Page 41 of The Flame King's Queen

After he kisses me, he says to Captain Ashton and my bodyguards, “You may go off duty now. I’ll see that Isavelle and Ravenna get safely back inside the castle.”

Ravenna pulls a loose ribbon from her hair and finger-combs her curls, which have been blown around during our journey. She smiles and waves to my bodyguards. “Thank you for your escort.”

“Thank you,Ma’len. It was our pleasure, Miss Ravenna,” Fiala and Dusan reply with courteous bows and fly off in the direction of the eyrie.

We don’t need his escort any longer, but Captain Ashton lingers a short distance away, fiddling with his mount’s saddle.

We’re about to head across the bridge to the castle when several dragons lift their heads and stare at the skies. Zabriel and I turn to look with them, but dragons have much better eyesight than we do and it takes a moment for us to see what they’re staring at. It’s a large dragon, approaching from the east.

A large, yellow dragon.

Nilak screams in outrage, and Scourge bellows a warning.

“Not again,” Zabriel growls, and runs for his dragon.

I grasp Ravenna’s hand and pull her behind Esmeral, who has her wings spread and her head low in a threatening hiss. She wants to fight Auryn, but we need to get Ravenna out of here before Kane can grab her.

Instead of flying over the dragongrounds to attack the dragons, Auryn lands.

I tug Ravenna’s sleeve. “Quickly, let’s get on Esmeral and get you out of here.”

Captain Ashton has run to her other side. “Miss Ravenna, I’ll make sure you’re safe from him. Come with me.”

But Ravenna pulls away from both of us and takes a few steps forward, curiously watching her mate as he dismounts his dragon.

Kane’s knees buckle, and he staggers as he hits the ground, but he manages to stay on his feet. As he turns and makes his way toward us, his gait is slow and labored, as though it’s taking all his strength to put one foot in front of the other.

The hair ribbon Ravenna is holding is caught by the wind and drops from her fingers.

Zabriel has dismounted Scourge and returned to our side. He takes a deep breath. “He’s sick. He’s no threat.”

There are beads of sweat on Kane’s brow. His eyes are bloodshot and hollow, his cheeks are gaunt, and his skin is an unhealthy shade of yellow. He staggers over to Ravenna, and in a rasping snarl, he says, “You should have used more poison if you wanted to kill me.”

Ravenna draws herself up to her full height, which isn’t much when facing an Alpha as large as Kane. She barely reaches the middle of his chest. “Maybe I wanted you to suffer.”

They hold each other’s gazes. I feel my mate tense, ready to lunge for the other Alpha if he attacks Ravenna.

But Kane doesn’t attack. Sweat rolls down his cheeks and his clenched fists tremble. He seems barely strong enough to form another sentence, let alone remain standing.

“Go back to your flare, Kane. I don’t want you here,” she tells him.

“Who says I’m here for you, witch?”

Zabriel steps forward, his arms folded. “Your mate will return to you if she wants you. Go back to your flare.”

“I’m not leaving.” Kane glances around and sees Captain Ashton, who’s staring at Kane with a mixture of horror and dislike. “You. Show me where the competitors are staying and where my dragon may rest away from the king’s flare.”

Ashton’s eyes narrow in anger.

“Competitors? You’re not thinking of competing in the Dragon Games?” I say to Kane.

“Of course I am. Auryn and I are going to win everything.” He blinks hard and sways on his feet.

Ravenna’s fingers flex like she longs to cast a spell. “I said I don’t want you here, Kane.”

“And I said I’m not here for you. Auryn and I are here to win.”

“Then be careful what you eat and drink, or you will find yourself turning inside out from vomiting a second time.” Ravenna whirls around and stalks away from him, her cheeks reddened with anger.

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