“And you and your mom are both human?” Prince Lucien asks, sounding skeptical.
Now, that’s an interesting question.“We’re human, but it’s rumored that we were blessed by fairies, that our whole family line is.” They all seem raptly focused on my words, so I continue. “Supposedly, my great-great-grandmother once found a fairy trapped within a spiderweb and saved it. Unfortunately, her wings were ruined, but my ancestor was an impressive seamstress and created new wings for the fairy, made of really delicate thread. To thank her, the fairy blessed our entire family line. Some people believe that’s why we’re such good healers. Why we’re so good at so many things.”
Prince Lucien snorts. “Fat chance.”
I glance at him. “That’s the story that’s been passed down my family line, and I believe it.”
The brothers exchange a look, but it’s Prince Lucien who says, “Of course, you believe in fairy tales. That fits perfectly with a woman who thinks she can be a dragon rider.”
My fury goes from zero to ten in an instant. “I don’tthinkI can be a dragon rider. I am one.”
“Like a kid who puts on his dad’s boots is a soldier.” There’s such a callousness in his words that any peace I’d felt blossoming between us vanishes in an instant.
“I don’t understand the three of you. Supposedly, the whole nation is celebrating the emergence of Ebron and I. They see it as a sign that we’re going to bring about peace with the Hollowborns, but you’re still adamant that I not be a dragon rider.”
Prince Alaric takes a step closer to me. “It’s a matter of right and wrong. A matter of fairness. Of our code as dragon riders.You are supposed to be nobility. You’re supposed to have spent your entire life training for this. Working for this.”
“And if there was going to be a rider with a male dragon, it should have been one of our nation’s princes,” Prince Lucien explains. “Don’t you understand that?”
It’s like they think their stubbornness and title alone will erase one of the most fundamental rules about dragons. They choose their own riders. They always have. Ebron choosing me is only different because he’s a male, and I’m a female. Not that that logic will work with them.
“I understand that Ebron is a living creature who chose me as his rider. If I died tomorrow, he would leave the academy and not choose a single one of you to replace me. So regardless of how you feel, you have to put your big boy panties on and accept the situation for what it is.”
“Because we should listen to you?” Prince Lucien asks snidely.
“Why not?” I ask.
“Didn’t you present an offer of peace with the Hollowborn?” Prince Gareth says quietly, completely changing the subject.
Which is really damn annoying.
“I had a message to deliver.”
“But do you actually believe we should try to make peace with the Hollowborns? Do you trust what your enemy had to say?” he asks, those deep blue eyes of his watching me.
I decide the hell with it. “I actually do think it’s a good idea, and I think the Hollowborn wouldn’t have brought up the idea if it wasn’t something they wanted.”
They all laugh unkindly, and Prince Lucien says, “If you think that’s a good idea, maybe you should go swimming with some sharks.”
“Or go play with some lava,” Prince Alaric adds, looking mildly apologetic.
“Peace with the Hollowborn will never happen,” Prince Gareth explains to me slowly, like I’m stupid. “They are our sworn enemies. We’ve been fighting with them for generations.”
“But there have been times of peace,” I argue.
“Brief times that always ended in bloodshed.”
“Why? I’ve never really heard the stories of what ended the peace.”
I can see it in his face: he doesn’t know either.
“I’m sure it was their thirst for blood. They are heartless beasts whose only purpose is to destroy life, jealous because of their lifeless lands. They want to steal our dragons and become riders themselves, even though no dragon would ever choose them. They need beings with heartbeats, with souls, as their riders.”
“He had a soul,” slips out.
They still.
“Who?” Prince Gareth asks.
