Page 42 of The Flame King's Queen

Kane leans down, and with shaking fingers, he snatches Ravenna’s hair ribbon from the ground and stuffs it into a pocket. Then he glares at the rest of us. “Well? Where may I rest? If no one will help me, I’ll find my own quarters for my dragon and for myself.” Kane lurches back to Auryn, his feet dragging on the ground.

How can Kane compete when he looks as though a harsh word will finish him off?

I turn to Zabriel. “Ravenna won’t be safe if Kane remains in the capital with his feral dragon. I thought the games were for our flare only, not for any dragonrider who just turns up. There must be rules against this.”

“There are no rules against this,”Stesha tells us.

Beside me, Zabriel doesn’t look surprised, but my heart plummets. “But, dragonmaster, he’s an enemy dragonrider. These games are just for the flare and our riders, surely.”

Stesha looks as though he’s bitten into a rotten apple. His expression has been that way ever since he arrived at the dragongrounds, drawn here by Nilak’s indignant screams. She hasn’t let up her furious alarm calls since she laid eyes on Auryn, and for once, Nilak and I are in complete agreement. I’m half tempted to join in her shrieking.

“I wish I could say you were right, Lady Isavelle. The rules are very clear. All dragonriders who can demonstrate a strong bond with their dragon are allowed to compete. Kane rides Auryn back and forth across the country. His bond is strong. It doesn’t matter how we feel about Kane, but in Maledin, there are no enemy dragons.”

“Then can we change the rules?” I ask.

“That’s a question for the king.”

I look hopefully at Zabriel.

He reaches for my hand, and I slip mine into his and hold on tight. “Sha’lenla, technically I can do anything I want, but I don’t think that’s the kind of king you want me to be.” He winces as Nilak throws her head back and screams louder than ever. “Stesha, all my thanks to Nilak for alerting us to danger, but I believe we’re alert enough already.”

Stesha flashes him a look of irritation, but a moment later, Nilak’s screams fade away.

“He can’t be called an enemy after bringing down the southern barrier for us,” Zabriel says. “As long as he doesn’t cause harm or trouble, I believe Kane must be allowed to compete. What do you think, dragonmaster?”

“I don’t care if Kane stays or goes. I care if his dragon murders our fledglings.”

Anxiety seizes my heart. Some of the flare are caring for young dragons. Esmeral could have hatchlings any day now.

On the far side of the dragongrounds, the enormous yellow dragon crouches on the ground, smoke pluming from his nostrils, and his slit black eyes are trained upon our flare.

16

Zabriel

Imake sure that Isavelle is safely inside the castle, and then I return to the dragongrounds. All the dragons are restless. Scourge and Nilak have positioned themselves at the center of the vast, dusty expanse, with the flare crowded behind them. Esmeral keeps moving forward to join her mate’s side, but Scourge noses her back. He wants to protect her, but the little dragon is furious at the sight of the enormous yellow dragon that she and Isavelle only just prevented from murdering fledglings. Auryn is at the other end of the dragongrounds with his rider, jaws parted and wings unfurled in a threatening manner.

Stesha joins my side. “We are speaking with Kane?”

I nod in assent, and we both pass our dragons and head for Kane and Auryn. Scourge wishes to follow me, and doubtlessly Nilak wishes to protect her rider as well, but I mentally push back against my dragon’s impulse and he remains in place. I’m not interested in having a teeth-baring contest with Kane and his unpredictable dragon. We will try to resolve this peacefully first.

The dirty-blond-haired Alpha is slouched on a rock with his head between his knees, looking like he’s trying not to faint or vomit. When he hears us coming, he raises his head and hauls himself to his feet. He effects nonchalance, but he’s clenching his fists to prevent his hands from trembling.

I want to get this over with as quickly as possible, and I’m not in the mood to entertain any of Kane’s games. Stesha and I join Kane in Auryn’s shadow, and I say, “Ravenna has made her intentions to stay in Lenhale clear, and we aren’t going to hand her over to you.”

“I told you why I’m here. I heard there are to be Dragon Games. Auryn and I brought the southern barrier down for you, but have you already forgotten that we’re all allies now?”

I haven’t forgotten how provocatively he flew his dragon over the flare as if he was going to deluge us all with dragonfire before bringing the barrier down.

“We were grateful for your assistance, but allies send letters before their arrival.”

“Allies extend invitations to important events like the Dragon Games,” Kane snarls. “Yours aren’t the only dragons in Maledin. My flare will be acknowledged. Auryn and I are here to prove ourselves.”

“And how do you intend to do that?” Stesha asks, his words laced with scorn.

“By winning.”

I admire Kane’s nerve, standing before us sweating and trembling, and yet still proclaiming that he will win the Dragon Games. “And when you don’t win, will you and your dragon lose your ill-controlled tempers and cause injury and death to my people and dragons?”

---