Kingdom of Shadows and Wings (Dragons of Tirene, #1)

by Nina Frost

Though for a minute, he was actually…nice. After I blacked out. Odd. Maybe I hit my head harder than I thought.

“The material’s treated with melted dragon fat to help fireproof it.” He just had to go and ruin the moment.

“It’s okay, you know. To love someone and still hate their choices and how they treat you. Family is complicated.”

“Yes, sir.” He leans forward, his hot breath feathering against my cheek. “Watch how you say that, Duchess, or one day you’re going to get more than you bargained for.”

She cackles and claps her hands. “Oh my gods! You hooked up! You hooked up with Instructor Tall, Dark, and Broody!” “What? No!” Cringing, I slap my palm over her mouth and do a quick check of the stable. Empty. Thank the gods. For once, luck is on my side. “I didn’t hook up with him. Not like that, anyway. We just⁠—” Olive rips my hands from her mouth and squeals. “You just what? Planted the parsnip? Fed the kitty? Swallowed his sword? Took a trip to pound town? Did the no-pants dance?”

We walk in that direction, Abel’s teasing following on our heels. “Hey, is looking for seashells code for hooking up? If so, can we come watch? I promise we’ll be really quiet.”

Time has erased how and why the dragoncallers came into existence. Records indicate the first sighting of the winged people with these incredible powers was centuries ago. The passage continues. Those in Kamor and Aclaris envy and fear the Tirenese dragoncallers for their power over dragons, the most powerful creatures on Earth.

I lower the book, my heart plummeting into my stomach. The idea solidifying in my mind can’t possibly be true, and yet, it must be. The details line up…even the grave marker bearing my name. Because if I’m right, then the couple I believe to be my parents did not sire or give birth to me. If I’m right, my kingdom of origin isn’t Aclaris. I’m Tirenese. And I’m a dragoncaller.

“You look like the woman I’d give anything to have. You look like you’re mine.” A soft gasp escapes my lips. “I don’t…that’s not what I meant, but okay.”

Nick glares. “What? I don’t like the idea of murderous greenery. Is that a crime?” Abel tries and fails to hide his snicker. “It’s okay, Nick. No judging here. We’ve all had that moment where we suspected a leaf was plotting our demise.”

“What the fucking fuck?” I second that, because screaming trees? Unacceptable.

“It can’t hurt to try. Unless we all catch on fire and burn to death. Then it could hurt a ton.” “There’s that optimism I love so much.”

“Hey, I think it worked!” “Great. Can you make it work a little faster? Death by asshole tree isn’t the way I wanna go.”