Page 31 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury
I gripped her spikes for balance. This was it. From here on out, I’d be a dragonsguard, a tool at Luther’s disposal.But I’ll use them right back.
Umara didn’t immediately fly, so I acted on instinct and patted her. “I want to be free,” I murmured. “I want to raze the kingdom to the ground for my sister, but I can’t. At least, not right now. Not if she’s happy. But I need help. I need your strength. Will you lend it to me? In return, I’ll be the rider you wish me to be. Every single day will be an honor. I won’t forget that.”
She purred, this time audibly. It was strange hearing it aloud, but thrilling, nonetheless. That was the only warning I had before she bolted. The world blurred, the trees getting impossibly closer.‘You might want to jump up now,’I sent through the bond.
Umara jumped with a loud roar that echoed through the trees. We launched straight through the flames. It was almost like she was saying:Stop doubting me.
I gripped her spikes, my heart thundering against my ribcage. I had no time to panic, only to trust. And holy fuck, I didn’t burn. My body jerked with each rocky movement, but then… then we were up inthe sky. Umara spread her wings wide and glided. “Beautiful,” I whispered.
This lightness in my chest… it was like my soul was singing. The bond between us was stronger and brighter than ever. All her emotions—her pride, joy, sorrow, nostalgia, happiness—it was like they were mine. A tear rolled down my cheek.We’re one.Not dragon and rider.One.This was nothing like being on Enmei.
Umara growled, and we jerked to the right. I gripped her scales so tight my fingers were practically white. “It wasn’t meant as an insult,” I said, laughing. The bond, already strong and overwhelming, snapped in place, filling me with so much warmth for a second I was sure I was burning from the inside out.
Another tear fell down my cheek. Umara glided through the clouds before dipping down so that we remained in sight. I laughed again and raised my face to the sky. The wind kissed my face and brushed my braids back. This time, my eyes didn’t burn like before. It was like… like it took until now for my body to realize I was made to ride. “You’re so fucking amazing, Umara.Thank you.” I couldn’t say it enough.
Umara purred.
The flight felt like it lasted five minutes, but the sky went from bright blue to a haze of pink, orange, and purple. I grinned and patted Umara’s scales. “You know Luther’s going to be pissed, right? He’s probably still waiting down there with everyone else.”
Umara chuffed, and I snorted when she flew in the opposite direction of the clearing.I belong here.I knewthat in my bones. The nobles might not think so, but fuck them.I belong here.I smiled. “You can bring us down now. I’m ready.”
Umaradived.I didn’t even have time to scream. But somehow, I didn’t fall. It was only once she landed, did I realize what she’d done. She showed everyone just how much she wanted me. Her magic was the only thing that had kept me in my seat.
I stared down at the crowd, none of them had left despite the hours long flight. For a moment, everything was silent, and then the crowd erupted into cheers. My eyes landed on Kieran and the slight curve to his lips.Pride.But only because he saw me as a tool, just like Luther.
I grinned as I slid down Umara’s back, meeting Luther’s blank expression head on. I didn’t care that my double yesenian braids were a mess of fly-aways. Not when I felt like I could take on the world, especially with Umara hovering behind me. Her silent support was everything.
Luther stood beside me and clasped a hand on my shoulder. “The dragonsguard is now complete. The seventh rider has been chosen!” His hand dug into my shoulder when the crowd got even louder.
I thought the ceremony would end with the flight, but Luther kept us there with speeches upon speeches about how the dragonsguard would protect everyone. Throughout it all, he made sure to never say my name—an intentional slight on his part, but I couldn’t bebothered to care. Once the crowd dispersed, Nimue darted over to my side. “I knew you’d do it. How do you feel?”
I grinned from ear to ear. “Amazing.” I got it now, why Nimue put up with Luther’s assholery. Being in the air was… nothing could compare to it.
“I’m glad you got to experience it.” Nimue smiled. “We should do a group flight.”
“Hell yeah.” Ben high-fived me. “It’s my favorite part of this whole stupid ceremony.”
“Luther’s not coming, right?” I asked.
Aurelia sniffed. “He has better things to do with his time.”
“Good. Because it’d ruinmytime if he was there.”
“What do you think?” Nimue asked Kieran and looped her arm around mine. “Can we do a group flight?”
Kieran’s piercing gaze turned to me, but there was a glint in his eyes I couldn’t quite place. “Fine. But we can’t stay out long. Andova spies will be out tonight. They might come for her.”
That tidbit of information dropped the smile off my face. “I thought once the bond was secured—”
“You’re still a new rider,” he cut me off, his stormy eyes narrowing. “Aweaklink for the dragonsguard. Anyone with half a brain would know to come for you.”
“Don’t be such a downer.” Nimue waved him off, but there was anedge to her voice.
“Yeah, now that we know she’s here to stay, we can protect her.” Ben nodded at me.
I shouldn’t have been surprised at the shrewdness of it all, but I was. Behind that cheery grin and flirty mouth was a brain. I couldn’t let myself forget that. Still, I didn’t let it get me down. “I know where we should go. The Dragon’s Hearth.”
Aurelia wrinkled her nose. “As if we’ll—”
