Page 6 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

“Is Kiera avoiding me?” I asked my new commander.

“What makes you ask?” Nyx played coy, and while we’d only known each other a few short weeks, I already knew his mannerisms. He didn’t want to get involved.

“Because she’s avoiding me.” I deadpanned.

Nyx locked eyes with me, then rolled his with a laugh. “I know.”

“I’m new to this, so correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t fae want to be ryders?” Dragons from Kerani didn’t have ryders since we were disconnected from the magic in the outside world. Our magic connected only to the Goddess in that isolated place. Out here, things were so different and as soon as we landed in the palace on that fateful day, I felt the call I had read so much about. It was a physical pull, a need to seek, to claim. Then I saw her and I knew.

That day and the days since were a difficult time for everyone and I was a newcomer, so I kept quiet to begin with. I confided in Nyx and Zaria about my suspicions, but I could see Kiera was grieving Kol. So I waited. But as time passed, the need grew and I couldn’t fight it any longer. On the day of the memorial I had to take myself off for a long flight so I didn’t blurt it out to her in the middle of everything.

“Mostly fae are honored to become ryders, yes. But Kiera—” He sighed and waved at me. “Follow me to my office.”

“This doesn’t sound good.” I held the door open for him and we slipped into the corridor.

The palace was massive, larger than even the Grand Library in Kerani. I needed a map maker to do a quick sketch for me so I didn’t have to have fae show me the way to places every day. Feeling like a child grew old quickly.

Nyx was helping me get acquainted with the palace and training facility since I’d agreed to stay and join the Flyers of the First Kingdom. I couldn’t leave now that I’d found my ryder, but I could not be idle. Nyx knew I would be a valuable lieutenant, which he had need of particularly after the loss of his brother, who would undoubtedly have been his second.

“It’s not bad.”

“But not good?” I shot him a side glance.

“It can be neutral.” Nyx held back a laugh.

“How did you get this position of power?” I teased back, falling into our easy rapport.

“Legacy.”

“Which is why legacies are dragon shit.” I grinned, knowing how much that would get to him.

“No better than a council of elders. Why should elders have all the say in how we are governed?”

I cringed internally. “I’ll have to give you that one, mate.”

“Merit is the best way to do it, but we can’t exactly when our bloodlines are tied to the magic.” Nyx was more thoughtful than most leaders. I respected him for it. It was one of the only other reasons I’d wanted to stay. Nyx was a dragon to respect, and serving under him in any realm would be an honor. I would have considered staying for that reason alone.

But there was Kiera.

The draw to her kept me rooted in place.

I couldn’t leave without her.

I couldn’t imagine returning home alone. Not in a world where she exists.

I barely knew her and still, I couldn’t even imagine a life going forward without her.

And we’d only ever had one real conversation. I sought her out after the memorial when I could no longer resist the pull. Told her as politely and gently as I could that she was my ryder. For her part, she took it with grace and informed me, equally polite, that she was a healer and healers were never ryders. She asked me for some time to process and research, and I agreed. Now, two more weeks had passed, and if I even sensed her near I would immediately feel her pull away.

When we were closed inside Nyx’s office, he took a seat behind his desk and sighed. “Please sit.”

I stood in front of his desk with my hands clasped behind my back. “So this is one of those kinds of talks?”

“Jaxus.” Nyx rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands.

I did as he asked and sat.

“Kiera doesn’t want to be a ryder.”