Page 54 of House of Embers
Kerrigan hid her smile as she headed toward Tieran. Those two were circling each other like vultures over carrion. She climbed onto Tieran’s back and settled in.
“We’re heading due west, just outside Death’s Valley,” Kerrigan told them. “We’ll land before we get there and hike to our quarry. Stay on Tieran’s flank.”
Wynter sank into her seat on the back of Netta, and a second later, Dozan settled in behind her, his hands going to her hips. Wynter was as stiff as a board while Dozan clearly relished her discomfort. Not that it was a discomfort because she wanted him to stop. Kerrigan could see that on her features, and Kerrigan didn’t know what was holding Wynter back. But good for her for making Dozan do all the chasing. He deserved that.
“Happy hunting,” Fordham said to them.
And then Tieran dove off the edge of the aerie into the pitch-black sky beyond. Kerrigan wanted to hold her arms out and scream her delight as they plummeted toward the rocky ground below, but it wasn’t that kind of flight.
Tieran was already mad enough at her that he hadn’t been there for her equinox spirit dive. He and Netta had celebrated the holiday in a traditional dragon celebration that they’d both ignored questions about. She didn’t know if that meant they were making more dragon eggs or if it was an actual secret. Considering Tieran had lost his mate to the horrors of the dragon tournament, she’d have been perfectly happy for him if it were the former.
A half hour later, a small encampment appeared on the horizon. Tieran and Netta dove low to avoid notice in case anyone was awake and landed in an outcropping of hills some distance away.
“So what’s the plan, boss?” Dozan asked.
“I’m meeting Audria. She has no idea that you’re going to be here, and I want to keep it that way.”
Just in case she betrayed us.It was the unspoken thing hovering between them. That this might all be a setup. Kerrigan wouldn’t know until she got there, but she’d been practicing and had a backup plan just in case.
“We have our mission,” Wynter said with a nod.
Kerrigan, Wynter, and Dozan left the dragons behind and headed through the hills toward the group of Society members. When they crested the nearest hill, they got a full look into the valley beyond. Kerrigan released a long breath. A part of her had been worried that Audria was lying to her, but in a circle in the middle of the valley were four dragons of various sizes and colors, surrounding the tents of five Fae. She recognized Evien at once. Audria’s dragon had bright purple scales, and even before she had belonged to Audria, Kerrigan had been her friend in the House of Dragons. Roake’s dragon, Luxor, was there as well. Sapphire blue and incredibly muscular, he was easy to spot. She didn’t recognize any of the other dragons, but it was enough to prove Audria’s tale, though not enough to prove it wasn’t a diversion or a way to sniff Kerrigan out.
“They’re still sleeping,” Wynter whispered.
“Good,” Kerrigan said.
Wynter clasped her hand. “I’ll see you on the other side.”
Dozan grinned as he followed Wynter out of sight.
Kerrigan hunkered down. They’d come early to the meetup so that she could verify she wasn’t walking into a trap, but she still wasn’t sure that was the case.
There was a fire burning at the center of the camp, and Kerrigan saw a Fae she didn’t recognize shake Audria awake. She jumped up as if she’d been hit, but it was just her turn to take over the watch.
This was the tricky part. Did they trust her to go on a watch by herself? She’d said that she could get them to agree to it, but Kerrigandidn’t know. Audria took up position for her watch, glancing back once at the guy she’d relieved. Kerrigan was about to head lower into the valley when Roake stirred.
“Gods,” Kerrigan whispered, hiding behind the shrubbery she had taken cover under. She couldn’t hear what was being said, but she could read the body language.
Roake sidled up to Audria and gave her a long, lingering kiss. Audria shook her head at whatever he said next. She gestured to the horizon as if she was informing him of her watch. He was clearly insinuating something else. Audria stood, and what looked like a small argument took place. Eventually Roake put his hands out conciliatorily and stomped back to his tent.
Guess he’d been expecting some action. Good. Audria’s refusal bolstered Kerrigan’s confidence in her. Still…
Roake would be up for a while after that argument. He’d always been the type to stew. Eventually Audria returned to her feet, double-checked that everyone was sleeping, and began to pace the perimeter. Their signal to begin.
It’s time.
Kerrigan slipped lower into the valley, heading toward Audria. It was a few minutes until they were far enough away from the rest of the camp for Kerrigan to approach her. Audria glanced around as if she were unsure the conversation with Kerrigan days ago had actually happened.
Kerrigan grinned, reaching out and grasping Audria on the arm and yanking her away. Audria gasped. Kerrigan put her hand over her mouth, jerking her back to Kerrigan’s front.
“It’s me,” she hissed.
“Oh gods,” Audria said. “I didn’t know if you were going to come.”
“You did good,” Kerrigan said. She released Audria, getting her first look at her. She looked haggard compared to her perfect prim-and-proper self. “What was the argument with Roake?”
Audria flushed. “He wanted to use our time alone…”
