Page 24 of Court of Embers (Dragonesse #2)

I asked Myst this morning. She said her blood would always suffice, but she thought raw meat might be just as appetizing to Kirana’s new tastes. After all, dragons eat meat, not each other. Looks like she was right.

And what a relief that was, to not have to ensure we’d always be near an Ascendant willing to bleed for her. So Kirana would eat raw meat almost exclusively; it wasn’t that much different, really. It would simply touch an open flame for a lot less time than my food did.

The plate was empty before we knew it, and instead of saying anything about what she’d just done, eating two pounds of bloody beef in a single sitting, Kirana sat up straight, daintily wiped her mouth with a napkin, and announced, “I’m going to try for the Wildlands again.”

There was a wordless shout of protest in my mind, but before anyone could voice their objections aloud, she held up a hand.

“I already know what you’re all going to say, but we need our aunt and uncle.

This time, I’m better prepared. I’m faster and stronger.

I’ll take a safer route, under cover of night.

And you’ve killed Kalros, Rhy. The only dragons I have to worry about are the living ones. ”

So Cai had told her of the dead dragons in Sylvaene.

I hate to do this , Rhylan thought to himself, and he was hesitant as he said, “But Kir…Garnet is—”

“I know she’s dead,” his sister said shortly. “I’m going to take a page out of your book, in fact, and have Viros adjust one of your saddles to fit Cai. I’ll strap myself in like Sera did.”

If there’d been any doubt in my mind that Cai would protest her attempts to reach the Wildlands again, it died at the expression on his face. He looked vindicated, every taut muscle loosening.

If Cai is with her, I’m for it , he said. We do need Uncle Roark and Aunt Ivoire, and the might of their Horde.

It’s better than her going alone . I didn’t necessarily like it, but none of us would protest having a Horde on our side. But as I’d told Cai, she was a grown draga. If she wanted to try for the Wildlands, she had every right.

I still hate it though , Rhylan added, and I agreed. We couldn’t stop her, but we could hate it privately. I already knew I’d be sick with worry every second that she was gone.

“I could go,” Mykah put in, and all four of us said, “No,” in unison.

The surprise vanished from her face, to be replaced with hurt.

“It’s not because we doubt your abilities, but because it’s dangerous,” I said, not bothering to gentle my tone.

Mykah responded well to straight facts, not coddling.

“The dead dragons in Sylvaene killed five of their fighters and riders. They were spitting acid that ate them down to the bone. Until we’re absolutely sure that Yura’s Court has no more tricks like that to throw at us, you’re better off here where we can reach you if you need help.

Besides that, Kirana and Cai will have enough on their hands watching their own backs.

They can’t watch yours, too. And, truth be told, we could use your help here. ”

“Doing what?” she asked, with only the slightest tinge of gloom in her voice.

“First of all, delivering a message,” Kirana said. “To the Lunar Tides, and then Mourning Fang.”

Mykah nodded, glancing at me. “To repair alliances.”

Kirana smiled slightly, her black lips catching the light. “Not just that. To come celebrate my older brother’s mate bonding.”

Rhylan and I both started.

“You didn’t honestly think we were going to skip over the ceremony before I left, did you?

” she asked. “Mother would kill us both.

It won't be the grand celebration she envisioned, but you will have a proper ceremony like any royal dragonblood would, and your friends and family should be here for it.”

We don’t have time , I thought frantically, but Rhylan squeezed me close.

“Of course we’ll have the ceremony,” he said calmly. “Mykah, that’s your task. Doric, Gaelin, and Maristela should receive the message that, say, a day—”

“Two days,” interrupted Kirana, “I need three to prepare, and Viros will have to pull one of those saddles apart.”

“Two days hence, we’re to hold the bonding ceremony for me and Sera. Would you invite your family, Cai?”

Cai thought it over, but his gaze went to Kirana, and I knew he didn’t want to leave her sight again.

“Stand in for Tyria, Cai,” I said quickly. “I’m sure if we win, there will be time for something bigger, and all the Houses will be invited.”

He nodded to me gratefully. “I’ll stand as witness for the Jade Leaves.”

“There you have it. Lunar Tides and Mourning Fangs. Do you need help packing?” Rhylan asked Mykah, but she was already shaking her head, inching toward the door.

“Doric, Gaelin, Maristela. Two days hence. Got it, sir.” She popped off a small salute and vanished.

“I wish my siblings were that well behaved,” Cai said wistfully, and Rhylan snorted.

“There,” Kirana said with satisfaction. “Mother’s spirit won’t haunt me, and we’ve extended the hand of friendship once more. It’ll be harder for them to turn on us after we’ve offered them godparenthood over the future heirs.”

“Kir…” I stared at her.

She self-consciously rubbed one of her horns.

“Gaelin’s family is prolific. I’d be surprised if Maristela isn’t with child by the end of the year.

No doubt you two will one day have suitably available little dragons to negotiate bonds for.

And if you don’t…” she shrugged. “That’s a problem for later.

All they know now is that there might be a chance their own progeny will one day sit the throne, bonded to yours. ”

It was something I’d thought of myself, but I was surprised to hear Kirana say it. “I thought your parents wanted you to bond for love, not power.”

She smiled faintly. “Nobody else knows that. You wouldn’t do what Nerezza did, and negotiate it early?”

I thought it over, thinking of how I’d known, from the age of six, that I was to be Tidas’s draga. And how, when I’d had the relative freedom of the Training Grounds, away from my mother, I’d found that my heart was settled on another. “No, I don’t think I would.”

“And again, nobody else knows that. Right now, your future offspring are leverage. Use it.” She stood up, her new, smooth tail flicking under her skirt.

“I’m going to tell Viros to measure Cai for the saddle adjustment, and have Jenra bring up the cloth.

Nilsa will need to set the kitchen girls to gathering flowers.

We’ll have the ceremony in the old temple. ”

Gods, I wanted nothing more than to jump on Rhylan’s back and head to Koressis right this moment, to beg the Historians to answer my questions, but…after what had happened to her, I couldn’t bear to disappoint Kirana. I was grateful she was here to attend her brother’s bonding ceremony at all.

And, selfishly, I wanted to say the words to Rhylan. The only time they’d come was when I was seconds away from death, and I wanted to say them, and mean them fully, in a proper temple.

I’m glad you see it my way , Rhylan said with a sidelong smile.

I noticed you didn’t argue against it . But I wasn’t upset. I’d dreamed of those words my entire life.

We’ll clean out the temple, and use the time to decide what to ask the Historians , he said, more serious now. Tyria didn’t specify if we were limited to the questions we could ask, and if we are, we need to make sure we’re not wasting one.

“We’ll work on the temple, then,” I said aloud, and Kirana smirked.

“Oh, Sera. You didn’t think you were going to get out of dress fitting that easily, did you?”