Page 23 of Kingdom of Shadows and Wings

At least someone on staff is friendly in this place.

Before I leave, I gesture at Davon. ‘How’s he doing?”

Keller glances at the student. “Him? About as good as you can do after an alicorn shoves its horn through your leg. He got lucky. The alicorn missed the main artery. He’s on a strong pain concoction now and a little out of it.”

Huh. Thorne called it.

With time to kill until my flight unit and the others return from their training, I’m eager to explore the grounds. I have to find out what happened to my sister.

My first stop is the elegant stone building that hosts personnel offices, meeting places, and other professional spaces. I wander around the sprawling corridors until I find the records room.

If there’s a file on me, there must be one for Leesa too.

The moment I approach the door, a sentry regards me. Without thinking, I smooth a hand over the wisps of hair that escaped my braid. After my impromptu nap in the dirt, I probably look like a hot mess.

“Fledgling Lark Axton?”

Spinning around, I search for the speaker.

A fortysomething woman with auburn hair worn in a neat bun and amber eyes approaches.

What now? Could Thorne have told his superiors about my less than stellar first day in his class?

The woman smiles. She actuallysmiles. That’s two friendly staff members in one day. Maybe I reached a secret limit on assholes already, and from this point forward, everyone I meet will be a ray of sunshine. A girl can hope.

I return her smile. “Yes, ma’am.”

“I’m Vice Commander Valaria Torno. Please follow me. Commander Bigley wants to meet you.”

And just like that, my smile dies. Why does the head of Flighthaven Academy want to meet me?

Given the string of unfortunate events that have already happened in less than twenty-four hours, his reason can’t be good.

Chapter Nine

I struggle to keep up with Torno’s brisk pace. I’m still not one-hundred-percent after my fainting spell, and I’m less than eager to meet Commander Bigley.

As Torno and I weave through numerous hallways, I spot Theo leaning against the door. Taking a break? He grins and waves.

I nod in greeting as we pass him.

Torno observes the exchange. “Making friends already, Fledgling Axton?”

“I’ve made several…acquaintances since I got here.”

She studies me while we walk. “Hmm.”

What doesthatmean?

Her face gives nothing away. Despite her earlier friendliness, she’s now assumed Taffy Quinnelle-like behavior, which reminds me of talking to a wall. “How are you adjusting to life at Flighthaven?”

Uncertain how to respond, I decide to stay vague. “I’m…adjusting. Some classes are…more difficult than others, but I always welcome a challenge.”

In the following silence, I do my best to memorize the building’s layout.

“Here we are.” She opens the heavy door in front of us. “This is Commander Bigley’s office.”

It’s spacious and airy, with numerous windows open to the balmy afternoon breeze, and I make a mental note that the office must be at the back of the main building.

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