Page 29 of Lady Dragon
“You’re welcome,” Samansa said breathlessly.
And then she picked up her skirts and ran, returning to the safety of the guards’ circle—even if it was only a false sense of safety she found therein. They held up swords and shields, creating a wall with their bodies, but now she was certain.
There was only one who could truly protect her. And it wasn’t anyone human.
She watched the beautiful dragon prowl around the other’s corpse, hissing and growling, making sure the creature was dead.
Once more, Kirek had saved her life—three, four times now? And yet, Samansa had saved her in turn, if only byriskingher own life to serve as a distraction, and even if the dragon girl wouldn’t thank her for it.
That had to count for something. And yet the princess knew, with a sinking feeling as her eyes slid along those metallic purple-gray scales as if bewitched, that she could never repay such a debt.
How could she ever be worthy of one such as her?
The dragon’s chest suddenly flared a purple so brilliant that Samansa had to shield her eyes, leaving behind only the huge creature’s outline after the light receded—and a human-looking girl standing in her place.
Afurious-looking girl with blood all over her mouth. At least Kirek was wearing her usual leathers instead of striding toward Samansa naked. She was even still armed. The Heartstone must deem clothes or armor as vital as scales, and swords and daggers as advantageous as claws and fangs.
Samansa gritted her teeth against the oncoming storm and gave her a little wave.
8
KIREK
“You fool!” Kirek thundered, marching right up to the fool-headed fool of a princess now that she had human-shaped legs beneath her again. Kirek’s chest burned hot around both the Heartstone and her fury. “Do you know how easily you could have gotten yourself killed? I had the situation well in hand—er,claw.” She shook out her hand in irritation, missing her claws already.
“Didn’t look like it to me,” Samansa muttered mutinously, folding her arms defensively across her chest. “It looked like you neededhelp. Or at least a distraction.” Her gown was streaked with ash and dirt, her red hair a wild tangle, and there were scratches on her face that must have come from flying debris. But at least she wasn’t dead, or burnt to a crispanddead, much to Kirek’s relief.
She lookedproud, and that made Kirek feel a little burst of pride for her, too, despite herself.
Until the princess added, “You’re not the only one allowed to put herself at risk.”
“Yes, I am, because the risk involved for me is far less than it is for you!” Kirek hissed through her teeth. The guardswere eyeing her warily, but at leasttheyweren’t fool enough to approach an angry dragon, human-shaped or not.
It wasn’t only the princess’s actions that stoked the fire of her anger, but rather the actions of her own kind. And yet, Kirek wouldn’t betray that to a human.
“I’m notuseless,” Samansa hissed back, heat sparking in her own amber gaze. “At least not so much as everyone seems to think I am.”
No, she wasn’t useless, and she had actually given Kirek a significant advantage with her distraction, but the risk had still been too great. The last thing Kirek wanted to do was encourage such reckless behavior.
So she spat, “You might as well be useless, your effect is so negligible.”
Kirek immediately regretted the words when Samansa drew back as if slapped, any fire in her eyes drowned by tears as she blinked in shock.
“I didn’t mean—it’s not worth—” Kirek stammered, wishing she could take back the hurt she’d caused, and yet unsure how.
“I’m not worth much to you, I know. I’mbeneathyou.” Samansa’s voice was choked. “Not worth the space I take up in the field of battle, not worth carrying in flight—”
“I’m going to carry you,” Kirek said abruptly, cutting her off.
For a moment, Samansa was caught with her mouth agape, which would have been an amusing sight under other circumstances. “What?”
Kirek hoped she wouldn’t regretthis. Her pride could take it. And she did owe the princess a debt, after all, especially after insulting her honor.
“I’m going to carry you,” Kirek repeated. “Home. Rightnow. And if you ever breathe a word of it to another dragon, I’ll swallow you whole so no one can ever hear from you again.” When Samansa’s face went ashen, Kirek rolled her eyes. “It was ajest,” she snapped at both the princess and the guards, who were apparently more alarmed by the dragon girl now that she’d voiced a threat to the princess, their hands flexing on their weapons. “It’s not as if you regularly converse with dragons. Anyway, however dangerous the castle is, I think this proves it’s better than out here. And with any luck, they’ll have caught the next assassin by now. We’ve been gone days—by slow carriage. Flying is both the safest and the fastest way back.”
And I must get back, Kirek thought furiously to herself.I must know if my mother was behind this.
“Your Highness, need I remind you that adragonjust attacked you,” one of the guards said, his hand not leaving his sword.
