Song of Smoke: A Dragon Shifter Romance (The King's Series Book 1)

by Jillian James

  He tilts his head and gives me a what’s the matter? look.

  I shake my head and shrug my shoulders.

  “Nothing. Just trying to wrap my head around everything,” I say.

  My attention is drawn to the sight of Eira walking towards us, and I push forward away from the table.

  “Hello, Odin.” She smiles. “Do you mind if I steal Seda for a moment?”

  Odin waves his hand to shoo us away, and Eira tugs at my arm, pulling me off to the side.

  “I have to tell you something,” she says, and I strain to hear her over the commotion behind us.

  “What is it? Is something else about to happen?” I ask and anxiety notches in my throat.

  She shakes her head and scrunches her eyes closed.

  “No. Not this. The coronation is done, and tonight is all about celebration. Tomorrow, Dederic will lead the procession for Sarvos and we’ll do it all over again. It’s just…” She trails off and chews her bottom lip between her teeth.

  “Talk to me,” I say earnestly and stroke a reassuring hand down her arm.

  “I can’t stop thinking about what you told me last night ̶ about where you felt the change in the air,” she says, and I nod.

  “I’m sorry for upsetting you,” I murmur, but she shakes her head.

  “You don’t understand. That place? The bluff out at the river? I know that place.”

  I furrow my brow in confusion and shake my head. “What?”

  Eira nods, swallowing hard and rubbing a hand over her face.

  “It’s the last place I remember before I woke up in the human cell. I think the humans have constructed some sort of trap there… and I want your help to break it.” She says it so suddenly.

  Shock courses through me for a moment and I’m speechless.

  “Are you-”

  “Yes,” she says firmly and looks at me with hard determination.

  The memory of the wrongness of that space fills me with dread, but with what Alderon told me - what I felt out there… it’s possible. And with someone like Celestra, setting a trap like that with magic makes it even more likely.

  “What’s your plan?” I ask, and she exhales in relief, tugging me out of the great hall.

  Found

  The next day, the mood at the castle is more solemn, but the feeling of unity is still bright and vivid all around. Apart from the kitchens and a skeleton crew on patrols, most of the work in the castle is suspended again today. Ismeina serves an opulent breakfast and Cecily has decorated the tables and throne room in beautiful white flowers.

  After everyone has eaten, the day will be spent praying over and paying tribute to Sarvos. Elders will speak, songs will be sung, and memories will be shared. His body will be carried down to a pyre that has been prepared in the surf and lit at sunset. Following that, we will drink and dance and lay his memory to rest at last.

  Eira thinks that our best chance at making it out of the castle undetected will be to sneak away on foot while the crowds are shifting and flying down to the beach. We’ll walk in the opposite direction before she shifts and flies us close enough to the bluff that we can move in and assess what kind of magic is disturbing the area.

  The morning drags on, and with each passing hour my anxiety grows. I feel guilty for not sharing our plan with Dederic; it feels like I’m being dishonest.

  I am being dishonest.

  On the other hand, I know in my gut that he would not be okay with me going back to that place, and this is too important a task for protectiveness or possessiveness to interfere with what needs to be done.

  “Meet me in the northeast stairwell on the main level. I think we’ll draw less attention if we make our way separately,” Eira whispers in my ear as she pulls me into an embrace.

  The final prayers have been said and Sarvos’ guard is preparing to carry him down to the beach now.

  “I’ll see you there,” I say, and she nods and floats away into the milling crowd.

  I smile and offer greetings to those around me. Elias, who works in the gardens, is talkative and animated as he recounts the battle yesterday. I stay mostly quiet while I listen to him, the difficulty of watching Dederic risk his life fighting his own people sits heavy in my stomach like a stone.

  A flash of gold to my left draws my attention and I catch Dederic’s eye as he makes his way towards me. He’s cleanly shaven again and dressed finely in a gallant uniform in shades of black.

