Aralyn extracted a letter from the sash on her gown. Cyrene reverently took the letter in her hand.
“You don’t have much time before they call. I came to be your Advisor.” A small smile played on her features. “I couldn’t miss my little sister’s Presenting.”
Questions bubbled inside of Cyrene, but she held her tongue.
“What you read inside that envelope may not be spoken of to anyone, save other citizens in kind as well as King Edric, Queen Kaliana, and Consort Daufina, but know that they might not hold any answers, or they might even lead you astray. Do you understand?”
No. How could I possibly understand until I read the letter? She prayed to the Creator that she’d become an Affiliate, so she could ask Aralyn all these pressing questions.
“Cyrene, do you understand?” Aralyn repeated more sternly.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Very well. After you read your letter, proceed to the far door, and wait for an official to open it for you. When you are given the signal for dismissal, return to this room to await your Selecting.”
“Will you be here?” Cyrene blurted out.
“No. You must await your Selecting alone.”
Cyrene glanced down at the letter within her hands and back up at Aralyn. “Do you think I’ll make First Class?”
Aralyn produced her first real smile. “I’ve no doubt you will be selected to your proper place,” she said, pulling Cyrene into a hug. “You’ll do fine. Now, I must go. I’ll see you on the other side.”
Aralyn placed a peck on each side of Cyrene’s cheeks and departed the room.
A weight formed in the pit of Cyrene’s stomach. It was judgment day. The small piece of paper in her hands felt like a heavy load.
After turning the cream envelope over, she tore the royal seal back from the parchment and pulled out the letter. The royal crest, a green Dremylon D wrapped in gold flames, was stamped on the front of the card.
She flipped the card open.
What you seek lies where you cannot seek it.
What you find cannot be found.
The thing you desire above all else risks all else.
The thing you fight for cannot be won.
When all seems lost, what was lost can be found.
When all bend, you cannot be as you were.
It’s gibberish! Just a series of riddles!
What am I seeking? A position as an Affiliate, next to my sister? Yet that makes no sense because that position is available to me. Is it the same thing I need to find? If it is, how can I find something that I can’t pursue and that can’t be found?
The second part was slightly more straightforward. But what do I desire? She didn’t know how becoming an Affiliate would risk everything else in her life. Plus, she wasn’t fighting anyone. Byern hadn’t been at war for two hundred years!
The next line made even less sense. She felt pretty lost right now, but she hardly thought that was what the line was referring to. Am I to lose something…everything? She reread the final line once more and tried to puzzle out the hidden meaning. Who is bending? If people were bending in some way, how would I lose myself? That seemed to be the most troubling part to her. She didn’t know how she could possibly be something she was not.
She didn’t have time to figure it out now. She had to complete her Presenting. She stuffed the card back into the envelope, placed it on the table, and walked to the far wall. As soon as she reached the entrance, the doors began to creak open.
Standing before her was the Royal Court of Byern.
Grab your free copy of THE AFFILIATE now!
A L S O B Y K. A. L I N D E
ROYAL HOUSES
House of Dragons
ASCENSION
The Affiliate
The Bound
The Consort
The Society
The Domina
Adult Romance Series
SEASONS
His for a Season ✦ The Lying Season
The Hating Season ✦ The Breaking Season
CRUEL
One Cruel Night ✦ Cruel Money
Cruel Fortune ✦ Cruel Legacy
WRIGHTS
The Wright Brother ✦ The Wright Boss
The Wright Mistake ✦ The Wright Secret
The Wright Love ✦ The Wright One
A Wright Christmas
AVOIDING SERIES
Avoiding Commitment ✦ Avoiding Responsibility
Avoiding Temptation ✦ Avoiding Extras
RECORD SERIES
Off the Record ✦ On the Record ✦ For the Record
Struck from the Record ✦ Broken Record
DIAMOND GIRLS SERIES
Rock Hard ✦ A Girl’s Best Friend
In the Rough ✦ Shine Bright
Under Pressure
TAKE ME DUET
Take Me for Granted ✦ Take Me with You
BLOOD TYPE SERIES
Blood Type ✦ Blood Match ✦ Blood Cure
STAND ALONE
Following Me
Acknowledgments
When I first dreamed up the idea for House of Dragons, in The Society, I had no idea quite where Kerrigan was going to take me. Her inner strength still completely blows me away, and I still can’t wait to find out where she takes me next. I know for sure that I wouldn’t have gotten to this point in the novel without some of my incredible friends, early readers, and those who worked on it with me.
Thank you to Diana Peterfreund, who helped me discover the dragons; Staci Hart, who helped keep me sane as we went through edits; Devin McCain, who drew the incredible map at the front and the amazing interior formatting. Also, Rebecca Kimmerling, Rebecca Gibson, Katie Miller, Anjee Sapp, , Jovana Shirley, Sarah Hansen, Danielle Sanchez, Nana Malone, Carrie Ann Ryan, Lexi Ryan, Sawyer Bennett, Jessica Florence, Amy Parsons, Kathryn Andrews, Tara Brown, and so many others!
My agent, Kimberly, for selling the audiobook and being my champion. Also the incredible narrator, Amy McFadden, and the team at Tantor for the audio production.
Finally, of course, my husband Joel. The two cutest puppies ever, Hippo & Goose. As well as my mom and grandma, who read everything that I write, but love my fantasy series the best. Love you!
And last but never least, YOU! Thank you reader for picking up this book and taking a chance on my crazy fantasy world with dragons and Fae and crazy terrorist groups. I wouldn’t be able to do this without you. You’re my #1!
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling author K.A. Linde grew up as a military brat and has a Master’s degree in political science from the University of Georgia. She creates fantastical stories based off of her love for Disney movies, fairy tales, and Star Wars. In her spare time, she loves traveling, binge-watching Supernatural, playing piano, and dancing. She currently lives in Lubbock, TX with her husband and two super adorable puppies.
Kyla is the author of more than thirty adult novels, but does not encourage anyone younger than eighteen to pick those up.
Feel free to contact her: