Page 34 of Wild Bond (Wild Bond #1)

“T his is madness! She can’t be allowed to compete!” This last protest was shouted by Councilor Varron as Zade led me—with Skye perched on my shoulder—from the large stone chamber inside Three Points, where for the last hour my fate in these trials had been debated and discussed. Chaos had ensued for a time after I had emerged from The Rift with Skye. Apparently, Dembe and Prince Amir had flown ahead to warn everyone that I was here and competing in the trial.

After Skye and I landed, there had been no time to speak with Rake or anyone else before we were ushered inside. After being seen by a healer, I was brought to the council chamber for questioning.

I had explained the circumstances of my arrival here, as far as I knew them, though admittedly that wasn’t much. Then I had explained at length what had happened to me in the trial, excluding of course the fact that Daisha had tried to kill me. It wasn’t out of any loyalty to her, but because I couldn’t explain how I had healed from the resulting injuries. It was still something I didn’t understand, and something told me I didn’t want all those assembled here to know what my bond with Skye could do.

My participation was discussed at length between the council leaders from Baldor and the leaders from the other kingdoms as well—Councilor Varron and Prince Pierce being two of the loudest voices to the contrary—but they were overruled. It really came down to the fact that Con had vouched for me, telling all the gathered leaders—including his father—that he had seen me at the beginning of the trial alone and with a weapon and a feather like everyone else.

What seemed to concern everyone most—including me—was how I’d gotten here at all and been entered into the trials. Only a rider would have known how to do that.

But that was a problem for later. Right now, I felt totally drained. The injuries I had sustained during our fight in The Rift stung and ached and hadn’t yet healed. All I wanted to do was sleep. Luckily, as Zade guided me through the maze of tunnels and hallways inside the mountain, he explained that there was a day between the First and Second Trial allowing the trainees time to recover. So today was meant for resting anyway. Thank the Nine.

When we finally arrived at a small room, he motioned me inside explaining it was to be mine while I was here. I hardly took in the bed before collapsing onto it.

“Valla and I will be right outside the door if you need us,” Zade murmured. “We’ll figure out how and why this happened, Rin. I promise. Whoever did this will not go unpunished.”

After taking a much-needed nap cuddled up close to Skye—the nap not having been particularly restful since I was plagued by odd dreams the entire time—I was awakened by Nesenya barging in, saying she was returning the favor and presenting me with a gown for me to wear to the banquet tonight. Evidently, she had purchased and packed several for the week. I had been shocked to see she was wearing a beautiful magenta gown of her own before she was ushering me to bathe and get ready. After bathing, she helped me into an utterly gorgeous dress that made me feel amazingly feminine and beautiful, but also rather exposed.

The dress itself was dark green in color with a deep V in the back and off the shoulder straps that drooped low on my upper arms. The skirt was loose and flared out from the fitted lace-covered bodice, so I was still able to move freely. The back made it impossible to wear any kind of underclothing, hence my feeling exposed. Not knowing what to do with my hair, I had just decided to leave it down in its natural waves.

Apparently, the female bonding had been too much for her though, because Nesenya left almost immediately after I was dressed. We were definitely friends now, I decided as I stared down at myself.

When I emerged from my room with Skye, Zade’s eyes widened. “You look beautiful, Button,” he complimented. Valla cooed in agreement from where she stood at his feet.

“Thank you,” I smiled. “Did Rake come to see me while I was out?”

Zade shook his head. “No.” At my ill-concealed disappointment, he continued, “I’m sure he’s just busy with everything that’s happened, or he would have been here.”

I simply nodded with a swallow and tried not to clutch at the voluminous skirts as I stepped forward.

He tried valiantly to distract me as we walked, explaining that Three Points was not called that due to the craggy mountain we now resided in, but because it was located at the only point on the map where all three kingdoms intersected. That made it one of the only truly neutral locations in all of Palasia.

Though interesting, I was distracted by the unfamiliar feel of the dress I wore as we strode down the hall and down some stairs.

