Forbidden Honor (Dragon Royals #1)(58)

Then one day I came incredibly close to actually pinning Branok. He was especially pissed off by the time we transformed back and I’d limped over to the physician. He threw his sword when he’d transformed back, cursing as he looked at the wound in his shoulder. It was shaped like my dragon’s jaws and I smiled even though all my teeth felt loose in my mouth at the moment from his punishing blows.

“That was surprising,” Jaik commented.

“What?” I rasped through bloodied lips.

“You almost put up a fight today.”

“I put up a fight every day, I’m just not usually very successful,” I shot back.

For a second, the two of us stared at each other. To my surprise, Jaik said, “Good work today.”

The words clearly surprised Branok and Lynx. Their faces tightened, and Branok shot Jaik a look of outrage.

Arren glanced between them, then said, “I think Lucian has proven himself enough.”

I’d never expected Arren to say such a thing, and I stared at him, my mouth falling open.

“We should introduce him to the hideout for the order of dragons today,” he said.

I glanced toward Branok and Lynx to see their reaction. But the two of them turned away so I couldn’t see their faces.

“All right,” Jaik said guardedly, “If you think so, Arren,”

“I do,” Arren said, “I think it’s time we took the first steps toward moving on.”

Arren was in my corner. I was shocked. Maybe Calla had been right when she thought he was flirting with me.

I smiled at him, and he stared back at me, stone-faced as ever, as if he weren’t doing me any favors. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings by making it seem as if he wasn’t a total nightmare, because I had a feeling that was an important part of his identity.

“Tonight,” Branok said, “if we’re going to do it, at least let’s get it over with tonight.”

I had my stepmother’s engagement party tonight. But when we visited the Order of Dragons early, I might begin to uncover the answers to some of my questions. That was worth missing a toast or two.

After all, if the elders knew about the prophecy, there had to be more about the prophecy at one of the Order of the Dragon sites. Maybe I could begin to figure out where to look—I’d take any hint. And then hopefully, I could still make it to my stepmother’s stupid party.

It was with a surprisingly light heart that I left the training arena that day.

Maybe things were looking up for Lucien Finn and Honor Hannaby.





Honor



I had to hope I’d be done with whatever antics the dragon royals were up to now in time to get to my stepmother’s house tonight for her engagement party. I’d promised to wear a pretty dress and smile big. She could marry the biggest creep she could find if that made her happy—I only cared that Hanna was still in the house, and Hanna obviously wasn’t dealing very well with Alis’s engagement to Henrick.

The six of us headed down into the tunnels once again. I glanced skeptically at the glowing mold that clung to the ceiling, then down to the damp, smelly water that pooled at our feet. “Who built these, anyway?”

“They’ve been here since before our fathers ruled,” Jaik said.

“Why don’t they seal them up, if the Scourge can get into them too?”

“Damyn said the exits outside the city walls have been sealed again,” Jaik promised, although he looked irritated.

I assumed he was annoyed by me, as usual, but then he added, “The Elders refuse to have the tunnels sealed completely. They claim they’re too useful.”

Branok glanced at me and said, “Your father made extensive use of them before he died.”

I was about to protest before I realized we were talking about Lucien’s father. “So all the nobles know about them?”

“Just the ones closest to the throne.” Talisyn glanced down the opening to each tunnel branch-off as we passed it, his hand resting lightly on the pommel of his sword. No matter how casual he acted, I was pretty damn sure he was on high alert.

“On the plus side, if we have to have the tunnels, at least they give us easy access to our hideouts.” Lynx glanced at me.

Oh, he was talking to me? Wonders would never cease. Maybe we were finally turning a corner.

“Hideouts, plural?” I asked, and Lynx’s face shuttered as the others glared at him.

“I guess we aren’t sharing all our secrets yet,” I said lightly. “Is that where you guys go to stash your treasures or where you go to sleep with girls?”

“A little bit of both,” Talisyn said brightly.

Arren snorted. “There’s only one girl some of you are interested in now. The worst possible one.”

I wasn’t sure if I should be complimented or offended. Maybe both. Arren had a way of making me feel both. I might be their dirty secret, but at least I was special.

We took another turn, and I was hopelessly lost in the tunnels, which twisted left and right, plunged steeply up or sloped down.

Worry squirmed through my stomach. The royals could abandon me here, and it would be hard to find my way out. I stopped, letting them walk ahead of me, as I studied the damp stone walls. There was a low, constant rushing sound—water was moving beyond the stone. We must be near the tunnels that carried fresh water to the city’s homes and businesses.