Page 86 of House of Ashes

“I am here to make the First Claim, as the only remaining child of Drakkon Nasir. I am Princess Yura of Gilded Skies, with my mate, Prince Tidas of Razored Cinders. We are the rightful heirs to Koressis Eyrie.” Her voice carried, smoky for a woman’s voice, but utterly self assured. “Ask yourself: can Akalla afford a war? My father left chaos and discord in his passing, but his mistakes can be amended. Make me your Dragonesse. Stand with us, and you will prevent unnecessary bloodshed. You cannot stand against us.”

She looked around the Circle, taking in the bullish set of Maristela’s jaw, the cold gazes of Elinor and Doric, and finally, Tyria’s contemptuous look.

She smiled the entire time. A small, secret smile, one that I had seen before. She had something hidden up her sleeve…

Then she looked at Rhylan, and those pitch-black eyes flickered to me. For the first time, uncertainty flickered on her face.

Chantrelle shifted in place across the Circle, as though she thought to shove her own daughter out of the way in her greed to take the throne. Pyrae leaned towards Tashan, clearly speaking mind to mind, and there was a ripple through the Lunar Tides.

Would Yura sway them? So many knew of her, hated her…surely they would not accept her.

Tyria made a small movement, and to my surprise, it was Rhylan who took a step into the Circle. He brought me with him, his arm looped around me, but I felt numb before all these eyes… a puppet in my own body.

My lungs wanted to lock up, but I couldn’t allow it, not now. Not when he needed me to stand fast at his side.

“Unfortunately, you speak lies without knowing,” Rhylan said easily. He did not scowl, but there was an iciness radiating from him as he gazed at Yura and Tidas. “You are not the only child of Drakkon Nasir.”

Yura went pale. I watched with some satisfaction as the blood drained from her face, but she had always mastered herself, my sister.

I pushed back the veil, finally seeing her face to face. Eye to eye.

I smiled at her, enjoying the slight play of emotion across her face—astonishment and anger, though she might look like a statue to anyone else.

“You all know me,” I said, a smile to match Yura’s stretching across my lips, though I couldn’t feel it past the numb terror. “I am Princess Serafina, true scion of the royal House of Silvered Embers, eldest daughter of the Drakkon Nasir, and mate of Prince Rhylan of Obsidian Flame. My mate is a scion of his House, eldest son of Anjali and Cratus, and student of the Drakkon. You all know us, and we hold the First Claim.”

Yura bared her teeth, and I imagined I still saw blood staining them. “Daughter of a convicted murderer. Your House is ashes and dust now, dear sister.”

Cords stood out in her throat, fists clenched at her sides. For the first time in my life, I had managed to make my sister lose her composure.

“The House of Obsidian Flame has forgiven Princess Serafina for any wrongdoing on the part of her House,” Rhylan said, his even tone cutting across Yura’s words. “And you know as well as we do that the Drakkon leaving no heir means the slate is wiped clean. My mate has reclaimed her House and lineage. I ask my allies to come to my aid.”

With that, he completely ignored Yura, looking across the Circle to Elinor and Doric. Both had looked as shocked as Yura, but from the looks of intense concentration on their faces, they were discussing developments.

Finally Doric stepped forward. “The House of Lunar Tides supports Prince Rhylan and Princess Serafina’s claim. We will join your Court.”

Chantrelle hissed at Elinor, who ignored her steadfastly, focused only on her mate. Elinor herself had gone rather pale, and I couldn’t help but wonder if they believed they were throwing in their lot with a sinking ship.

But I couldn’t believe that, or all would be lost. I had to believe that we were in the right.

Anything that kept Yura from the throne was the right choice.

Yura had regained control of herself. “Be that as it may, the House of Bloodied Talons supports my claim.”

She could have said nothing else that would feel like such a punch to the gut. Her gaze was focused over my shoulder, and I just barely managed to stop myself from whirling around. Instead, I glanced sedately, though my hand, wrapped in Rhylan’s, was clammy with sweat.

A new delegation was coming across the footbridges. Dragons in armor…and at their head, Kalros, his auburn hair glimmering under the sun.

As he stepped foot into the Circle, he sniffed the air, and his head unerringly turned in my direction. He gave me a rather wolfish grin, before striding to Yura with his entourage and taking up the place behind Tidas.

Yura smiled, back on familiar footing. “We have formed the Court of Brightfire, the Houses of Gilded Skies, Razored Cinders, and the Bloodied Talons combined. We have sent emissaries to the Wildlands. You may stand against us—” She nodded towards Elinor and Doric— “But you will not win. End this now before it goes any further. My sister will only lead you into war and death.”

She held out a hand towards Chantrelle. “Shadowed Stars, will you join me? Or will you die?”

From anyone else, the question may have seemed melodramatic, an empty threat.

But Yura…she meant every word.

Chantrelle’s gaze flickered between Yura and her own daughter, who had destroyed Shadowed Stars’ chances at the throne. “We will take your Court into consideration.”

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