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Corinna put her hand on her shoulder. “Bravo.”
Fordham stepped up to her side and then Audria, surprisingly followed by Roake and Noda. They might have argued against her in the cave, but they were one now. She could feel Tieran’s presence heavy behind her. And she no longer felt alone.
“We still need to convene a council meeting to discuss this,” Lorian grumbled.
“I believe we have a majority present,” Helly said with a coy smile.
“That is not decorum.”
“Neither are the circumstances,” Bastian said, striding to Helly’s side. “I call for a vote on the matter of Kerrigan’s entrance into the Society.”
“All in favor?” Helly said.
Kerrigan’s heart caught in her throat as she counted the hands raised in the air. Half. It was at least half. She kept counting—nine, ten, eleven, twelve. Oh gods! Almost everyone.
“Those opposed?” Helly called out.
Lorian shot his hand up, and four others slowly raised their hands as well. Kerrigan memorized their faces. The council members—Masters Roldan and Dowde and Mistresses Freya and Kopeli—who, for whatever reason, wanted to deny her her future. She wouldn’t forget a single one.
“The motion is passed,” Bastian commanded. “Kerrigan is our fifth champion.”
More applause rang out, and the council joined in with it.
“You all have two weeks off before Society training commences. Go home and visit your family. When you return, a year of training will begin.”
Kerrigan looked to the other four people who would be in her training class. They were all from such different worlds, but for the next year, Fordham, Audria, Roake, and Noda would be her constant companions.
“Take a moment, and then the parade will begin,” Bastian announced. “Five years ago, we didn’t have it, but this year, I believe we have cause to celebrate our victors.”
Helly stepped forward, pulling Kerrigan into a hug. “My dear girl, I’m so proud of you.”
“I thought you might be mad.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t choose Bryonica.”
Helly sighed. “I am disappointed. As I wanted you to be a part of my tribe, but that is solely selfishness. I know how you feel about it. I just hope that you made the right choice.”
So did she.
Helly released her as Darby, Hadrian, and Clover rushed to her side. Darby grabbed her around the middle, and Hadrian joined in on the hug. He even opened his arm up to leave room for Clover.
“Not interested, sweetheart,” Clover teased.
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Get in here, Clove.”
She arched an eyebrow. “So demanding.”
But she stepped in and joined the hug. All four of them teetering back and forth with excitement. When they finally released Kerrigan, they all beamed with pride.
“You’re really a Society member,” Darby gushed.
“It’s what you always wanted,” Hadrian said.
She flushed. “It is. It just never felt attainable.”
“Look at you, going around and changing the world,” Clover joked.
“I meant what I said about the Dregs.”
Clover nodded, reaching instinctively for another smoke. “I know. It’s a step.”
“We’ll get there together.”
“Nice to have someone on the inside at least.”
Kerrigan laughed. “Not sure how much sway I’ll have, but it’s a life appointment. I’ll spend my life working on it.”
“All right. Competitors, line up,” Layla yelled, corralling them into position with their dragons.
Kerrigan took up the rear of the line with Tieran at her side. She placed her hand on his flank. “Thank you for your help in the fight. We make a good team.”
We’ll see about that. I’ve heard about this year of training, Kerrigan. I don’t know if we’ll be able to hack it without the bond.
“But no one will know about that,” she said, lowering her voice as they stepped through the arena entrance and out to the parade route.
Hundreds of people lined the street and threw yellow lilies—the flower of Kinkadia—in their path.
Someone might find out if we’re not coordinated.
“Then, we’ll practice.”
He looked unconvinced. I’m afraid the easy part is behind us.
Kerrigan gulped. “We’ll figure it out. I got in, didn’t I?”
Luck.
She snorted. “As pleasant as ever, Tieran.”
We’re going to get caught.
“No, we won’t.”
And when we do, what will we tell them? That we thought we could make do without the bond? The binding has been in place for dragon riders for ten thousand years.
She groaned. “What would you rather do? Tell them? We both agreed that wasn’t possible.”
No, we can’t tell them.
“Then, we’ll figure it out.”
I am not optimistic.
“What else is new?” Kerrigan asked, waving her hand at the crowd and beaming as she tried to ignore the fear at the pit of her stomach.
If they find out, they won’t just tear us apart, they’ll kick you out of the Society. You’ll be adrift, an outcast. And I… I’ll have to return to Holy Mountain. A shiver seemed to run through him. “I never want to go back there.”
Kerrigan glanced over at him, concerned. “What happened in Holy Mountain?”
Nothing, he snapped.
Kerrigan frowned. She didn’t believe him, but he seemed set on not telling her. She plastered the smile back on her face and continued down the parade route. Tried to revel in the joy of winning something she’d never believed she could compete for. Tried to imagine that all of this fanfare was really for her.