Skye and I were both itching to snoop around, but I set the urge aside for now. I decided to push away my insecurities as well and drank it all in when we finally entered the banquet hall, and I finally got my first real glimpse inside the dragon rider sanctuary.

I was not disappointed. The room I entered was magnificent. It was incredibly massive, big enough for Naasir to fit inside dozens of times over in his natural form, with high ceilings carved right out of the rock. Stone columns lined the hall, and I could see from the warm light of what had to be at least a hundred braziers scattered throughout, that they were decorated with intricate engravings depicting dragons and their riders in flight or in battle. Dozens of dragons, all in their minor forms, flew overhead and I could see several languishing on perches carved high into the rock walls, while some sat on the floor next to their riders or on their shoulders.

Skye felt excitement at seeing all the unfamiliar dragons and nuzzled into my hair, then took off to jockey for a place on one of the high perches.

Feeling a little bereft at her absence, I was thankful for Zade standing at my side as I continued to glance around.

Several long tables lined the center of the hall perpendicular to a raised high table at the back. I was late, and the dinner was obviously underway. Everyone was either eating, drinking, or dancing. More and more people seemed to be joining in the dancing, even as I watched. I was sure the amount of drink on offer probably had something to do with it. Most were dressed formally, though some were wearing their dragonscale armor. Even some of the musicians who sat off to the side were as well. I was surprised they were dragon riders too, but then realized they had to be. No one but dragon riders knew Three Points’ location. That made me curious, and as I looked around. I saw that the servers and those putting on the banquet were Hollow Ones, priests and priestesses in their long-colored robes, milling amongst the guests.

Sitting at the high table, I saw Rake, Prince Pierce, and Councilor Zadeth representing Baldor. On the other end of the table sat the two Zehvitian princes, Prince Amir, whom I had met during the trial, and his elder brother Prince Malik. The Halmarish princess, Princess Helene, sat conveniently between the Zehvitians and Baldorians.

The rest of the riders had followed suit, for the most part, and, like their leaders, sat clustered together in groups according to their kingdoms, with only a few riders here and there breaking the pattern. Everyone appeared to be acting civil, but the tension between kingdoms was still evident in the sharp, mistrustful glances.

My gaze returned to Rake. He looked devastating, once again wearing that black armor. A pang of something that felt a lot like jealousy lanced through me when I noticed he was smiling, actually smiling , at something Princess Helene was saying. She was beautiful. Her thick, blonde hair was partially done up in the traditional intricate braids her kingdom was known for, while still cascading around her shoulders as she gestured wildly with whatever story she was telling.

I couldn’t help but wonder why Rake hadn’t made a point of coming to speak to me before now, or why he hadn’t come to escort me to the banquet himself. Was he embarrassed to be seen with me? He had told me before that he didn’t care what other people thought, but maybe that was just in Baldor and didn’t extend to these people. Not wanting to dwell on the upsetting thoughts, I tried to push them from my mind as we walked forward.

All of the trainees were definitely staring at me as I approached the high table. Zade had coached me on what to do on our way down to the banquet hall and he gave me a reassuring smile before stepping back.

I curtsied to Prince Pierce, since he was my future sovereign, and nodded to Rake, Zadeth, and the other royalty out of respect.

When I finally had the courage to meet Rake’s gaze, it was smoldering. His eyes literally reminded me of two pits of dragon flame as they dragged slowly up my body from the floor, taking in the extravagant dress and making me feel like someone had just dripped warm oil all across my skin wherever his eyes touched.

Princess Helene flipped her long golden hair behind her shoulder and spoke, surprising me. “Congratulations on completing the First Trial trainee,” she said, her voice strong and confident. I noticed a faint lilting accent to her words.

I nodded to her. “Thank you, Your Highness. I’m grateful Skye and I made it in time.”

