I fought with my breeches tangled around my boot while clutching onto my torn dress. My glare fixed on the prince—my enemy. I had misjudged him. He wasn’t the fool I’d imagined. No, he had more of Kallias in him than I ever wanted to admit, evaluating my every move.
“Princess Nienna shall be escorted to her rooms–”
“I swear by the stars, if you say her name one more time—”
A thrum of power pulsed through the room. I shot up as a ball of flame swirled in Ronan’s hand.
“—I willkillyou!”
Kallias’ lips pressed together, his jaw tight. His gaze locked with mine over my brother’s shoulder, heavy with both warning and an unspoken pain.
“You don’t get to look at her!” Ronan snapped, his temper flaring.
I grabbed the back of his leathers. “Ronan!” I hissed, tugging at him. “Don’t be stupid!”
“Me?” He whirled, fury burning in his eyes. His gaze dropped to my chest, the shredded remnants of my garment barely covering me. Hatred twisted his features as he seized my arm.
“Let’s go.” I tugged on him, trying to pull him toward my rooms, hoping I might calm him—and Gyrak—before they both destroyed everything.
“Yes, let’s!” He snarled. “I’m taking you home. Where men don’t steal their sons’ wives and treat them like common whores!”
He spun, dragging me along. I stumbled but bit my tongue, swallowing every retort.
Kallias stormed around his desk. The look of pure devastation on his face made my heart lurch. My vision blurred as Ronan dragged me away.
“Pray, King Kallias.” His voice was cold, controlled, dangerous. “Pray to your gods that dragons don’t fly for Radaan.”
Then he hauled me out of the room.
The hall loomed, filled with nobles drawn to the commotion. Humiliation threatened to swallow me whole as gasps echoed through the onlookers. My dress tangled around my feet, and I stumbled. Lynx rushed to catch me.
Ronan whipped, pulling me to his side. Fire crackled in his palm, his voice low and venomous. “Careful, warrior. You’ve never faced a Dragon Rider.”
The man hesitated, his expression unreadable, eyes darting, seeking a way to pry me from my brother’s grip.
“Go back, Lynx,” I whispered, tears now streaming down my face.
Ronan’s arm tightened around me, pulling me closer. No matter how much I hated him in that moment, it was him I clung to. His presence, a strange comfort against the accusing, disgusted stares of the court. He was the only one who could shield me now.
“The oath between Radaan and Draconia has been torn asunder,” my brother called out. “Our trust has been shattered—”
“Ronan, stop!”
“—and to impede us or come after us is an act of war!”
His words slammed into the room, and a ripple of shock spread through the crowd. Servants peered around corners, eyes wide with disbelief.
When he turned to leave, I didn’t resist. I rushed to keep up, his grip unyielding as Gyrak’s screech rattled the windows. The sound of dragonfire followed. I needed to get them out of here—before the destruction became irreversible.
But dragging me through the palace like this would leave an impression no one would forget.
We burst into the courtyard, and chaos erupted.
Gyrak landed with a deafening crash, his massive body obliterating part of the garden. Stone benches shattered beneath his weight. The dragon threw his head back and unleashed a torrent of flame that lit up the sky.
Ronan pulled me toward the beast’s shoulder, but I yanked, digging my heels into the ground.
“Stop it! Please!” My voice cracked.
