Page 66 of Court of Fury

“Wh-what? No.”

“A female dragon rider. A male dragon. Your people would do a lot to get you back.”

A cool calm washes through me, and I draw my shoulders back. “Look, Hollowborn, I came here with an offer of peace, which you seemed to want. It was a fair offer. But if you choose to turn this meeting of peace into a meeting of war instead, that’s exactly what it’ll become. I might not survive it, but I can guarantee that between Ebron, my dragon, and I, most, if not all, of you won’t return home, so think very carefully before you start something you can’t finish.”

His bone-like face leans close to mine. “Is that a threat?”

“You bet your ugly face that that’s a threat.”

He looks incredulous. “Did you just insult a king?”

Around us, the men begin chanting, “Kill her. Kill her,” in low, angry tones. Their voices rise second by second as a cold wind blows through. Smoke escapes Ebron’s nostrils, and I feel his anger, but there’s no fear. We came together to be warriors, and we’ve become warriors. If we have to die fighting, we’ll die fighting.

Do what you have to do, even if it hurts me,I tell Ebron.

I will.

Their leader’s hand tightens on my wrist, and he says, “Say a prayer to the gods, Dravari.”