Burn (Dragon Souls) by Penelope Fletcher

creased in confusion, worry, and then downright anger.
    “That all sounds ... not good.” Cathryn pulled away from the hug. “You have to prove yourself? You don’t have to prove anything to anyone.”
    “I have to.” Marina sat up too. She was staggered by the vehemence in the usually serene woman. “Koen is meant to be Emperor but he can’t until his Empress claims him. That’s me.”
    “I want you to listen very carefully. People are trying to kill you. This is not funny.” Cathryn gripped her shoulder. “Thank goodness Mikhail ordered me found and brought over. Somebody needs to talk sense into you before you get dead.”
    “You think none of us tried?” Daniil’s dry inquiry didn’t charm the woman in the slightest.
    Cathryn eyed him up and down. Scowled. “Are you he?” she demanded accusingly. “Are you the Dragon King?”
    Daniil graced her with a sexy smirk. “If you want me to be. Introductions, Marina?”
    “Daniil, this is Cathryn James. Cat this is Dragon Lord Daniil of House Kol, a Wyvrae from the Ice Realm.”
    Used to dealing with aggressive men, Cathryn stood, straightened her spine and thrust out her hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
    Taken aback by her assertiveness then attracted to it, Daniil clasped it. “The same for me is true. It is a pleasure.”
    Mikhail made a low grumbling noise.
    The younger Dragon Lord blinked. His eyes rolled upward. Whatever he saw made him drop her hand.
    Daniil smoothly took a measured step away from the blonde beauty. He wasn’t afraid of the Council Mon, but he wasn’t going to aggravate him either.
    He gave Cathryn a wry smile. “I think you will find it most welcoming here, Lady Cathryn.”
    “I’m not a lady,” she said flatly.
    Marina hooked an arm around hers. “Of course you are. You’re going to be a Raad like me.”
    Mikhail puffed hot air over them. “So quick to dismiss your House.”
    Marina ignored him. “Or you can be a Zar. Whichever you prefer. Both would sound good, and are Imperial Houses. Rank is a big deal over here, and you can’t rise higher than a royal family.” Marina lowered her voice. “It’s not all sunshine and roses, but you get used to the death threats.”
    Appalled, Cathryn rubber her forehead. “You really think you’re going to win this tournament and get the guy, don’t you?”
    Marina seemed genuinely put out. “Hey. I've trained my ass off for this.”
    Cathryn noticed the evil stares and hostility directed at Marina’s back. The hatred was palpable. There was a great deal of respect and admiration too, but those people were not the ones her friend was at risk from.
    The rules were different in this land, and Cathryn resolved to learn them to protect herself and her impulsive friend.
    Marina had suffered the months prior to disappearing. The loss of her mother had broken her emotionally, and recovering from her extensive injuries of the accident left her physically drained.
    It was no wonder Cathryn had feared Marina close to a full psychotic episode when she returned to their cabin babbling about dragons.
    But as usual, Marina had fallen onto her feet. She was – dare Cathryn think it – thriving. There was colour in her cheeks, a bounce to her step, and a sweet kind of peace infusing her very presence. She was happy. Cathryn hadn’t seen the Marina this excited since Almeria died.
    It had originally been her plan to drag Marina home. Seeing her so cheerful threw Cathryn into doubt. If this is where Marina wanted to be then she would stay to help as best she could for as long as possible.
    Ignoring the presence of the black Dragon that peered down at her with eyes so much like her friend’s, Cathryn scanned the crowd.
    Marina tugged on her arm, pointing and explaining, laughing and joking.
    Now to meet this Koen Raad, and work out why Marina felt the need to risk life and limb to earn the right to marry him.

Drifting towards the feast, Marina was snagged by her Sire’s left arm while Cathryn