  Elias offers a deferent bow and Dederic shakes his hand before turning his attention to me.

  “Walk with me, little fire. You can fly with me to the beach,” he murmurs in that low, rough voice that sends little goosebumps over my skin.

  I shake my head and offer him a small smile, guilt and self-disgust knocking at my chest.

  “Go ahead. I have to run back to my room quickly; I don’t want to keep you.” I smile, praying that he doesn’t hear the catch in my voice.

  “I’ll wait,” he murmurs kindly.

  My stomach twists as I try and cautiously extricate myself from the situation.

  “You don’t need to-”

  “Seda. I’ll wait.”

  I chew my bottom lip and he narrows his eyes, tilting his head suspiciously.

  “Come, I’ll follow you to your room.” He slides a hand across my lower back and zips of fire sing through my blood at his touch.

  I move away and tsk softly.

  “You should go. Don’t hold everyone up on my behalf.”

  He clenches his jaw tightly, and I see the command brewing in his gaze. I interrupt quickly before he can issue it.

  “Dederic. Go. I’ll be right behind you,” I insist forcing another small smile.

  “How will you get to the beach?” he asks, something dark and feral lacing his words.

  My throat bobs and I rack my brain for an inconspicuous answer. I’ve never flown with anyone else, and I don’t know who I trust enough in Dragon form apart from him.

  “I was just about to ask Elias if he wouldn’t mind.” I smile wide and hold my breath waiting for the young man to humor me.

  “Oh, um, of course. I’d be honored,” he stammers, and a blush creeps up over his face.

  Dederic turns a surprised look towards the soldier and a new glint of fire and temper blazes in his expression. He rakes an assessing gaze over him, sizing up this unexpected competition.

  He growls low and swings his gaze back to me. My breath catches and I worry that I’ve stuck my foot in it even further by accidentally inserting poor, unsuspecting Elias into the mix.

  My Dragon king wraps a possessive arm around my shoulders and tangles his fingers in my hair. Those green eyes are dark and swirling, and I can practically feel his Dragon fighting to surface and stake its claim.

  “Everything is fine. Truly.” I reach a hand up and cup his jaw.

  He leans into the touch and plants a kiss on my throat, nipping and sucking at the sensitive spot just below my ear. I suck in a sharp breath and send a small spark shooting below his skin ̶ a reminder of who and where we are. He pulls his mouth from me and points menacingly at Elias.

  “Wait for her,” he commands.

  Elias nods quickly and presses his palm over his heart, like he’s on duty now and is tasked with something important.

  “Of course,” he murmurs and drops his eyes.

  Dederic sweeps his gaze over me and kisses my mouth one last time before he backs away from us.

  “I’ll see you soon,” he says.

  I nod and smile before tugging on Elias’ arm and moving us through the courtyard.

  The young soldier marches silently beside me as we move away from the crowd. Once we reach the inside of the castle, I climb the stairs and lead us back to my room. We stop at the door, and I turn to face him. His eyes are wide and nervous.

  “I’m sorry, Elias,” I say and take a deep breath. “I’m not going to the beach tonight. I’m going to go inside my room, and I want you to head back down and make your way
out with everyone else.”

  “But-”

  “Please. If Dederic asks… you can tell him honestly that you took me all the way to my room, and I decided not to fly down after all.”

  I crack the door open behind me and begin sliding slowly inside. The look of discomfort on his face makes me feel worse than I already do.

  “Elias,” I try again. “I swear it. If he even notices, I will tell him the truth - that you walked me here and tried to get me to come but that I refused. Okay?”

  He scrunches his eyes closed and grimaces but heaves a resigned sigh.

  “Thank you,” I whisper and let the door close softly between us.

  I lean my forehead against the smooth wood for a long moment before I finally hear him groan and leave. I strain to listen as his boots echo farther down the hall before I open the door again to peer out. The hallway is empty, and I hurry to meet Eira.

