Page 90 of Court of Secrets and Flames

The fabric of my shelter flutters with the force of the deep breath I draw. Why did I feel the need to escape Sterling? The dread, the panic, the onslaught of overwhelming emotions came on so fast. Almost as if they weren’t my own.

And then it hits me.

Those weren’t my emotions at all.

They belonged to the dragons.

Perched upon the fire paddock wall, I attempt to readThe Chronicles of the Mother Wurmas the early morning light chases away the last vestiges of darkness. The lingering scent of dragon smoke and salt from the nearby marshes lace the crisp air. It’s serene here, a stark contrast to the turmoil that churned within me for much of the night.

Unable to concentrate, I eventually give up on the book and tuck it into my tunic.

Since I woke, I’ve been trying to piece together what happened. Then I focused on how I could explain to Sterling why I reacted the way I did when I didn’t understand it myself.

The past evening’s events play in a constant loop in my mind. A perfect day. A possibly life-changing dalliance with Knox. The sting of his betrayal still smarts, but I understand now what led him to make the decisions he did.

Then the piercing crescendo of panic tore through me, shredding that moment into tattered remnants of confusion and fear. I know now those emotions weren’t my own, thatsomething must have terrified the dragons. Which I find especially concerning considering I haven’t spotted a single dragon this morning. What spooked them? What could have had them so worked up that they projected all of their fear and concern so strongly?

The torrent was so sudden and so potent that I didn’t even realize what was happening.

I need to speak with Sterling, explain what occurred, and hope he understands. But what if we don’t run into each other today? What if he’s so disgusted that he doesn’t want to train with me, or see me at all?

though a deep sigh escapes me, a heavy weight settles on my shoulders.

I spot a figure I recognize strolling along one of the paths around the palace. With a quick flick of the wings I can officially call and dismiss at will, I’m able to catch up easily.

“Walk with me?” I land beside Leesa, who smiles when she sees me. “Unless you’re busy…”

“Too busy to spend time with my favorite little sister? Never.” Leesa chortles, wrapping her arm through mine. “I went to your chamber to check on you, but you weren’t there. You must have gotten up early. Are you feeling better after your…attack of nerves last night?”

“I’m your only living sister. Pretty certain I’d still be your favorite even if you had more sisters, though.” I slide her a grin, and she rolls her eyes. “And yes, I do feel better. But it wasn’t an attack of nerves. I didn’t realize what happened until later last night. I…it’s going to sound crazy, but it was the dragons. I was feeling their emotions on my way back from training with Sterling. I sort of panicked and ran. Literally.”

She shoots me ayou have some serious explaining to dolook. “Okay, first of all, since when do you call him Sterling?”

Of course she would comment on what I call the prince and not my intense empathetic bond with the dragons. “I called him that at Flighthaven…when we started…you know, when we were…together. And then he betrayed me and abducted me and brought me here, but you know all that. Well, we’ve sort of reconciled…I guess.”

She cocks an eyebrow. “And it’s back to Sterling? Not Knox?”

“Yeah. I suppose it is.”

“How was your training? Or whatever it is you two were doing before you felt the dragons’ emotions.” She bites her lip, like she’s fighting off a smile. “And I didn’t mean to brush off what happened with the dragons. That doesn’t sound good.”

No, it certainly doesn’t. “It’s okay. I need to figure out what was going on with them, but I’d like to talk to Sterling and explain what happened and why I freaked out first.”

Leesa regards me with suspicion. “You weren’t training at all, were you?”

“We were training.” I pause. “At first.”

She points at me. “I knew it! I want to know all the details, and don’t leave anything out. I know I cautioned you before, and I think you need to be even more careful now given your betrothal to the king, but any man who makes my sister glow like that is worth the risk. Tell me everything.”

That’s exactly what I do. I talk about my first encounter with Sterling when I smacked into him at Flighthaven and he was an arrogant ass, about our flight yesterday that developed into way more, and everything in between.

By the time I finish, we’re sitting in the gardens by the fountain, and the noon sun is high in the sky.

Then, the unmistakable flutter of approaching wingbeats sends a jolt through me. Leesa and I both scan the sky. The familiar form of the captain of the king’s guard looms closer, and something tells me he doesn’t bear good news.

Hyde lands in front of us and regards me with a cool stare. “The king requests an immediate audience with you.”

Ten minutes later, I’m standing in front of King Jasper in his private chamber. For once, the space is empty of people, save for the king and Hyde.

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