Page 95 of Kingdom of Shadows and Wings

I read about ancient times when dragons preceded people and the belief they claimed all of Tirene as their home. I read about how phoenixes used to flourish and build their nests in the cliffs before disappearing, and about other beasts—magical and otherwise—that roamed the kingdom. All very helpful if I ever decide to seek a career in animal husbandry, but aside from that? I doubt a history of the most interesting and prolific creatures residing in enemy territory will aid me in uncovering the answers I seek.

Like other sources, this author repeats the speculation that the Tirenese are winged due to dragon ancestry in their distant past. He goes a step further and hypothesizes that ritual magic was combined with the inherent magic in dragons themselves. That’s far more palatable than the idea dragons mated with the original native people, a theory that creates such an alarming visual that I wish I had a magic spell to scrub the very concept of bestiality from my brain.

After a grueling week, I’m overjoyed when we have a free afternoon to spend however we please. Theo and I lag behind the rest of my flight unit as we head to the beach.

“Careful, Lark.” Theo snakes a hand around my waist, catching me as I stumble.

My face heats at the contact. “Thanks. I was lost in my own head.”

It’s not a lie. A lot has happened during my time at Flighthaven. The image of that grave marker never leaves my mind for long, and I’m nervous at the thought of the upcoming trial, knowing how vital it is that I don’t let my unit down.

But more important is my sister. Despite all the recent revelations, I’m no closer to finding her.

In good news, my magic continues to grow stronger as I wean off more of the remedy. My worry over losing control grows too. In class, I take care to never call on all my power. The memory of the burning stable is still too traumatic, and even though I’m starting to question everything my mother ever told me, her warnings about using my magic still hold sway. Maybe now more than ever. If I am adopted, there’s no telling what secrets she’s hiding about my biological family. For all I know, I come from a long line of people who struggle with freakish elemental power bursts that lead to accidents.

That’s the crux of the problem. I don’t know anything.

“What did those poor little rocks ever do to you?”

At Theo’s amused comment, I startle and watch a rock bounce along the trail ahead of us. “Sorry. I was spacing out again.”

The breeze tugs a few wisps of hair loose from my braid. Theo catches one of them, rubbing it between his fingers before tucking the strand behind my ear. “You need to learn how to relax.” When I snort, he shoots me a sideways glance, his hand lingering on my cheek. “What’s so funny?”

“If you only knew…relaxing is basically all I used to do before coming to Flighthaven. Oh, hey, look, there’s Olive and the others.”

I start jogging toward them, relieved to get a little space and join a bigger group. Theo’s always been friendly, but today he’s giving off a different vibe, like he’s interested in being more than friends, and I don’t know what to do about it.

Unlike Thorne, Theo’s casual touch doesn’t set my body on fire or release a flock of butterflies in my belly. But Thorne’s not an option. Maybe Theo’s exactly what I need to help me get past my inappropriate infatuation.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Once we’re on the sandy white shore, we build sand castles, then use our magic to destroy our work. Olive’s air magic blows the models apart, Nick’s water magic floods each, sending them back into the sea, while Abel’s earth magic swallows them whole. Theo calls on his fire, helping me burn twigs from the nearby forest into ash. We get more and more ridiculous with our antics. The briny air and repetitive crash and lull of the ocean helps me relax and forget my worries for a while.

As waves wash away our destroyed masterpieces, Olive laughs. “So why did everyone come to Flighthaven?”

“Well,” Abel gestures between Olive and me, “you two obviously didn’t have a choice.”

“True, but we’ve made the best of it.” She tucks a wayward red curl behind her ear. “Why are you guys here?”

“To feed my siblings. My Flighthaven pay takes care of that. That’s why I’m so anxious to pass the upcoming trial.” Abel shudders. “I could never live with myself if I failed them.”

I pat his shoulder. “You won’t. We’re going to pass.” I hope.

“Damn straight.” Abel winks at me. “Although, I won’t lie…I was a little worried there at first when you never joined our flight training class. I can’t tell you how relieved I was to witness your flying skills in action.”

I offer a weak chuckle. “Yeah, well, that makes two of us.”

“What about you, Nick?” Olive takes the leather throng off her wrist to secure her hair in a low ponytail. “What inspired you to come to Flighthaven?”

“It’s a good career.” He cups sand in his palms and lets the grains fall back to the beach, repeating the process once his hands are empty. “And since I’ve always felt at ease with horses, I figured I’d be the same with alicorns.”

“With all this,” Theo makes a sweeping gesture that spans the length of his body, “how could I not join? Who can resist a hot guy in uniform?”

Everyone chortles, and a sense of peace settles over me as I enjoy the comradery. I’m not confined to a castle, and no one’s trying to poison me or holding a blade to my throat. It’s a good day. I should try to appreciate the positives while I can, even if all the worries weighing on my mind make doing so difficult.

Speaking of… “Hey, Olive, will you come look for seashells with me?”

“Uh, sure?”

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