Page 80 of The Flame King's Queen

“To rider’s first blood, or to concession of defeat? Competitors’ choice,” the Temple Crone asks Stesha and Kane.

“To death,” Kane replies.

I breathe in sharply. I can’t have heard that right.

The Temple Crone frowns at the Alpha. “The Dragon Games is not about—”

“I accept,” Stesha replies calmly.

There’s shocked whispering from the watching crowd. People clutch their white and blue banners tightly. Over Stesha’s shoulder, Nilak unfurls her wings and lowers her head in a silent, threatening hiss.

The Temple Crone draws herself up to her full height. “There have been accidental deaths during the Dragon Games in the past, but riders will not commit murder against each other. This is a celebration, not a war.”

“Nilak and I have no intention of dying today,” Stesha says. “Nor do we crave the deaths of any dragons or their riders. Kane may try and kill me if he wishes, but he will tire before he’s even managed to draw blood.”

Kane thrusts his face close to the dragonmaster’s. “If I get my hands on you, you will plead for me to kill you, you arrogant, mate-stealing, dragon-thieving piece of shit.”

Stesha regards him coldly. “If.”

I turn to my mate. “Can you not call this off? This is insanity.”

Zabriel hesitates. “If it were anyone else, I would. Stesha is the better fighter, and it’s not wise to get between two Alphas who crave a fight.”

When Zabriel does not call things off, the Temple Crone reluctantly says, “Very well. I presume there will be fire-breathing, so you must climb to twice the height of the castle before the battle begins. You must not fly over the city or breathe fire at lower altitudes. If any of these rules are broken, wingrunners will pull you from your mounts and bring you forcibly to the ground. You will not be able to evade the wyverns on dragons the size of yours, so please do not try. If the fight moves to the ground and swords are drawn, the dragons must move back and leave things to the riders. Is that understood?”

The crone is speaking to both Stesha and Kane, but her gaze lingers on the warlock. Both of them nod sharply.

With a purse of her wrinkled lips that tells me she doesn’t approve of any of this, she says, “Riders, mount your dragons.”

Kane stalks over to Auryn. Stesha turns toward Nilak, but then changes his mind and approaches Zabriel. They regard each other in silence, and there’s a lump in my throat as I take in the two men. Stesha is Zabriel’s closest friend. One of the few people in the kingdom that my mate trusts. Esteems. In many ways, still looks up to. The pain will be unbearable for him if he loses Stesha.

Stesha goes down on one knee before Zabriel and speaks loudly so that his voice may carry. “Ma’len. On the slim chance that I don’t make it back alive, it has been an honor to serve alongside you, and then under your command. I am inspired by your leadership.”

“Get up. Don’t call meMa’lenall of a sudden. It sounds like an ill omen.” Zabriel reaches down, clasps Stesha’s forearm, and pulls him to his feet.

In a low voice that I just catch, Stesha says into Zabriel’s ear, “You remember what we swore?”

“I remember. I will always protect her.”

Stesha squeezes Zabriel’s arm, and in that same low voice, he says, “If he will not back down, I will have to kill him.”

Zabriel nods and says softly, “Then you must watch out for Auryn and the sisters. The wingrunners will do what they can to unseat the riders, but if the wild flare catches you and Nilak while they are in a rage, they will rip you apart.” In a louder voice that carries to the crowd, he says, “Don’t speak as if you are about to die. I want my children to grow up alongside yours.”

“I want the same thing.”

“Do you?” The words burst out of my mouth in an exclamation of surprise, prompting laughter all around me.

Stesha flicks a dark glance at me. “I hope not to hear such incredulity from my future mate’s lips, and that she will find me appealing and worthy of the consideration of being my mate, even if that surprises the queen.”

I want to ask if he is speaking generally, or if he has a particular mate in mind. If he kills Kane, will he believe it’s his duty to take Ravenna as his mate? There is no doubt he will take Kane’s dragons. Or if he wins the games, is he finally ready to confess to Zenevieve that he loves her? But that can only happen if he survives. I feel sick to my stomach as I wonder what kind of bloodbath we’re about to witness. A moment ago, I was frustrated that my mate would not be the one to take his chance at winning the games. Now I’m relieved that he’s not going to be the one drawing the fury of the wild flare.

Stesha lets go of Zabriel and then turns to me. Before I know what he’s doing, he goes down before me on one knee.

“Oh, sweet stars above,” I exclaim before I can stop myself. “You’re kneeling to me?”

Stesha regards me sardonically for a moment as if he’s thinking of telling me he’s just as surprised as I am and not to get used to this. But his expression clears, and he says earnestly, “Queen Isavelle, Nilak and I have been honored to fly in your coronation games. We pledge featly to you unto death. We honor you as our queen. We respect you as our fellow dragonrider.” He pauses. “And we respect you as a witch. You and the witch Ravenna saved the king’s life, something none of us will soon forget.”

I hear the surprise in the crowd’s whispers as they hear the dragonmaster speaking highly of two witches. I’m staring at him with my mouth open.

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