Page 13 of The Fate of Eternity

“Can I help you, Professor Tora?”

Kryll’s brother plasters a fake smile across his lips as he takes in the leader of the fae origin. “No, not now that I’ve found who I’m looking for.” His answer is clipped, but if Fairbourne notices, he lets it go right over his head.

“Oh, it may have to wait, Professor. We were about to have a meeting.”

Beau shakes his head. “I’m afraid it’s going to have to wait.”

“It can’t,” Fairbourne states, a tic fluttering in his jaw as his eyes narrow.

“Unfortunately, Professor Fairbourne, my mother waits for no one,” Tora offers, his words slow and deliberate, like he’s talking to a child, and Fairbourne blusters under his tone.

“The academy is on lockdown,” he insists, and Professor Tora simply shrugs, unfazed.

“The ethereal queen is summoning someone; lockdown be damned. Besides, Bozzelli is aware,” he adds for good measure, and Fairbourne takes a reluctant step back, his head hanging in defeat for a brief moment before he nods in understanding.

“My misunderstanding. We will meet soon.” His eyes are narrowed on mine, waiting for confirmation, which I willingly offer him.

“Sure.” There’s clearly something going on with him and I’d like to know what that is, but for now, it seems Kryll’s mother awaits us. For what? I’m not sure, but once again, waiting here won’t get me the answers I’m seeking.

Looking at Kryll, he nods for us to follow his brother, who is already near the far end of the corridor. The door clicks shut behind Fairbourne as we take off after Tora when Raiden steps up to Kryll’s side, nudging his arm.

“It appears your call to Mommy worked.”

“I never doubted it would,” he replies with a shrug that matches his brother’s nonchalance.

“Clue me in,” I blurt, looking between the four of them, but no one utters a word until we make it outside. Professor Tora waits in the middle of the pathway, but Raiden doesn’t seem to mind when he steps up to my side, arm slung around my shoulders as he whispers against my ear.

“He called Mommy for help, so now the Queen of Dragons is answering.”

Turning to Kryll, I’m surprised to find his gaze downcast as he scrubs nervously at the back of his neck. I slip out of Raiden’s hold as I make my way toward my dragon. It’s only when I’m right in front of him that he looks up, worry swirling in his eyes.

“I—”

I press my lips to his, effectively cutting off whatever excuse was going to fall from his mouth. It takes a second for him to catch up, but when he does, his lips are firm against mine,making it even harder for me to pull back. The moment I do, he leans forward, bracing his forehead against mine as I peer into his eyes.

“As long as I get to see Nora and my father, I don’t care.”

“You don’t?”

“No. They’ll make me feel whole, and after last night, I need them more than ever.”

8

ADRIANNA

“Addi!”

There’s no time to brace for impact. Even with my name being yelled in advance, I still can’t prepare for it.

A single breath and I’m knocked to the floor, the air gone from my lungs as Nora lands on top of me, squealing with delight.

If I thought the breath being knocked from me was the end of my time, the deathly grip she has on me proves me wrong. Either way, death by sister is what my tombstone will say if she doesn’t relent.

My face heats, the strangled breaths doing nothing for me until Nora finally releases her hold on me just enough to plant her hands on either side of my face, looming over me with a monstrous smile.

One breath, two breaths, three.

I exhale, relief flooding my body as I glare up at my sister, but it falls flat when I see just how happy she is.

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