Page 65

For a heartbeat, I forget everything. The cold. The wind. My own name.

Home, Zarek says in my head. And I can feel how much he loves it.

He tilts his wings and begins to descend.

As we fly lower, I see it. The whole city is decorated for solstice. Every single bit of it. Evergreen garlands hang from balconies and doorways. Enormous wreaths cover the walls of the buildings. Red and gold ribbons flutter from every window and lamppost. In the market squares, there are huge decorated trees, covered in ornaments and candles, surrounded by stalls and crowds of people laughing and celebrating.

And the castle. Gods, the castle. Garlands are draped across the towers. Wreaths as big as wagon wheels hang above the gates. The courtyards are full of ribbons and lanterns and trees.

I remember how excited I was about the decorations in the attic. How I made Zarek hang the garland on the mantel instead of the beam. How proud I was of our little cabin.

And these men have an entire kingdom decorated for the holiday.

I start laughing again. I can't stop.

What's so funny? Rhydian asks, swooping close.

"I bossed you around about one garland!" I yell. "And you have all this!"

You can boss us around about all of this, too, if you'd like, he says.

He loops away from us and circles one of the tallest towers in a long golden spiral, just to show off. Then he swoops back to our side, looking very pleased with himself.

Beside me, Kaelen lets out a deep, rumbling sound. A dragon laugh, I think. It vibrates through the air and right through my bones, and it makes me laugh even harder.

Zarek glides lower. Down toward a wide stone courtyard near the heart of the castle, where people are already gathering. Servants. Guards in shining armor. They're pointing up at the sky. They've seen their kings coming home.

He lands so gently I barely feel it.

Folding his great wings, he lowers his body down against the stones so I can climb off. I look down. It's a long way. I'm still trying to work out which leg to swing over first when I hear footsteps.

Kaelen is already human again. He strides across the courtyard and reaches up for me without a word. He lifts me right off Zarek's back and sets me down on my feet, and then he keeps his arm wrapped around my waist until he's sure my knees aren't going to give out.

"Thank you," I whisper.

He grunts. His thumb strokes my side.

Rhydian changes back next, in a shimmer of gold. Then Zarek, his huge black form folding down and down until he's a man again, straightening his coat.

And I'm standing in the middle of the three of them again. Three tall, handsome men.

I don't think I'll ever look at them quite the same way. Not now that I've seen their dragons. Not now that I know.

All around us, the servants and guards are bowing low. "Your Majesties, welcome home."

Then they start to straighten up. And they see me.

I can see it on their faces. Surprise. Confusion. A few of them stare openly. Their eyes take in my windblown hair, so tangled from the flight that it's practically a bird's nest. My borrowed clothes. My mended cloak and my old boots.

Everyone here is so finely dressed. Silk and velvet and gold buttons.

I swallow hard. What must they think of me?

Before I can sink into the ground, Rhydian slings his arm around my shoulders and pulls me snug against his side.

"Everyone!" he announces cheerfully, in a voice that rings off the courtyard walls. "I'd like you to meet our future queen!"

The courtyard goes silent. Completely silent. Then, one by one, all those finely dressed people sink down into deep bows. To me.