Page 131 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury
Wind rustled the trees from up above. We looked up to see Thaleia flying up ahead. She circled above us before landing right next to Umara. After she licked Umara’s jaw, she stared at my sister. Those intelligent eyes focused on her with an intensity that made my stomach flip.
But then Thaleia lowered herself onto her belly and inclined her head toward Clara. The intention couldn’t have been any clearer.
Clara’s breath hitched. “Does she—?”
“Yeah,” I breathed. “You can pet her.” Umara would’ve sent a warning through the bond if it was dangerous. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Thaleia hadneverdone the same for me. But I wasn’t offended. Clara was just that perfect.
Clara looked at Umara, who nodded her head. Clara beamed and turned to Thaleia. “You’re also very beautiful,” she murmured.
Thaleia licked her hand, and Clara giggled. I felt like I was in a dream. “Do you think I could ride with you?” Clara asked, her voice so soft, so hopeful that my heart clenched. Gods, she looked right at home. In another world, this could’ve been her.Should’vebeen her. But those three dragon eggs, even once they hatched, would never go to her.
I looked at Umara and sent all my complicated feelings down the bond. Umara grumbled, but she lowered herself so that we could climb on.‘Thank you.’I smiled at Clara. “She said yes.”
Clara beamed. “Thank you.” She patted Umara’s scales reverently. I couldn’t believe my eyes when Umara arched into her touch. She’d only ever done that with me.
Clara trembled with excitement once I helped her climb up. I made sure to strap her in and place her in front of me. I wasn’t taking any chances. I never knew my sister to be such a daredevil. When I rode on Aureli’s and Nimue’s dragons, I was scared shitless. Not Clara.
“Are you sure you don’t want to back out?” I asked. “Umara won’t mind.”
Clara’s smile outshined the sun. “Let’s do this!”
When Umara launched herself into the sky, Clara laughed louder than I ever heard her. Thaleia crooned and flew alongside us. Clara watched it all with wonder. I had to hand it to Umara. She knew how to give a first class flight as she glided over the village and through the clouds.
Clara giggled when we went through the first oneand ran a hand through it. “This is amazing,” she whispered. “You’re so lucky.”
My stomach rolled when Umara banked left, and Thaleia alongside her. My eyes widened when I spotted Hesperos gliding toward us. At first I thought Kieran was with him, but he wasn’t. Kieran must’ve put him up to this. Because it clearly made Clara’s day. Though another glance and I spotted the other dragons lingering off in the distance. Today must’ve been a hunting day for them.
Clara’s cheeks probably hurt from how wide she smiled. She cheered when Umara swooped down and threw her hands up. It gave me a heart attack even though I knew she’d be fine. Still, I tightened my grip around her.
I wanted to enjoy Clara’s first flight, and for the most part, I did. But there was another thought that lingered in the back of my mind and wouldn’t go away.This should be Clara.Up here in the skies and with the other dragons, she was clearly at home. She loved it, even though her eyes were stinging with tears since she didn’t have the resistance I did to the rough flying.
I had always strived to give Clara the world, but this was one thing I couldn’t give her.
Clara kept smiling even when we landed. She lingered on Umara’s back, patting her scales with obvious reverence. “Is it always like this?”
I smiled. “Always.”
Clara hugged me when we dismounted. “Thank you for taking me. If Umara doesn’t mind, I’d love to do this again.” Umara nudged Clara’s shoulder, and Claragiggled.
My smile was more genuine now and less forced. “She’s down.”
And from the looks of it, Thaleia and Hesperos were down to join us.
“You did WHAT?” Wes’s eyes bulged as he listened to my sister’s enthusiastic recount. His gaze whipped to me. “And you allowed this?”
I narrowed my eyes. “It was perfectly safe.” I knew this would happen the moment we got back. Even though Wes wasn’t officially reinstated as her keeper, he’d gotten ahead of himself and ambushed us in the dragonsguard living room.
Wes scoffed. “Because you’re a perfect judge of character.”
“Don’t fight.” Clara’s soft tone packed steel despite its lightness. “It was perfectly safe.”
“Thaleia came out of nowhere and let her pet her,” I added. “Thaleia won’t even let me look at her without growling.”
Clara giggled.
“The rest of the dragons were out there too,” Nimue chimed in. Because of course Wes had decided to ruin the moment in front of everyone. “They went to stretch their wings today and get in some hunting. She was perfectly safe.” Her smile had an edge to it.
Wes clenched his jaw. “She’s not a rider. None of thedragons are sworn to protect her. She could’ve been killed.”