Her gaze assessed me, and I thought I saw a hint of approval in it as she replied, “It is a strong and rare bond that could withstand the First Trial after so short a time together. And for your dragon to break the spell of the Golden Oculus to come to your aid,” she leaned forward slightly, “it has never been done.” She turned to Rake with a small smile playing on her lips, enhancing her striking face. “You must be very proud of your protégé, Councilor Rakim. You trained her yourself, did you not? No wonder she and her dragon were able to survive The Rift and come out unscathed.”

Rake took his eyes from me for the first time and responded, “You are well informed, princess. Though I was not her only trainer. And yes,” he said, looking back at me once more, “I’m very proud.”

I refused to blush.

Then the princess’s attention turned back to me. “Are you sure you are not Halmarish?” she asked, an almost teasing light in her eye. “Surely with hair like that and such a strong will, we must be in your ancestry somewhere, no?”

I smiled at her. “Not to my knowledge, Your Highness.”

“Let us hope she has the same luck with the Second Trial,” Prince Amir commented suddenly. Everyone at the high table looked his way as he raised a glass to his lips. There was something about that unwavering stare that unnerved me as he continued, “It would be a shame for Baldor to lose such a promising rider.”

I tried to keep my expression neutral at what he was implying, though my stomach swirled with nerves at the thought of the Second Trial.

“I, for one, agree with Princess Helene,” Prince Malik said, his voice slightly accented like his brother’s. “Most impressive for a rider with so little formal training to pass the First Trial. Some would say impossible.” The Crown Prince of Zehvi was larger in stature than his younger brother, though they both sported the same dark hair and eyes and looked to be close to Rake’s age. Both men were handsome, but Prince Malik radiated a quiet, dangerous confidence that reminded me of Rake in some ways; like a flame that you couldn’t help but be drawn to but could burn you if you got too close. His dark eyes regarded me almost as closely as Rake did. And I couldn’t tell with that stare if he was accusing me of something or not.

I gave the prince a tight smile. “Obviously not impossible, because here I am.”

A spark lit the prince’s eyes, and I wasn’t sure what to make of it when he simply nodded and replied, “As you say.”

When no one else said anything, I took that as my cue to leave and bobbed a curtsy—that I was sure wasn’t any better than my previous one—and stepped away. Zade had moved off somewhere while I was speaking to the royals, and I didn’t see him anywhere.

Turning to the long tables, I wasn’t sure where to sit until I spotted Con and the other prospects sitting not too far down the far-right table. Making my way over to them, I wasn’t quite sure how I would be received, seeing as how I wasn’t really supposed to be here, but Con saw me coming and made room beside him.

As I sat down, I could feel the stares on me from my fellow trainees and hear the murmurs from the other tables, but I tried to ignore them. A plate of food was placed before me almost immediately, and I thanked the older priestess before she walked away with a small nod.

I turned to Con and congratulated him. He brushed it off as I knew he would, but I could see the pride and satisfaction in his eyes at what he had accomplished. I knew it probably meant more to him than anyone else at this table. The other prospects were already treating him as one of them after all.

“Congratulations to you as well,” he returned. “I can’t believe you did it, but I’m happy for you.”

I opened my mouth to thank him for that glowing vote of confidence and tell him that I couldn’t have done it without his help, when I noticed Daisha staring at me like she had seen a ghost.

I couldn’t tell if she felt guilty for what she had done or if she was just stunned to see me alive. Before I could decide whether to say anything or not, Daisha stood abruptly, her silver gown shimmering as she did so.

“What’s wrong, Dai?” Con asked, eyes darting between me and his sister. Warran and Nesenya looked at her as well, brows furrowed. Daisha’s mouth opened as if she meant to respond, then it firmed into a thin line, and she spun and stormed off. Daisha’s two friends, Morina and Silva, gawked after her, then stood and hurriedly followed.

I knew I couldn’t report Daisha for what she had done in the trials, since it technically wasn’t against the rules, and I didn’t want to have to explain how I had survived to the council, but it still rankled that she could attempt to kill me—and by extension, Skye—and not face any kind of repercussions for it.

