Page 44 of Kingdom of Flames & Flowers
“In.”
I didn’t comment on his rudeness as he held the door. I did, however, jump as he slammed it behind me. A heraldry banner hanging on the wall fell with a crash. I bent down and picked it up, running my fingers over the soft velvet. It was red and blue: the entwined emblems were unfamiliar to me. Frowning, I laid it on the bed.
“I am relieved Zariah didn’t harm you,” Zion began, his voice stiff and formal. “He can be wild.”
That was rich. Zariah was the kind one. Zion was the one trying to press his advantage at every turn. I sat down on the bed, running my hands through the mess that was now my hair.
“I’m sure,” I wryly remarked, roughly braiding it to give it and myself some semblance of control and order.
“Mari. Please believe me. Neither he nor I want you to come to any harm.”
I shot him a suspicious glance. “How did he tell you anything? Isn’t he still out there being a dragon?” I gestured carelessly with my hands to the window and the outside world. I didn’t actually believe they could communicate telepathically. That was ridiculous.
“Like you said. We can communicate to each other in our minds, but only when one of us is in our dragon form,” he admitted, seeing my determination.
My jaw dropped.
“What happens if both of you are a dragon at once?” I asked.
Zion rubbed his face, already getting frustrated with my questions. “I don’t know! Mother has always made sure we haven’t by ordering us to never shift together. She said it could be disastrous. It’s part of the cur—”
He cut himself off abruptly, glaring at the ground.
“Curse. You’re under a curse. I already knew that. Zariah told me,” I taunted. “He said you’d explain more.”
An odd tremor went through Zion, but he shook it off and crossed the room to sit beside me on the bed. “I’d rather not. I’d rather distract myself. What do you think?”
He leaned in close, one hand resting on my thigh.
I smacked it hard, and he withdrew it with a wince.
“You’re disgusting and pushy, literally, the opposite of your brother.”
Zion’s eyes widened. “He did have you! I knew it! Well, I was the first one to put my fingers—”
“Finish that sentence and I will break them,” I threatened. “Now tell me about the curse.”
His face twisted with irritation, and he sighed. “What’s to tell? It’s a curse to punish us for something my parents did. I didn’t exactly ask for details.”
My lips parted in exasperated shock. “You turn into a fire-breathing dragon and never thought to ask why?”
His face flushed with embarrassment. “I have my royal duties and only shift when I absolutely must now and then. Zariah spends the most time as the dragon.” Seeing my angry expression, he continued, “Zariah enjoys being the dragon! Claims he’s ‘one with the beast’ or whatever that means.”
He glared at me. I glared at him.
Figures I’d be stuck getting explanations from the stubborn brother.
I stuck my finger in his chest. “Listen here. While I’m stuck in this castle with guards and even your mother too wary to kick me out or immediately kill me, I’m going to get answers. I’m going to find out who cast this curse, why, and how to break it. We’re going to bring down the dome, and I’m going to help those from the mud quarter restore their lives and honor. Got it?”
Because if I didn’t, all of this was a waste. This all couldn’t be a waste.Iwasn’t a waste.
His jaw dropped slightly, and then he smirked, only just holding in a laugh. “Sure.” Zion leaned back on the bed, his hands behind his head. “I will enjoy watching you try.”
I stood, resisting the urge to smack him.
“I suppose I can handle being the dragon for a few hours tomorrow so you can get your precious answers and leave me alone,” he drawled. “Sure you don’t want a goodnight kiss?”
My hand was flying up toward him before I could even think about it, but he caught my wrist. “Careful. I like a bit of a fight.”
