Page 59 of A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash

So why had they come now? Perhaps they saw this marriage as the beginning of something new. Perhaps, for the first time since the war, they believed peace could be achieved.

Alina’s breath caught as the first of thehorses entered the arena.

They were unlike anything she had ever seen—massive, their muscular forms sleek and powerful, each one gleaming in a different colour, as if forged from elements of the sky itself.

Then came the riders.

House of Wings moved as a single unit, each warrior distinct yet unified. No two valkyrians looked the same—every shade of skin, every texture and colour of hair was represented among them—but they all shared a single mark of their people. White ink, swirling like ancient constellations, covered their bodies in intricate patterns, symbols traced upon their skin from the moment of rebirth. Even their faces bore these markings, whispers of a language Alina could not begin to decipher.

And then came the princess.

She was the last to enter, her presence undeniable. Her wild curls framed a face of sharp beauty, the white markings across her skin stark against her warm complexion. She carried herself with the grace of a ruler, her back straight, her hands steady as she guided her steed into place.

The valkyrians arranged themselves in a perfect line, their horses stamping the dry earth in steady rhythm. They faced the drakonian king, unwavering, unshaken.

Alina leaned forward, heart hammering.

Then, without hesitation, the princess stood atop her horse’s back.

With a single, soft click of her tongue, the creature obeyed, its powerful muscles coiling beneath her as it unfurled its massive wings. The sheer size of them stole Alina’s breath away.

She was no stranger to flight. She had spent her life surrounded by dragons, had grown up in a kingdom where the sky belonged to them. And yet, as the horse began to move, galloping in a wide circle around the arena, its wings unfurlingto catch the air, a gasp escaped her lips.

It was a different kind of flight—wild and unrestrained. The princess rode without saddle or reins, her fingers tangled only in the thick, untamed strands of the beast’s mane. And then, with a final push, the horse took to the sky.

The arena erupted in applause.

Alina barely noticed.

Her eyes remained locked on the figure soaring above, on the way the princess maneuvered effortlessly, as though born to the wind. Would it feel different, she wondered, to fly upon a horse rather than a dragon?

As a child, she had whispered prayers to the Sun God, begging him to take her away—to steal her from this place, to carry her across the sea to the island in the sky. But the years had passed, and her prayers had gone unanswered.

Eventually, she had stopped pleading.

‘Want to see a trick?’

The voice was close—too close.

Alina started, nearly jolting in her seat. She had been so mesmerised by the valkyrians that she had failed to notice Kai Blackburn moving behind her. He had leaned in, his breath brushing the shell of her ear. If she turned even slightly, their lips would be nearly touching.

Heat crept up her neck.

‘Do not even think about it,’ Haven warned, her voice flat.

Alina flicked her gaze between them, curious.

‘What trick?’ she asked.

Kai’s dark eyes glinted with something undeniably mischievous.

‘My horse is faster,’ he whispered.

‘Kai, do not—’ Haven’s warning was lost in the chaos that followed. Before Alina could react, Kai had bolted forward.

And then—he jumped.

Alina’s breath caught in her throat. Instinct took over, her arm darting out as if she could somehow stop him. But it was too late. She shot to her feet, rushing to the edge of the balcony, bracing herself for what she might see below.

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