Once she was gone, the others asked me what her reaction had been about, but I just told them I didn’t know. They asked about how I had gotten here, and I saw no reason not to be honest with them. Everyone was puzzled, but after throwing out a few theories no one could come up with anything plausible and conversation turned to the trial itself. Since we were now free to talk about it, everyone started comparing their experiences. I listened as I tucked into my food, trying to be careful not to spill on the dress.

Apparently, Nesenya had a run in with a poisonous chimera in The Rift that had stung her before her dragon killed it, and she had to be rushed to a healer once they made it through. Another prospect, Tark, had his phoenix feather stolen by a couple of pixies and had to chase them down to get it back. Warran’s dragon had badly injured his wing while in the caves, and as a result they’d barely made it out before sunrise, only scraping through a few minutes ahead of me.

I missed the rest of the story though because my attention was drawn to Con. He had moved over to a trainee sitting alone further down the table from us. He sat down across from the young man who looked to be Zehvitian. The young man’s shoulder’s tensed as Con sat down, and I recognized the grayish-black dragon curled in his lap as it growled at Con. But then my friend began to speak, and after a few moments they seemed to relax a little.

“He didn’t pass the trial,” Warran spoke up, noticing where my attention was. “He was the only one.”

My heart went out to the trainee. If anyone could bring even a hint of solace to the dejected rider, Con could. I considered joining them, but then dismissed the idea. They were better off talking alone.

I had just turned back to the discussion at the table when I realized it had gone silent. I heard a throat clear behind me. I turned in my seat and felt my mouth drop open slightly. Prince Malik was standing there with a slight smirk of amusement on his face.

“Trainee Darrow, might I have this dance?” he requested, his posture formal, his hand extended. He wore a dark Zehvitian-style tunic trimmed in swirling designs of red and gold that shimmered in the firelight.

For a second my brain stalled, and I had no idea what to say. How was this my life that a prince— a prince —was asking me to dance? Seemingly without my consent, my mouth opened, and I blurted out in genuine confusion, “Why?”

I thought the prince would be insulted, but he surprised me when instead of outrage a slow smile spread across his mouth, his white teeth flashing against his bronze skin. Then he leaned further down, hand still extended, and mock whispered, “Because I want to dance with you.”

I felt my cheeks redden and heard murmurs behind me, but I nodded and stood. What else could I do? He was a prince, for Realms sake, the future king of Zehvi. I couldn’t refuse him. And if I was honest with myself, part of me was intrigued and flattered by the idea.

I took his hand, his fingers warm and rough under mine. As he led me towards the dancing, I couldn’t help but glance over to where Rake was sitting. He was staring at us. His eyes were dark and his expression blank, but I could feel the roiling emotions he was giving off, even across the room.

A slightly petty part of me decided that I didn’t care just then. There was nothing wrong with dancing. And I still couldn’t get the image of him flirting with Princess Helene out of my head.

We reached the dance floor just as the musicians struck up a new, slower tune. Of course, this was also when I remembered that I didn’t know how to do this type of dancing. I was going to make a fool of myself.

“I don’t know how to do this,” I admitted to him in a low voice, gesturing to the dancing, feeling suddenly overcome by nerves.

He took in my expression and quickly reassured, “Just follow my lead. As long as the man is a capable dancer, the woman can follow.” He grinned as he pulled me out onto the floor. He winked. “And I happen to be very capable.”

I smiled despite my nerves, and he was right. It only took a few minor missteps before I started to get the hang of it.

“This has never been my favorite type of dancing either,” the prince confessed, looking down at me from his much taller height.

“Oh?”

“These types of dances, though beautiful in their own right, are nothing to the passionate dances of my homeland. Not nearly as enjoyable.”

“Why ask me to dance, then?” I inquired, repeating my question from earlier.

He spun me away from him, and when he pulled me back, I was a little breathless.

