Page 96 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury
I looked at Kieran’s outstretched hand and then back to the crowd, where various nobles, both from the five major Noble Houses and the minor ones, were practically frothing at the mouth to pull us for a dance. At least now that our performances were over, our dragons got to fly away and do whatever they wanted. “What makes you think I want to dance withyou?”
He grinned. “Because if you don’t dance with me, you have to dance with someone else. Face it, I’m the lesser of two evils.”
“Fine.” Damn my weak wills. I wanted to be near him, and we both knew that. When Kieran easily slipped his hands around my waist, my heart skipped a beat. I rested my hands around his neck, trying to resist the urge to fiddle with his dark, messy hair. It looked so soft. Too soft. Energy danced under my skin from being so close to him. I wanted to move closer, to feel his chest, to run my fingers through his hair, to see if his cheekbones could cut glass.
Dammit. Get a hold of yourself.
Did Kieran feel this way too? I knew he felt the attraction, but was he falling like I was?
“You and Umara did good,” he whispered into the shell of my ear. “I had to fight a smile when she bathed you in claiming fire. That move did wonders for your safety. The nobles won’t risk separating you now.”
“That won’t make Andova back off. They still think I’m a weak link.”
His smile slipped. “Which is why today is important. They will all be testing you, both the public and the nobles. Show them you’re a powerful rider who doesn’t need a family name to back her.” His hand moved to my lower back, sending another spark between the apex of my thighs. “I know you don’t need one, and I can’t wait for you to prove them all wrong.”
I exhaled. “So no pressure. How long do I have to stay before I can leave?”
He chuckled. “Three hours minimum.”
I fought a groan. “How do you stand it? I hated the dance and the little display you all did. We’re just puppets to them.”
Kieran twirled me before pulling me flush against him. “I like to imagine choking them with my shadows.”
I jolted when I felt a shadow creep around my neck, the wispy black tendrils coiling around my neck before fading away. I swallowed, all the nerves in my body sparking to life. Heat flooded my cheeks as I looked into his knowing gray eyes. “G-glad I’m not the only one bothered by it.”
He grinned. “You shouldn’t think yourself so special. We all hate this, even Luther.”
“Luther loves this, and you can’t tell me Aurelia didn’t get a hard on when the entire crowd ate out of the palm of her hand. She fucking loved that.”
Kieran dipped me, and I felt no fear when my body briefly went unbalanced, because his strong arms backed me. My heart thumped against my chest.I don’t want to move. I want to stay here forever.“Of course they love seeing their power in action, but they hate the indignity of this performance they’re forced to put on. Both of them believe they’re too good to be show ponies for the public.”
“And what do you think?” I murmured.
He squeezed my hip. “These performances are a cornerstone to our masks. The nobles might have the money, but if the citizens turned on us, we’d be nothing. And if they feared us or believed us unable to help them, we’d be fucked.”
I groaned. “I hate politics.”
Amusement danced in his eyes. “Don’t let politics break you, little thief. You’re a fighter, you can handle it. You look beautiful, you know. I love it when you have your hair down.”
My breath hitched. The confidence in which he spoke about me and the understanding… I never felt seen like that. Ever. “What’s your angle here? Aren’t you supposed to be ‘reassuring the public?’Why are you here with me?” He always seemed so put together in this little game we played. It drove me wild.
Kieran froze for the briefest of seconds before resuming his slow swaying. “Unlike you, I’m staying for the entire event. Everyone wants to talk to the captain of the dragonsguard. In comparison to Luther,I’mmuch more approachable. So I’m taking a pre-break. Gathering my strength to deal with the idiots and everyone else.”
I searched his eyes. “Stop bullshitting me.” Since he took me to the Irinae Cliffs, things had changed between us. I couldn’t deny that I wanted him, and I knew he wanted me. But that left us in this awkward middle ground where neither of us would take another step.
“Do you really want me to be honest?” A warning and a promise all at once.
“I do.”
His hand tightened around my waist. “You call me a liar, but you’re one too. If I tell you the truth, you’ll run.”
I shuddered. Once more, I stood in the middle of an old wooden bridge wedged between two cliffs. Did I dare step forward? “Tell me.”
Kieran leaned down to brush his lips against my ear. “Ever since I played for you, I can’t take my eyes off you.”
My heart skipped a beat, and I froze. Only once Kieran squeezed my hip, did I start dancing again. “Kieran… I don’t…”
He stroked the small of my back. “You asked if I got tired wearing a mask? I do. All thetime. It wears me down. When Umara claimed you, I knew I wanted to be allies.” Kieran twirled me, and I stumbled through the movement.
