He nodded once curtly. “I signed the betrothal agreement. How serious do you think he is?”

Kerrigan produced the yellow diamond ring and showed it to him. “I think he’s serious.”

“Gods,” Kivrin said, plucking the ring from her hand. “What a rock.”

“So ostentatious.”

“Is this about the dark prince?”

She rolled her eyes. “As if I would ever marry a man that I didn’t love.”

“Love is not usually in the cards, I’m afraid.”

“I’m not Bryonican.”

“No, but can you afford to lose the support of the tribe?”

“What do you mean?”

He shrugged one shoulder. “Nothing,” he said, obviously not meaning it. “I’m prepared to deliver payment if that’s what he wants. I never relinquished your dowry. It’s a considerable amount.”

“Oh,” she whispered. “That’s quite generous.”

“I got you into this. I suppose I should help get you out.”

“Indeed.”

She looked at her father again. The man she had despised for so many years. She’d sworn she’d never forgive him for what he’d done, but he seemed so much… less, alone in this big estate, then he did when he was surrounded by so many others at his Row parties. As if the last twelve years hadn’t been as kind to him as he wanted her to believe.

“Thank you,” she said finally.

He nodded at her. “How long will I expect you to stay?”

“We’ll fly back the day of the party.”

“I’ll have the cook prepare food for you while you’re here.”

“And if March writes…”

“I’ll give you plenty of time alone with your prince.”

She rolled her eyes. “That’s not what this is about.”

“I was once young and in love, Kerrigan,” he said easily. “I can recognize the signs.”

“We’re here to train.”

Kivrin smiled knowingly. “If you say so.”

Damn, if she couldn’t even fool her father, then who was she fooling?

39

The Flight

Kerrigan was born for the skies. Watching the others fly while she was grounded had been pure torture. And now that she and Fordham were at the clearing to begin training, she just wanted to lie back on Tieran’s back and let him take over.

Not that it was possible. They had a lot of work to do if they were going to keep up with the others. Ten days to catch up with what the others had been doing for an entire month. And they had to do it without a bond. It was impossible as far as she was concerned, but she refused to give up.

“We will make this work,” she said, letting the words whip away into the wind.

I’m willing to try, Tieran said into her mind. If you’re willing to try.