House of Dragons (Royal Houses #1) - K.A. Linde Page 0,99
down her back. How was it that she had only known him for a few weeks, and already, he saw straight through her like no one else in the world?
“Yes,” she breathed, turning to look at him. “But isn’t that life?”
“Where I come from… yes,” he said softly. “Here though? I don’t think everyone else is afraid all the time.”
“Everyone else isn’t a half-Fae who was abandoned when they were a child and has had to fight for their place in this world every day of their life.”
Fordham just watched her. He didn’t say anything. Didn’t try to soothe her. He saw exactly who she was down to, and accepted that.
Kerrigan swallowed and kept moving until they came before the plum-purple dragon she had been looking for. “Tavry,” she whispered.
A golden eye opened. Kerrigan, this is most unexpected. His eye swiveled to Fordham. Prince Fordham Ollivier of the House of Shadows, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.
Fordham bowed deeply at the waist. “As it is to make yours, great one.”
Tavry looked back to Kerrigan. I like this one.
Kerrigan laughed. “So do I.”
I assume you did not disturb my sleep just to introduce me to the prince of the Dark Depths. What is it that you require?
The dark depths. Well, that was different. She wondered what it meant as Fordham stiffened at the words.
“I received a letter from Ellerby of Elsiande, and I am in deep need of a way to get to Archdale as fast as I can.”
Tavry looked startled. What is the purpose of this visit?
She swallowed and persevered. She decided to go with the truth. Anything else, and Tavry would be able to see right through it. “I have been investigating a murder, and I believe that Ellerby has important information to prove what truly happened to Lyam.” She rubbed Lyam’s compass in her pocket. “I have been following the leads. I was almost killed twice. Whoever did this is going to great lengths to make sure they are not discovered. I will see justice for Lyam.”
Is this true? Tavry’s eye fixed on Fordham.
He nodded. “Yes, great one. I have been assisting her in these matters, and Ellerby is our last hope to rooting out a murderer in our midst.”
Tavry closed his eye, and Kerrigan thought they were done for. Then, Tavry straightened to his considerable height. His wings crested as he lengthened his figure.
We must be back by dawn, Tavry told them.
Kerrigan calculated the time they had left as she dragged her cloak tightly around her. “It’s a three-hour flight on a good day. That will give us hardly any time to find and speak with Ellerby.”
Then, we must hurry, child.
Kerrigan ground her teeth and nodded. By dawn. Gods, was that even possible?
She decided not to think about it until they were on their way home. Right now, she knew she was doing the right thing. Rules be damned.
She climbed onto Tavry’s back and watched Fordham assess how she’d gotten onto the dragon before making his own ascent. He took a seat directly behind her.
“This is your first time. You should hold on tight,” she told Fordham.
“To what?”
“Me.”
Fordham’s hands came to her waist gently at first then as Tavry rose to his full height, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her flush against him. She tried to tamp down the shivers that spread through her body at this touch.
Prepare yourself, Tavry told them.
Tavry reached the edge of the entrance to the dragon cavern. His wings fluttered open. She felt the softest touch of their minds all connecting as one before he flew out of the cave and plummeted toward the ground. Fordham’s arms around her waist crushed her ribs and lungs. She pulled him forward with her, flattening them to Tavry’s back as they all held on for dear life.
A gasp of excitement and exhilaration traveled through her. As they leveled out, tears streamed from her eyes from the wind, and she laughed uncontrollably. Her arms came out to her sides, even as Fordham held her so securely. This was life. Fordham had been right. She was so afraid of everything in her life. But flying? Never flying. This was the real joy she felt in the world. This was what she had been made for. If only she had been born a full Fae, she might have had this life.
That thought sobered her, and she forced Fordham’s arms to loosen. “Open your eyes. Look.”