  A while later, we make a hard landing at the top of the bluff where the green river comes into view. Eira assured me that with all the festivities, our absence would go unnoticed. We slipped out of the castle and hiked down a way so that she could shift and fly us out without drawing attention, but I’m worried about the toll it’s taken on her to carry me this far. She’s sprawled out and winded, trying to catch her breath. Her much smaller dragon is not used to carrying any extra weight for more than a short distance.

  “Rest,” I tell her and send a gentle thrum of magic through her until I can unwind a small coil of orange fire and pull it out towards me.

  “Wait. I’m coming,” she says and starts to sit up.

  I stop her and force her gently back down.

  “Stop. I have no idea what I’m doing and if this goes bad, you need to be able to fly back and get help,” I instruct.

  Her face falls as she opens her mouth to object but doesn’t. We’re skirting the edge of something dangerous out here. We have no idea what this thing really is, and attempting to disable it with my magic could create an even worse situation.

  I walk to the very edge of the bluff until I feel the same tensing and prickling in the air that I felt before. I jerk back quickly and look all around for any physical markers of a trap but see none.

  “You think it’s magic too?” Eira asks.

  “It has to be,” I mutter and send an explosion of sparks shooting out at the invisible barrier in the sky. They fall harmlessly and without interruption, earning a growl of frustration from me.

  “Do you know who set it? Or how?”

  “No,” I answer honestly, choosing not to reveal my suspicions that it would be someone living in Illburn.

  I fling out a wall of heat and flame towards the trap, but it’s slow and heavy to respond ̶ like pouring honey from a jar. A greasy film coats every inch of the magic that I send out. My fire writhes and squirms, trying to shake free, but it won’t come loose. I look back at Eira whose eyes are fixed on me.

  “Anything?” she calls, and I shake my head, facing forward again to try anew.

  I keep at it for a long while.

  I increase the heat to try and melt it away. I send smoke to try and highlight any physical trace. I send blasts of magic to tangle with the slimy webbed fingers and look for weak points. But there is nothing.

  My frustration is growing, and my energy is dwindling. Eira is now sitting in the shade watching the sky for any sign of wings moving our way. My gaze carries out towards the green river and the territory beyond.

  My heart stops and I force myself to stay quiet and not cry out.

  Far, far off beyond the river, I see a solitary figure sitting on horseback ̶ as still as death. I strain my human eyes to try and make out anything else. Someone from Cradick by the colors on his uniform and the sigil on the shield. A bearded man sitting atop a black and white horse, long brown hair streaming behind him.

  I’d know that soldier anywhere.

  My eyes dart back towards Eira, but she seems calm and unfazed as she continues monitoring the darkening sky. I swallow hard and force the panic back down. He’s too far away. He could not possibly know it is me. Eira would be able to sense others nearby.

  I turn back towards the river and the bank is empty. I begin to back up, away from the trap and keep my eyes on the river, scanning for any movement or any other hints that more soldiers lie in wait.

  “Eira,” I whisper, and I hear her stand quickly and move towards me.

  “Did you do it?” She comes to stand in front of me, and the hopeful look on her face sends sorrow coursing through me.

  I shake my head no, that I’ve failed. And worse.

  “Shhh.” She rubs a hand up my arm and her expression turns concerned. “It’s okay. We can come back and try again,” she murmurs.

  Tears sting my eyes.

  “We have to leave. Now,” I whisper, and she rears back.

  “What-”

  “Now.” I grab her arm and we race on foot through the woods. She tries to stop me a few times, but I refuse to relax my grip or slow our pace. When we are far enough away, I stop and indicate that she should shift.

  “Seda,” she says, breathless from running, but I can still hear the tremble. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

  “I’m so sorry Eira. I’m so sorry.” I sob and tears begin to flow down my cheeks.

  She looks terrified but I shake off her offer of comfort.

  “Please. We have to get back. Please,” I beg.

  She nods and shifts swiftly back into her Dragon form. We launch skyward but hug the canopy of the forest on our way back.

