Page 12 of Court of Secrets and Flames

All the messy, ugly emotions threatening to consume me. That would drown me if I let them. I don’t have the time or luxury to wallow in the past or fear the future. There’s only right here, right now.

And I refuse to die today.

Or let anyone else die on my watch.

“Lark Axton, I am honored that you’ve joined our…festivities.” King Jasper’s cold voice rings out across the arena. “Rumors abound that you’re a dragoncaller.” Murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire. “We’ll soon know if those rumors are true. You have one objective. Keep yourself and our guest alive.”

At the king’s nod, a winged warrior swoops down, making a wide berth around the dragons and landing beside the so-called guest.

Valk, give me strength to fight this battle, not with magic or sword, but with my mind.

The winged man reaches for the mystery person.

Bless me, Mar, and let me save a life today.

He unties the knot at the base of the burlap sack.

Please, Pera, take mercy on me.

He whisks the sack up and over the person’s head.

Wild, untamed, dark gold curls cascade down the woman’s shoulders.

Air punches from my lungs.

Slowly, she pivots to face me as the winged Tirenese man flies from the arena.

The ground sways beneath my feet.

Oh gods. It’sher.

My sister. Leesa.

She’s alive.

I choke down the sob barreling up my throat.

Survive first. Then fall apart.

As far as inspirational speeches go, this one leaves a lot to be desired. There’s something to be said for simplicity, though. And under the circumstances, it’s the best I can do.

Leesa doesn’t move or say a word…not with the dragons eyeing us like they can’t decide whether to torch us or eat us for breakfast.

The reddish-brown one stalks toward me, then stops about halfway between my sister and me. A warning growl rumbles from its throat.

I want to rush over to Leesa, wrap my arms around her, and never let her go.

But that would get us both slaughtered.

As if to prove my point, the orange dragon advances on her, pinning my sister with furious golden eyes. A puff of steam rises from its nostrils.

Focus, Lark. Don’t let Leesa die.

Powerful jaws part, revealing two rows of forearm-length, razor-sharp teeth that could slice a human in half with one chomp. But the orange dragon, laser-focused on my sister, pays me no no mind.

It opens its mouth wider, throat glowing with a growing ball of flame.

No.

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