She swallowed painfully and stared back at the dragons, unable to fathom that this was real life. Her stomach was topsy-turvy, and her mind was reeling, but if this was real, she wasn’t going to give it up for anything.
Five years ago, Kerrigan had stood where Tara was now, and she had spoken these words to Cyrene. It was a duty so honored that Dragon Blessed were spelled to never, ever speak of what happened within. But that didn’t mean Kerrigan didn’t remember. She knew what was coming even though the other four competitors did not. She was far from ready, but she would serve with honor.
“The final task set forth in the tournament is not for you, our final five competitors, but it is actually for the dragons themselves,” Tara said.
“The dragon’s choice,” Kerrigan whispered.
Tara’s smile was magnetic. She knew as much as Kerrigan did. Kerrigan had gone through this as a Dragon Blessed five years ago. The other competitors looked at her in surprise. She had never been able to even speak those words aloud. But finally, she was in a place to speak of her experience.
“Yes, Kerrigan,” Tara said, respectfully bowing her head.
Disim, a young brown boy of maybe eleven or twelve years with a shaved head, stepped up next. “A dragon is not complete without the existence of a dragon rider. Only the best competitors can arrive at this point. After all of the necessary tasks, the competition has prepared you for the Society and living the remainder of your days with a dragon bound.”
Yesmin clasped together her hands, which were black as night, and cleared her throat. Her voice had a slight tremor in it. “It is ultimately the dragon’s decision. They must find you worthy.”
Kerrigan trembled as the shock of the moment coursed through her. All these memories that she had suppressed because she could never speak of them. This was the real reason that they never wanted someone from the House of Dragons to compete. Dragon Blessed knew too much. They waited in the sidelines to help with the tournament. They worked with the dragons day in and day out for years. And most of all, they knew about the final task for the competition. Dragon Blessed would have an unfair advantage, getting to this point. But it didn’t mean a dragon would choose her. She hadn’t proven her worth in the competition. She had just landed here by accident. Maybe it would all be for naught now.
“We will begin with Tieran,” said Tara.
The dragon stepped forward. His midnight-blue scales twinkled in the lantern light inside the cave. He was the smallest of the lot but also the most beautiful. And like any male who had that much beauty, he knew it. She had watched him primp and preen, and the females went crazy for him. But she had never gotten along with him. Not that he was anything like March—he was a dragon after all, and they had keen intelligence and were regal figures—but his attitude always rebuffed against her.
Tieran surveyed the five competitors. His golden eye narrowed when it got to Kerrigan and then whipped back to the other four. And he did nothing.
Kerrigan shifted uncomfortably. The last time, each of the three dragons had known immediately which competitor they wanted to bond with. It normally took a few seconds to come to that conclusion. But Tieran looked torn as he judged each of the five people before him.
“Tieran?” Tara prodded after several agonizing minutes.
I am Tieran of Essex and Thiery. Born of the Holy Mountain. Proud and tenacious with a heart that sings for the skies.
Kerrigan swayed at the sound of his musical voice in her ears. But he stopped again right before he made his choice. She furrowed her brow in confusion.
My choice is one of honor. For I value it above all else. And thus, this choice is difficult because honor and power sing different songs.
Kerrigan and Tara caught each other’s eyes. Tara shrugged her shoulders in confusion. At least Kerrigan wasn’t the only one.
But the music thrums louder than sense. Thus, I must make my decision against my own judgment. If you will accept, I will be dragon bound to… Kerrigan of the House of Dragons.
“What?” she gasped, frozen in place.
Tieran’s words swam all around her. Was he saying that he didn’t want to accept her but that something about her was louder than his own sense? Well, that sounded like a ringing endorsement.
I choose you, Kerrigan, if you will accept me.
She wanted to ask, Why? Why her? When he didn’t even like her. She had hardly expected to be in this position, but if she had thought any dragon would pick her, any at all, the very last one on that list would have been Tieran.
Her mouth hung open as everyone awaited her answer.
“Kerrigan, your answer?” Tara whispered.
This was all she had wanted all her life. She’d wanted to fly. And if this meant that she could join the Society and fly the rest of her life, then she and Tieran could figure out their differences.
“I accept,” she gasped.
“Follow me,” Tara said. “From here, your magic will be bound.”
Kerrigan stepped forward on heavy feet, away from the rest of the competitors, and up to Tieran’s side. Tara walked them to a small pool. A table was set up next to it with five goblets and a book. Tara picked up the book and began to read the binding spell in ancient Fae. Kerrigan wasn’t fluent in the old language despite her tutors’ attempts to get her to understand it, but she could still feel the magic winding around her and Tieran, drawing them together.
One of the goblets was offered to Kerrigan. “Drink from this.
