Page 116 of Of Masks and Fury

A shadow swooped over us, huge wings beating the air, creating gusts that sent flower petals swirling like pink snow. The remaining guests screamed as Lakast descended, his scales gleaming in the morning sun.

The dragon landed in the center of the garden, knocking over chairs and flower festooned poles. Decorative arrangements exploded into fragments. Silk ribbons tore free and whipped through the air.

The elder, wiser than he’d looked, had left already.

Lord Alfred raced away, his formal robes tangling around his legs, tripping him.

Father dove for cover behind an overturned chair, his crown tumbling from his head.

Nobles ran in every direction. Guards shouted conflicting orders.

“I had a plan for him,” I grumbled, eyeing Alfred’s retreating form.

“Did you now?” Trew’s attention stayed on the guards, but amusement threaded through his voice.

“Nothing kind.”

“Tell me later. I want details.”

“If we survive this, I’ll give you a demonstration.”

His grin flashed. “I cannot wait.”

We raced toward Lakast, Pherin and Gavelle stomping in behind to cover our backs.

When Trew reached the dragon’s side, he paused, looking down at me. “Can you climb?”

“Nothing is going to stop me.” I grabbed the ridge on Lakast’s foreleg and hauled myself up with the same determination that had gotten me to Syllavar. My arms burned, and the shortened dress caught on scales, but I didn’t slow.

When I reached the back, I settled between spine ridges and offered Trew my hand. “Do you need help, Your Majesty? I’d like to leave before they rally the archers.”

Trew’s grin flashed as he climbed up and took my hand to settle behind me. “You’re bossy.”

“You love it.”

“Desperately.”

Another shadow passed overhead.

Kyreth soared by, Lexie’s wild grin visible even from a distance. Derren sat behind her, and Kerralyn clung to his back, all three of them laughing like people who’d just pulled off the greatest heist in history.

“After them!” My father had recovered, and was flinging his arms around, shouting orders. “Shoot them down!”

He should’ve ordered archers for the ceremony, not endless pink flowers and ribbons, because the guards could only lift their swords and thrust them into the air. None came close to the dragon, and with smoke and sparks coiling from Lakast’s nostrils, who could blame them?

“Do you need anything here before we depart, love?” Trew asked in a surprisingly calm voice by my ear.

“Everything I need is both sitting behind me and riding dragons.”

But even as I said it, my mind was already racing ahead. “My father will call for a rescue mission, framing you as my kidnapper. We’ll need to secure the border passes before he can move his full army south.”

Trew’s chest rumbled with approval against my back. “Already planning our defense?”

“Someone has to.”

“That’s my Minx.” He curled forward and kissed my cheek.

Lakast launched into the sky with powerful beats of his wings. The ground fell away beneath us as we climbed, the wind whipping pins from my hair and scattering the overly curled tresses.