House of Dragons: Royal Houses Book One

as big as normal.
“Wow,” Darby said in awe. “That suits you.”
Kerrigan swiveled around and brushed some along Darby’s nearly black lids. “It suits us both.”
Darby looked at her reflection and smiled shyly. “I suppose it does. Now, get in your dress. We’re already late to meet Hay.”
Kerrigan reached into her wardrobe and retrieved the forest-green dress. She was lucky enough to have made friends with an up-and-coming fashion designer, Parris, who liked to try out all of his styles on Kerrigan’s frame. He’d sent this one over this morning, and she was dying to see what he’d put together for the Dragon Blessed ceremony.
“You are the only person I know who can primp and preen in a skintight crushed-velvet dress and be just as happy in men’s clothing, running her fists through things.”
Kerrigan admired her figure in the slim cut of the dress. It had long, breathable lace sleeves and exposed the entire top of her shoulders. The dress had a slit up just past her knee on one side, exposing the milky white of her leg. Scandalous indeed.
“It all feels the same to me,” Kerrigan finally said.
“Like I said… the only one.”
“I can be multidimensional.”
Darby laughed. “You can. But why do you like to fight in that dreadful place?”
Kerrigan sighed. She had come back beaten up one too many times for Darby not to know that she was fighting in the Dragon Ring. Everyone else would be appalled, but Kerrigan didn’t want to stop. This was just who she was. She liked dressing up in pretty dresses as much as the fight.
“The world below, in the Wastes, it makes more sense to me,” she whispered. “It’s more… honest.”
“More honest?”
Kerrigan shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. We should go. We’re late.”
Darby frowned like she wanted to say more but decided to let it pass. “All right. Put on some shoes.”
Kerrigan grabbed the soft gold flats that she preferred and followed Darby from their rooms. They almost made it to the entrance when Kerrigan realized what Darby and Hadrian had failed to tell her.
“What is he doing here?” she hissed at Darby.
Lyam stood next to Hadrian in the glow of the firelight. He fidgeted slightly. An old habit that he’d never been able to break.
“Shh,” Darby said. “Be polite. He’s still our friend.”
Kerrigan groaned. This was not the night she had signed up for.
Hadrian was in the newest fashion in crisp black breeches and a tight black jerkin. His cravat was a soft blue to complement his bright blue hair. Lyam, on the other hand, looked like he’d thrown himself together that moment. As if he hadn’t been sure whether or not he’d come with them. His jacket was askew, and he wasn’t even wearing a cravat. A sliver of his neck and chest was exposed from the unbuttoned top of his shirt.
“About time,” Hadrian said. “We were going to leave without you.”
“No, we weren’t,” Lyam said with a laugh. His eyes found Kerrigan’s, and he flushed. “You look lovely tonight.” He darted to Darby. “Both of you.”
“Why, thank you, Lyam,” Darby said, tactfully taking his arm. Thank you, Darbs. “Shall we be off?”
Hadrian offered Kerrigan his arm.
She gratefully placed her hand on his sleeve. “Yes, let’s.”

8
The Celebration
Lady Sonali of tribe Bryonica, Second of the House of Stoirm, had a magnificent mansion on the eastern banks of the valley. Her home was large enough that she had land in the city. It was a prominent feature on the Row, the wealthiest area of town that housed so much of the Fae aristocracy.
But beyond the enormous home was a sprawling estate with gardens and a beautiful courtyard. It was a splendor for the rich. While only a few streets over, children lived in poverty. Children like Hadrian had been.
He wrinkled his nose slightly as their carriage drew up to the front of the mansion. “Such extravagance.”
“This is our world now,” Darby said.
No one contradicted her. Though surely, everyone felt the same discomfort. But this was precisely what they all had been trained for in the House of Dragons. Their education was not merely in history and mathematics and magic. They had all learned the ways of the aristocracy, how to move about them without garnering notice, how to blend in. In six days, many of them would join the upper echelon of society. And parties just like this one proved the use of all that knowledge.
A footman helped them out of the carriage, and Darby offered a stiff gold invitation to the man at the door.
“Ah, Miss Darby,” he said with a short bow. “Welcome to the House of Stoirm.”
Darby beamed in excitement as they were let into the mansion on one invitation. Lyam and Hadrian tried to hide their wide-eyed stares up at the enormous crystal chandelier that hung from the ceiling. The hall stretched on endlessly, filled to the brim with guests in elegant attire. Waiters had silver trays full of bubbly drinks in long-stemmed flutes. They were each offered one at the entrance. Kerrigan took hers greedily. It was going to be way better than the cheap booze she drank in the Wastes with Clover.
“Kerrigan, are you sure you should be drinking that?” Hadrian asked.
She held up her hand. “No lectures tonight, please. Have a few drinks, Hay. Loosen up.” She winked and then downed her own glass of bubbly.
The group stuck together as Darby led them through the house. She had been here before. She’d been invited over for tea a few times. And her discernment of the surroundings was clear.
Bryonica was the wealthiest of the twelve tribes with nearly the entire Viland territory to the eastern coast. The mansions within the capital were just the tip of the iceberg. There were four royal houses within Bryonica—Stoirm, Drame, Cruse, and Medallion. Stoirm—which Helly and Sonali were a part of—was the current ruling family. Her father’s house, Cruse, used to be the ruling line, but nearly everyone had been killed a couple hundred years ago and had fallen