House of Dragons (Royal Houses 1)

“A council meeting will be held to decide that,” Lorian said. “She doesn’t qualify. She has no tribe, and we have never had a half-Fae.”

“You never had a human before either, and you let two compete last time,” Audria shot back.

“And look at how that turned out,” Lorian snapped.

“Just because there are a few loud bigots doesn’t mean that we should go backward! We must stay the course or else people will think that all they have to do is cause enough fuss and we’ll take away other people’s rights. That is not the Kinkadia that I know and love. And I won’t stand by and let you use your prejudice against her.”

Kerrigan wanted to duck out of sight. She’d never had someone like Audria, who was so full of privilege, so very Bryonican royalty, stand up for her… to completely defend her. She barely even knew her.

Lorian opened his mouth to object again, but Audria barreled forward.

“And on the second account, my mother and I have agreed to select Kerrigan into Bryonica under the House of Drame.”

Kerrigan’s stomach flopped. Even though she had known Audria was going to do this, everything had changed. Before she had been running away from the people who had abandoned her. Now, she had just faced March and realized it was the very last place that she wanted to be. But she couldn’t say no. Not when her entry to the Society was on the line.

More applause from the crowd revealed a bright red dragon on the horizon.

Netta, Tieran said.

Netta was such a good flyer. She took tight corners and swirled through circles better than any other dragon Kerrigan had flown with. She and Kerrigan had always gotten along because they were both mischievous. Truthfully, she’d hoped to have Netta for herself. But when Netta landed, she couldn’t be happier to see Fordham drop from her back right next to her and Audria.

“Congratulations, Fordham,” Bastian said, holding his hand out.

Layla looked irritated but not as much as she had been with Kerrigan. “You’ve earned your spot.”

The implication was clear: Kerrigan hadn’t.

Fordham shook hands and then pressed through the crowd that had formed between them and to Kerrigan’s side. “You did it. I can’t believe it, but you did.”

Audria huffed, “We’re still working on that.”

“What’s going on?” Fordham asked.

“Lorian wants to hold a council meeting. He doesn’t think Kerrigan qualifies. Even though I just told him that Kerrigan is now a member of Bryonica.”

“She is?” Fordham asked in alarm.

“Yes, she is. So, she qualifies,” Audria said defiantly.

Lorian ignored her as he held conference with the adjudicators and Helly. More and more Society members were stepping onto the sand to meet the new members and their dragons and were getting sucked into the debate about Kerrigan.

Fordham tugged on her arm to draw her aside. “I thought you didn’t want to go back to Bryonica.”

“I don’t,” she admitted solemnly.

“Then don’t.”

“What other choice do I have?” she demanded. “Lorian doesn’t want to let me in. He’s only considering it with the other Society members right now because Audria stuck her neck out for me and said that I was Bryonican. If I don’t have tribe backing, there’s no way he’s going to allow it. He’d send Tieran back before letting a half-Fae with no tribe enter his Society.”

“That’s ridiculous. There has to be another way to fix this.”

“I don’t see one, and I’m queen of finding another way out of things. But I don’t think there is here.” She swallowed hard. “And worse yet, my fear in the faerie illusion was returning to Bryonica. I don’t want to do it, but I’ve faced it once. I can do it again.”

“This isn’t another test, Kerrigan. This is your life. Forever.”

“I know,” she snapped. “Find me another way because I just don’t see it.”

Fordham sighed and released her as she brushed past him. Noda and Roake landed next in the arena, releasing the adjudicators to give their round of congratulations. Festivities would begin soon, starting with a parade for the winners of the tournament. But Lorian was still busy arguing his case to the rest of the Society members present.

Finally, it seemed that something had been settled. Lorian strode to where she stood with Fordham and Audria behind her. Helly and Bastian followed him close behind.

“We have come to an agreement,” he said bitterly. “If you have the backing of tribe Bryonica and can show proof of your testing and entrance into the tournament, then the council will convene to determine your fate.”

Kerrigan wasn’t relieved by that ruling, but it was better than nothing. At least she could argue. She was good at that. She had no other choice about Bryonica. “I accept.”

Audria jumped up and down. “Yes! I’m so excited.”

“Wait,” Fordham snapped from her right.

She looked at him in confusion. “What?”