“Because you intrigue me,” he answered candidly. “Initially, I had thought to ask you on a walk—a tour of the mountain, perhaps, where we might have privacy to talk. But it’s apparent you are already spoken for.”

I followed his eyes to where Rake now stood, and could see that he was watching us closely, having moved to the edge of the dancing crowd. “You are mistaken,” I replied primly, and if my voice came out sounding a little defensive, there was nothing for it. Technically, what I said was true. Rake and I had made no promises to one another. Not fully. And once again my mind kept returning to the thought of him laughing with the princess and the fact that he had all but ignored me since I got here.

The prince’s dark brow arched. “Interesting. So, the spymaster hasn’t yet wooed you with his charms? Surely there is something about my brother you find appealing?”

“Well, he—wait, w-what?” I stammered, as my mind caught up with what he had just said. I nearly stopped dancing in my shock, and it was only his skill that kept us moving. Thinking I must have misheard him, I repeated, “Your brother?”

Prince Malik shrugged. “Bastard brother, if you want to get particular about it. Though I’ve never really cared either way. He’s no threat to me in that regard.”

He said it all so casually while my mind was still reeling from what felt like an earth-shattering revelation. Rake was Prince Malik’s half-brother? But if the prince’s expression was anything to go by, apparently it wasn’t all that important to him. And the more I thought about it, I supposed it wasn’t. Rake wouldn’t be considered a threat to his throne, as he had said. Even if something happened to Malik, he had two other siblings—Prince Amir and a younger sister. Even if Rake tried to make a bid for the throne, no one in Zehvi would support him. Rake was feared and hated in Zehvi and known as one of the fiercest commanders in the war against them.

To me though . . . I couldn’t help but feel hurt and angry that Rake hadn’t told me. More than that, he had lied to me in the bathhouse, saying he didn’t know who his father was. The Realms blasted King of Zehvi! If he didn’t know—and I had a hard time believing that he didn’t, knowing him—then he had to at least suspect. I remember thinking it was odd when he told me about his past that he wouldn’t have investigated his origins more thoroughly. But why lie? I supposed he could have just not wanted to tell me . . . or felt like it was too personal to share . . . but then that didn’t say much for our relationship. I hated it, but it also made me feel like I didn’t really know him at all. He was such a private person, but after all we had shared, and after what I had told him on the rooftop, it . . . hurt . . . to think he didn’t trust me.

“Have I upset you?” Prince Malik asked, and I was surprised to see real concern on his face.

As we spoke our dance faded into the next and I barely even noticed the steps. He had been right about having a strong partner making all the difference.

“Why are you telling me this?” I asked, staring up at him.

He was quiet before responding. “I’m not sure. Perhaps I am jealous of the way you look at him, despite your denials,” he shot me a pointed look. “Or, perhaps I just thought it was something you should know—something I would want to know if I were in your position. I do apologize if it distresses you.”

I gave him a sharp look. “Why do I get the feeling that your motive is nowhere near so selfless? That you simply want to cause trouble for Rake because you don’t like him very much?”

The prince flung his head back and laughed. It was a rich, intriguing sound, and his eyes were practically dancing with mirth when they returned to mine. “Oh, that is a happy side effect to be sure,” he chuckled. As he smiled down at me, genuine and without a hint of any artifice, my heart beat a little faster at how truly breathtaking he was. “I can see why he is so enamored with you,” he murmured, his voice like velvet, surprising me once again with the compliment.

Then his eyes shot behind me, and a smirk came over his lips. He leaned down to whisper in my ear, “I think someone has had enough.”

His breath tickled across my skin, and I couldn’t resist a small tremor from trickling through me.

Curse the Nine, the man was absolutely lethal !

It was only as he pulled back that my mind even registered what he had said. We came to a halt, and I had just started to turn and see what he was talking about, when a darkly familiar voice asked, “May I cut in? Or were you planning on monopolizing my trainee for the rest of the evening, Your Highness ?”