Page 40 of Kingdom of Flames & Flowers
Silver eyes glittered at me. “That’s not what you said that night I—”
“You asshole. I thought you were your brother.”
His face shuttered, flashing for a moment with dismay before smoothing back out. “Don’t worry, I’m under strict instructions not to touch you. Zariah insists we … give you time.”
His shoulders were stiff as he jerked his head at me, indicating I should follow.
“I wish to return to my rooms,” I said clearly. He didn’t answer, but as we navigated this staircase and crossed through that hallway, I recognized where I was. Zion paused in front of the large double doors of the girls’ suite and gave a mocking bow.
“You or your brother owe me answers today or tomorrow,” I reminded him.
He leaned in, and my back hit the door. He braced one arm over my head and against the door, and the other trapped me on my left side.
I refused to shirk or cower. I glared at him.
“Or what?” he challenged, his voice a dark purr.
I lashed out and punched him in his stomach, just like he was one of the boys trying to nick my hunk of cheese. Zion made a funny sound as he doubled over, and I used his distraction to turn the door handle and slip inside.
“Mari?!”
“Oh gods above, seriously?”
“She isn’t dead! The dragon didn’t eat her!”
“Pity.”
I ignored Freesia’s remark with a grin, opening my arms as Leilani rushed in for a hug. Azalea followed behind her, tears running down her face. With a pang in my heart, I realized that was all of us.
“Where are Heather and Hyacinthe?” I asked quietly.
Leilani pulled away, wiping her nose on the sleeve of her dress. “The queen dismissed them from the competition. Don’t worry though!” She rushed to reassure me as my face twisted in horror at all the things the queen could have done to them.
“The moment the queen announced they were out, two nobles proposed to them. It thrilled them to continue living in the Seat. Their families will come to the wedding, and—”
“Enough. You’ll make me sick.” Freesia sat on the edge of a couch, flipping her braid over her shoulder.
I was simply relieved they hadn’t been killed.
“You’re just jealous you didn’t tame a dragon!” Leilani shot back, giving me an excited look. “Tell us everything! How did you manage it? We all saw you returning through the window, riding on its back! Will it do what you want? Will it breathe fire if you ask? Oooh, how exciting! You won’t have to do the physical test for sure now!”
Azalea led me over to the cluster of couches, pushing me down to sit in the one opposite of Freesia. The blonde girl sniffed at us, but I noticed she didn’t turn away or go to her room.
She wanted to know how I’d tamed the dragon just as much as the rest of them.
“I can’t really get into specifics, other than to say he likes me.”
Freesia scoffed, rolling her eyes. “I heard the guards say the queen tried to execute you, but it didn’t work.”
She sounded so put out I laughed in her face. “No, it didn’t,” I confirmed, then went silent. “Oh! Berries!” I rushed from my seat toward the table set in the center, full of berries and meat. Azalea blushed. “We were too worried about you to eat—” She shot a glare at Freesia, “Well,someof us were.”
“Don’t hold up on my account. I plan to eat half myself,” I announced and picked up a delicate, porcelain plate and heaped it with food.
Taming dragons was hard work, after all.
I listened politely as Azalea and Leilani chatted around me, their world once again happy and orderly, knowing I was safe and back with them. Freesia kept to herself, but shot me wary glances now and then. None of us were stupid, but we all dealt with our fear in different ways.
Freesia now knew I was a threat.