  I squeeze my eyes shut and send a silent prayer to the Mother that I was mistaken, and that whoever I saw did not see me. I can feel Eira’s strain as we continue flying back. She doesn’t even try and disguise our approach as she barely breaches the castle walls and begins aiming us down for landing. We cruise lower and lower and I can see that she is aiming for the open training arena.

  She shifts back mid-air and we both fall with a painful thud to the ground. I land on my back and gasp uncomfortably as all the air from my lungs is forcefully expelled on impact.

  “Holy fuck!” someone exclaims, and the trance is broken.

  A handful of men start moving to help us up and assess any injuries. I roll my head to the side and see a furious-looking Odin approaching from the far end of the dark arena. I turn my face back to the kind soldier gingerly checking for broken ribs and asking me about where I’m hurt, but I can’t focus. All I can think of is what my presence here will bring down upon us.

  Alderon has come.

  I have been found.

  Odin moves the other man out of the way as he kneels beside me. His yellow eyes are murderous. I sit up gingerly and see Eira struggling to stand and brush the dirt off. A young man clears his throat and addresses Odin.

  “Should I send for-”

  Odin merely growls and hauls me to my feet. He drags Eira and me quickly behind him towards the north tower and into a room that looks like a study of some sort. He closes the door and whirls to face us, snapping and pointing a finger at Eira, demanding answers.

  “It was my idea-” I start before Odin cuts me off with a snarl.

  He stares down Eira again before she inhales deeply and opens her mouth to confess.

  “We were at the Reseda. Dederic flew Seda out there the other night and she felt something… off. We think it’s magic ̶ a trap of some kind ̶ and we wanted to try and break the spell.”

  Odin’s eyes are huge and his face whips to mine.

  Is this true?

  “There’s something happening out there, Odin. It’s awful. I- I tried to use my magic to disable it, but I couldn’t,” I murmur, and Odin wipes a hand over his face in exasperation.

  It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him that our dishonesty and disregard for the danger of the situation should be the least of his concern right now. My throat is tight, and I can feel the panic clogging my throat at having to confess that our recklessness has left the entire
pride vulnerable to discovery and attack. I have no idea if Alderon was truly alone, but I very much doubt it.

  Eira speaks before I can.

  “We just wanted-” she starts, but Odin throws up his hands to silence us.

  She opens her mouth to try again, but he growls and shakes his head, refusing to meet our eyes. My heart is pounding, and a clammy sweat breaks out over my forehead.

  I need time.

  I need to figure out why Alderon was in that clearing and what his next move is. I need to figure out how to tell Dederic about going to that bluff alone with Eira, and to articulate the danger we are all in if my jilted groom finds Ruarden. And I need to find a way to convince him to let me be a part of the solution so that I can ensure that Illburn stays safe.

  “Please don’t say anything,” I blurt, and Odin looks incredulous as fury lights his eyes.

  He gives us each a hard stare before shaking his head again and moving to open the door. He signals for us to exit and marches behind us until we make it to the great hall where music, food and drink are overflowing and the celebration is in full swing.

  With one last glance at Odin we melt into the crowd.

  “Do you think he’ll give us away?” I ask over the music.

  “I honestly don’t know,” she murmurs, worry flickering in her eyes.

  “Let’s hope not,” I say and search the crowd.

  Eventually my gaze finds a familiar pair of green eyes and Dederic pushes through the men gathered around. My feet move instinctively towards him and we meet in the middle of the room.

  “Hello,” I say and try and smile to cover the horrible shame rippling through my chest. He doesn’t buy it, though, and the darkness in his eyes that was there before has only increased.

  “Elias said you refused to come down to the beach with him this evening,” he states, and I am quick to nod in confirmation.

  “He’s right. I was horribly rude,” I reply, but the forced lightness falls quickly from my face at his expression.

  “Are you ill?”

  “No. Not ill,” I say, and my gaze drops to the middle of his chest.