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Kerrigan and Lyam had taken much pleasure in finding ways to add to that over the years. As Mistress Moran constantly reminded them.
Kerrigan grinned as they entered the mountain that was her home. She could weave her way through the maze of corridors and climb her way up into all the dragon eaves. So few were accepting of a half-Fae girl here, but it still felt more like home than anywhere else.
Mistress Moran dragged them both into her office. “You were both out of your beds last night. Explain yourself.”
Kerrigan kept her mouth shut. No explanation would be satisfactory for Moran. Fighting in the Dragon Ring in the Wastes? She might as well tell her that she’d completely lost her mind. Moran might believe her more.
“It’s my fault,” Lyam piped up.
Kerrigan raised her eyebrows. Since when did Lyam take the fall?
“Explain, Lyam.”
“I snuck out last night to go to a tournament party,” he said solemnly. “Kerrigan tried to stop me because we had to be here so early. Eventually, she came with me to keep an eye on me. But there was faerie punch.”
Mistress Moran’s lips pinched.
“Our senses were addled, but it’s my fault, not Ker’s.”
What in the gods’ name was he talking about?
“How magnanimous,” Mistress Moran said dryly. “Unbelievable, considering the amount of trouble you and Kerrigan get into. But magnanimous all the same for taking the credit for it.”
Lyam winced at her words.
“Kerrigan?” Moran asked.
She just shook her head. Literally nothing would excuse her.
“Very well. You are both on dragon cleanup duties until the Dragon Blessed ceremony. That’s one week and no fussing,” Moran said crisply.
Lyam and Kerrigan groaned in unison.
“But, Mistress Moran—” Lyam began.
She held her hand up. “I don’t want to hear it.”
A knock sounded at the door behind them, and then a small figure peered inside. She might have been diminutive in stature, but she was all grace and dominance. A leader of the Society and last dragon tournament’s adjudicator. Also, one of Kerrigan’s closest allies within the mountain—Helly.
“Mistress Hellina,” Moran said, jumping to her feet, “how can I help you?”
“Helly will do, dear,” she said with a kind smile. Then, her eyes flickered to Kerrigan. “I need to borrow Kerrigan right away, if you please.”
“Of course,” Moran said deferentially. “Kerrigan, go with Helly, but do remember your duties.”
“Yes, Mistress Moran.”
Kerrigan hastened out of Moran’s office, and she and Helly began to walk purposefully through the mountain.
Helly looked over at her once and shook her head. “Wipe that grin off your face, dear. I know all about your indiscretions. You hid much of it from Moran, but I know that you’ve been sneaking out to that heathen den. I know that you’ve been fighting. I know that you brought one of Dozan Rook’s spies into the House of Dragons box.”
Kerrigan wilted. “Clover isn’t a spy. She’s my friend.”
“I don’t think you know the difference.”
“You treat me like I’m still that twelve-year-old girl.”
“No, I don’t,” Helly said. “The twelve-year-old Kerrigan had respect for authority and herself. She got into trouble, but it was all just a game of fun. Not this… rebellion you have fancied yourself in now. It is not representative of the Society.”
“I’m not part of the Society.”
“You are Dragon Blessed. You represent us. You’ve been here nearly your entire life. I know you already know all of this. I just don’t know what has gotten into you.”
Kerrigan clenched her hands into fists. “You have no idea what I’m going through.”
Helly pulled her aside. Her dark eyes were warm with concern. “Then, tell me. Surely, we have known each other long enough for you to know that you can tell me anything. You have so often in the past.”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
Helly raised an eyebrow. “Try me.”
“I’m a half-Fae, Helly. Half. You can’t possibly understand how everyone treats me because of who I am. I can’t tell people about my abilities.” She looked at Helly pointedly. She had been the one after all to tell Kerrigan to hide her visions in the first place. “I can’t show who I truly am. And even if I could, no one would accept me for it. My father is full-blooded Fae. He’s a royal in Bryonica—your tribe—and I’m stuck here because he didn’t want me.”
She was breathing heavily from her outburst. Only Helly would allow her to speak to her like this without reprimand. All Kerrigan saw was pity in her eyes, and sometimes, that was worse.
Kerrigan straightened again. “At least, in the Wastes, no one judges me for these.” She touched her short ears. “I can just be me.”
“I can’t understand that,” Helly said gently. “You’re right. But I do know you. Things are hard now because of the racial tensions among our people. They will get better. I know they will. And things will get easier for you after the Dragon Blessed ceremony.”
