Page 105 of House of Ashes

“What can we do to change your mind?” he asked. “I will not break my mate bond to Serafina, but I will protect you when Yura comes for you. I will give you gifts from our vault. What would it take, Chantrelle? Or would you rather burn for the sake of your pride?”

She licked her lips, straightened her shoulders, and only then did I see that her hands were trembling.

Not with fear…but with pure rage. The hate in her eyes burned as hot as a dragon’s flames as she looked up at him.

“You’ve already failed all of my expectations, boy,” she said, full of quiet venom. “That was your last chance. I offered you everything and you spat in my face. There is nothing you could give me now that would make me change my mind.”

She swept past him, bumping him with one bony shoulder. The draga seemed about to do the same to me—but at the last moment she veered away, barely avoiding contact. Perhaps she feared Rhylan would retaliate in kind.

Maristela gazed after her with a helpless look on her face, and Elinor’s expression was stony, but unsurprised.

An icy coldness had settled in my gut.

This was the meeting that had mattered the most. Without the Shadowed Stars backing us, Tyria would see no security in joining us, in risking the lives of her entire family.

Our first diplomatic mission to secure our Court’s future was an utter failure.

Chapter

Twenty-Three

Despite Chantrelle’s uncouth exit, we clearly weren’t to be unceremoniously expelled from Kirion Eyrie.

Maristela took my elbow, keeping her voice low as she leaned in. “Stay the night. Talk with us. I know she…she is what she is, but not all of us feel the same.”

I tried to gather my thoughts, somehow both unsurprised at Chantrelle’s vitriol, and yet taken aback at what she had said to me.

I’d gone into this knowing that no matter what I did, the taint of my House’s shame would stick to me for a while…and might never wash off. Regardless of my mother’s guilt or innocence, she had gotten me into this mess, and now many highborn dragonbloods would have good cause to look down on me.

I also knew that it wasn’t really me she despised…she would hate anyone Rhylan had chosen who wasn’t Maristela. But knowing that didn’t soothe the sting.

I might always be considered the spawn of a murderer. Always be considered filth despite my innocence.

And she had known precisely where to hit me, in the tender spot that would make me question myself.

Was I a worthy Dragonesse? Or a haughty pretender, trying to reclaim what had long since ceased to be mine?

If Rhylan had mate bonded with Maristela, no one would have hesitated to join their Court…the might of Shadowed Stars and the ancient blood of Obsidian Flame would have crushed Yura’s claim on the Circle before she even realized she had lost…

Oh, gods. I was the one holding Rhylan back. He could have had his revenge for his sister, if only he had made a different choice.

Rhylan’s arm suddenly descended around my shoulders. “We’d love to stay,” he said warmly, pulling me to his chest. “I’d like a moment alone with my mate, please.”

I looked up at him, startled, and as Maristela walked away, he leaned in close.

“Brooding again, hmm? It’s that look you get,” he murmured. “This one.”

He pulled the hideous face, crossing his eyes and flaring his nostrils.

“I swear to the gods, Rhylan—”

His expression grew serious. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop thinking it now. Even if I could turn back time, I wouldn’t have mate bonded with Maristela. There is no one in Akalla—or in the Wildlands, or the Western Shore, or the Scar of the damn World, if you want to be cheeky about it—that I would rather be making this gamble with than you. So don’t listen to a damn word she says, because none of it is true.” He brushed his fingers along my cheek. “I was there with you then. I’m here with you now. Do you hear me?”

I nodded, rendered mute by his touch, held completely by his eyes.

Rhylan leaned in, lips just brushing my ear. A shiver of anticipation ran down my spine.

“Besides, she’s a damn liar, because you smell fucking delicious, and I’d eat you up right now…” He nipped my lobe, drawing a gasp. “But I think I’ll make you wait for it.”