“Princess Wynter has requested that you go riding with her this morning if you are up for it,” Benton said.

“Ah, so that’s why you’re here.”

“It would be unwise to reject an offer from the princess.”

“I have nothing better to do,” Kerrigan said. And only another week to figure out this situation.

“You know how to ride?” Bayton asked softly.

“Horses? Yes, though I prefer dragons.”

Benton shot her sister a look to silence her.

“What?” Kerrigan asked.

“Ignore my sister. It is her dream to meet a dragon,” Benton said.

“Oh, you’d hate Tieran,” Kerrigan said with a small laugh. “He’s the worst. But you’d probably like Netta. That’s Fordham’s dragon.”

“And who rides Tieran?” Bayton asked, eagerness in her voice for the first time.

“Well, I do,” Kerrigan said.

Both woman stilled.

“You are a dragon rider too?” Bayton asked. “They let… half-Fae do that?”

“Well, no, not really,” Kerrigan said. “They weren’t pleased with me for winning the dragon tournament, but yes, Tieran is my dragon.”

It still felt amazing to be able to say that out loud.

“Sister,” Bayton whispered to Benton.

“I’m sorry,” Kerrigan said, turning back to face them. “I wish that you weren’t trapped in this place. The outside world isn’t much friendlier to half-Fae, if I’m honest, but we’re not property.”

“That sounds like a dream,” Benton said, putting a hand on her sister’s shoulder.

“The House of Shadows was stripped of all dragons when we were cut off,” Bayton whispered. “All the riders were killed. An entire generation of leadership and all those beautiful dragons. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to ride one, but just to see it seems too good to be true, this outside world you speak of.”

Kerrigan nodded, swallowing down the lump in her throat. She had been discriminated against by Fae in Kinkadia simply for being who she was, but it was nothing like it was here. She wished there were something that she could do to fix this, to get them out of here. But how?

“Ignore us, miss,” Benton said. “Try to enjoy your ride with the princess today. She seems intimidating, but she isn’t all bad.” Benton pulled her sister away and made her to leave. The conversation had left her gentle soul too upset to continue. “This way.”

Kerrigan followed Benton through the corridors and to a disguised exit to the outside. It was mostly obscured by the forest beyond, but she could see a stable visible off to the right.

“I am sorry for what I said to you and Bayton,” Kerrigan said.

“Don’t think of it at all. We can’t do anything to change our stars. It’s lucky enough to meet someone such as yourself who has risen above what we could ever dream of,” Benton said with a smile and then left her to Wynter.