Page 78 of Only Flames Remain

I brought my hand to my brow to shield my gaze from the sun as a shadow raced across it, blotting it from view and eclipsing our forms below in shadow.

His screech pierced the air. To my surprise, it didn’t send me crawling for safety. Didn’t raise gooseflesh across my skin as it had the first time I had heard it. I found myself smiling as my gaze cast skyward. I watched him circle, his enormous body gliding along the current of wind effortlessly. I had to admit; his dragon form was quite elegant if not terrifying at the same time. His horned skull turned, his ebony scaled chest pointing straight at us as his sword tail whipped and he made for the sea wall.

Was he going to land on it? He wouldn’t…

It would never hold his weight—it would crumble beneath him! Voirel and I stepped back from the wall as he dove closer, only a few beats away. His wings flapped forward sharply to slow his momentum.

Suddenly, I didn’t see claws any longer. I saw boot clad feet.

He strode onto the seawall easily, his wings spread wide at his back as he jumped down and crossed the stone courtyard toward us. His magic made the transition appear utterly seamless, his obsidian beaded garments still fully intact.

His lips were stretched into a grin, his sharpened canines on full display.

His beard was thicker, as if he hadn’t had time to groom it during his time at the palace. Voirel ran toward him, jumping into his arms. His eyes pressed closed as he held her, nostrils flared as he inhaled her familiar scent.

When he placed her back down, his gaze flitted to mine. Mischief was clear in his expression. He was certainly in a good mood.

His gaze darkened as he assessed me, head to toe. A muscle ticked in his jaw, and I fought the urge to shrink back under his appraisal. His grin was contagious and I couldn’t help the returning smile that turned up my own lips as he glanced between the two of us.

“I hope you have your best dress on reserve, Voirel.”

“Why is that?” she asked, bouncing on her toes as Sorin put an arm around her shoulder and guided her toward me.

He glanced between us, expression conspiratorial.

“Have you ever attended a masquerade ball?”

CHAPTER 23

Aveline

It didn’t take long for me to gather what few belongings I had brought with me to Stormgaard. After a week of his absence, I had strong reservations about Sorin. He had failed to punish me for trying to poison him and appeared all too pleased to forget the incident entirely.

Was I so unintimidating as a threat? Or was it simply that he didn’t expect me to try again after I had explained to him the circumstances Queen Dyata had put me in.

I pulled my sorry excuse for a pack over my shoulder and joined Sorin, Voirel, and Rensford in the courtyard. My gaze bounced between them.

“How, exactly, are you planning to carry us all back?” I asked, straightening my spine beneath Sorin’s heavy gaze.

A grin spread across his lips that immediately made me sorry I ever asked. “You’ll climb atop my back, of course.”

I balked. “You…you can’t be serious.”

His eyes flashed as he narrowed his endlessly dark gaze at me. “We’ve been over this, I’m always serious.”

I shook my head back and forth, taking a step backward toward Stormgaard. I didn’t want to stay here, but I certainly didn’t want to ride on the back of a dragon, either.

“Can’t you carry Voirel, then Rensford, then come back for me?” I asked.

Sorin shook his head, his grin spreading even further as he extended his hand toward me. “That would take the entire day, and it would exhaust me. We can’t be late. Come, Aveline.”

Aveline.

I wasn’t sure if he had ever used my given name when addressing me before. It was always ‘Little Dove.’ My skin prickled at the sound of it. I enjoyed it a little too much.

I stared at the hand he extended between us as Voirel impatiently crossed her arms over her chest.

“What if I fall?” I asked.