Page 93 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury
Umara lowered her neck, so that our faces were inches from each other. I scratched under her jaw, smiling when she leaned into it and purred. “As soon as he crosses a line, I’m done. I don’t expect you to listen to everything he says, but there are some things that are unavoidable. Sometimes I have to put up with his shit, and that means you do too.”
We locked gazes. “I haven’t disappeared. I’m still the woman you claimed, but I can’t burn the world to the ground like I want to. We have to play their game.” I leaned forward and pressed our foreheads together. “If you want to be a little shit when it doesn’t matter, go ahead. But sometimes, even when it’s stupid, I need you to fall in line. We don’t have to like it, but it’s what we need to do.” Umara purred, and the wall that’d been between us faded crumbled to the ground. I almost cried in relief. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“Good job,” Kieran said. The sincerity of his tone surprised me. “Why don’t we test it out? Do part of the dance with me.”
“Wejusttalked it out. I don’t want to push it.” But just as I looked away, Umara nudged me with her head, making me stumble forward into Kieran. “Really? Weren’t you just bitching about how stupid the dance was?”
Kieran laughed. “She doesn’t like to be underestimated. Come on. Let’s do it.”
“We can’t do the dance properly without the other dragons here.”
“Then call them.”
“What?” I blinked. “They’re not… you’re fucking with me. No way would they come and do the dance.”
“Try it. Call them.”
I shook my head but closed my eyes and did as he asked, asking through Umara for them to come to the courtyard. Deep in the corner of my mind I felt it. A tug on the bond with Umara, but it went further than just her. My eyes snapped open, and I looked at the entrance of the dragon caves. One by one the other dragons left the caves and flew toward us. Even Aurelia’s dragon came. “Why are they listening?” I breathed. “I’m not their rider.”
“Because we’re in the dragonsguard. We’re a unit. And you have a bond with Umara, who has a bond with Thaleia. They can communicate in ways we don’t understand.” Kieran stood beside me, his eyes shining. “This stupid little dance is important. They’re smart creatures. Don’t expect them to take orders from you, but they can be reasoned with.” His lips curved into a smile. “You performed so terribly earlier, they know you need the practice.”
Umara growled, and Hesperos blew smoke at her. Thankfully, it didn’t escalate any further.
My heart was in my throat as we climbed on our dragons. I ran my hand along Umara's scales. “For the record, I’m fully aware that this is stupid.” Her fondness swelled through the bond. “But the better we are at this dumb political dance, the more people willsee me as a threat. Less assassination attempts. I could get my sister too. And… we can prevent a war. So, let’s make this the best performance of our life, okay?”
“Are you ready?” Kieran asked.
I jerked a nod. Umara launched herself into the sky. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The feeling ofbelonging,ofrightness,I loved it. This was where I was meant to be. “Let’s give them hell, Umara.”
The other dragons got into position, and I still couldn’t believe it.This is what it means when we’re a team.I looked at Kieran, at the way his gray eyes shone in the dark and the shadows seemed to curl around him. I smiled.
Umara shot flames up and charged through them. I laughed as the heat kissed my skin. After a nod from Kieran, we started the dance. All six of our dragons came together in a circle. They danced around each other, diving down in twirls. Not once did Umara snap at the other dragons when they got too close.
I knew Umara could sense my overwhelming pride through the bond. Was this how a parent felt? Umara made a chuffing sound, tilting a bit so that I was forced to go sideways. The blood rushed to my head, and I laughed. So spiteful. We were a perfect match. I couldn’t stop grinning, even once we descended. I pattered her scales. “You crushed it.”
Umara blew flames up at the sky with the other dragons.Amazing.I could see why they ended the dance this way, this show of unity.All of us up against the world.If we could stand like this, together, maybe we could stop the gryphons and Andova from furthercausing harm.Maybe Raven will slip up, and we can get the eggs sooner.
“Beautiful,” Kieran said, and when I looked down to meet his gaze, I realized he wasn’t looking at the flames but instead staring intently at my face.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
The day of the festival, my stomach was in knots. I stood in front of Umara and ran my hand along her golden scales. “Just one day of being a show monkey. We suffer through one day, and then we get to take back the reigns.”And if we’re really lucky, people stop trying to kill me.
She growled, but the bond thrummed with understanding.
“You look like a proper dragonsguard,” Kieran said, stepping beside me.
“If you're trying to make me throw up, keep with the compliments.” I wrinkled my nose. But despite my words, my body tingled. His black leather uniform hugged his body in all the right places. Whoever designed the men’s uniforms needed a raise.No wonder he could lift me so effortlessly. I want those hands to hold me up against the wall. I want his cock to—
“Such a liar, but you’re in good company.” The amusement faded as he added, “Remember all the nobles will try to fuck with you. You’re a wild card, and none of them like that. Don’t let them shake you. You’re not a newblood anymore. You have some missions under your belt. You’ve proven yourself onthe field, and you’re lethal. Don’t forget that.”
“I won’t.” There was too much at stake for me to fuck up. I exhaled. “Do you ever get tired of playing a role?” I’d have to wear a mask this entire time. From here on out, the success of Lusadia and my sister’s safety depended on it.
Before he could answer, Aurelia made her way to us, her arms folded, and her brow creased. “Don’t fuck this up.”
When I glanced at Kieran, the mask was back on his face, erasing all traces of vulnerability. “How long do we have to stay?” I asked.
“Too long.” Ben wrinkled his nose. “I joined the dragonsguard to get away from my family. The dragonsguard festivals are theworst.But at least we get to suffer together.”
