That was enough.