House of Dragons (Royal Houses 1)

She sighed and knocked. Nothing happened. She waited before knocking a second time.

“Fordham,” she called. “It’s Kerrigan. I’m assigned to help you.”

The door next to Fordham’s opened then, and a woman peeked her head out. Kerrigan froze in place. Her skin heated, and she was sure her cheeks turned pink. She had wondered if she would know someone. She hadn’t suspected it would be Audria Ather, Third of the House of Drame.

Kerrigan hoped to the gods that Audria didn’t remember her from when they had played as kids in Bryonican castles.

“Hello,” Audria said with an easy smile on her pink-painted lips.

“Hi,” she squeaked.

“I believe Fordham left for training this morning.”

“Th-thank you.”

Audria tilted her head, her blonde hair swishing around her shoulders. Her bright blue eyes narrowed. “You look familiar. Have we met?”

Kerrigan shook her head and remembered to curtsy. “No. I’m a Dragon Blessed. I was assigned to Fordham by Mistress Hellina.”

“Oh, I adore Helly. I wish she were administering the tournament this year.”

Kerrigan swallowed. “I… should be going.”

“Of course. Of course. I saw a few other people scurrying around. Everyone thinks he’s so terrifying, but he just looks like a man to me.” Audria shrugged. A smile alighting her features. “Good luck!”

She nodded and then hastened away from Audria Ather. Another ghost of her past come out to play.

Kerrigan found Fordham exactly where Audria had suggested he would be. He was in the training room, holding a hefty sword in his left hand. He still wore finery, even in training. His black cloak had been discarded on a bench, but his sleek clothing clung to him, exposing powerful thighs and thick biceps.

She swallowed and tried not to think about how attractive he was.

Fordham was stepping easily through his paces. Like he had been sword fighting his entire life. He moved with grace and elegance. A prince he certainly was.

She waited until he finished his last round of movements before striding across the practice room. “Good morning, Fordham.”

He whirled his practice sword toward her, placing it under her chin. She stilled but showed no fear. He didn’t move. She watched something recede from his gray eyes.

“What do you want?”

“A good morning would suffice.”

He tipped her chin up, and she felt the steel just barely pierce her skin. “What do you want?”

“As I mentioned, I’ve been assigned to you. Since everyone else thinks you’re some terrifying monster, I was the person put in charge of your well-being. Lucky me,” she spat.

“You don’t think I’m a terrifying monster?”

“I think you’re an arrogant, overconfident princeling who could deign to learn some manners.” She swatted the blade aside. “We don’t point these things at other people.”

“Don’t call me a princeling.” He sheathed the sword.

“Fine. An arrogant, overconfident jerk.”

His eyes narrowed. “You have a mouth on you.”

“I’ve been told that a few times, yes.”

“I don’t need anyone to be in charge of my well-being. Definitely not you,” he sneered.

Kerrigan gritted her teeth. “Well, too bad. That’s what I’m here for.”

Fordham shrugged as if unimpressed and then began to walk through another set of forms. She didn’t recognize these. They were different from the sword training she’d received. She preferred hand-to-hand combat and magical training. Both served her better in the Dragon Ring anyway.

Kerrigan stepped off to the side and watched. If he needed something, well, she was here. That was her duty.

It was another hour before he stalked out of the ring, grabbing a jug of water on the way out. He said not one word to her, but she followed him all the same. He walked straight into his room, and before she could even think to ask him a question, he slammed the door in her face. Gods, he was stubborn.

Kerrigan swore under her breath. He wasn’t going to change his mind today. She’d go and do her cleanup with the dragons. Maybe tomorrow he’d want her help.

* * *

He didn’t want her help.

Not the next day or the one after that. Or any of the days up to the ceremony.

She was so frustrated with his behavior that on the last day, she decided not to go see him at all. Helly was forcing them together to see if something from her vision came of it. But she didn’t particularly enjoy being treated like an idiot or received taunts about being a stupid half-Fae. He was doing just fine on his own as far as she was concerned.

So what if the servants avoided him? Maybe he’d earned it for being such an ass.

Mistress Moran had given her the last day off her punishment. No more cleaning out muck for her. Not when most of the Dragon Blessed were spending the day getting pampered for the ceremony tonight.

Kerrigan’s stomach twisted. Tonight was the night. The night she’d join a tribe, and her real life would begin. No more helping to raise the dragons or prodding tutors or etiquette lessons. No more flying.