Page 40 of Kingdom of Shadows and Wings

A dragon roars in the distance, jerking me back into reality. A world where we don’t kiss because Thorne is both my instructor and an enormous dick.

I edge toward the dorms’ door. “Well, thank you for rescuing me. Though I still contend that I could have climbed my way down.”

The fire vanishes from his eyes so quickly, I wonder if I imagined the spark. His expression becomes an indifferent mask, though my last comment causes an upward twitch of his lips. “Of course you do. Do I want to know why you were up there?”

I offer a nervous laugh. “Oh, you know. Just a little fun amongst fledglings. Nothing to worry about.”

He’s not buying it, but whatever. The ordeal ended, and I don’t plan on filing a report. I’ll just be a lot more careful about my showering habits from here on out.

“You’re lucky I was out and saw Zephyr flying down from the tower. Otherwise, you might have been stuck up there all night. I’d ask why in the blistering hells you came here, but I know you didn’t have a choice.” He shakes his head. “A Flighthaven fledgling, afraid of alicorns.”

I open my mouth to lie. Close it again. There’s no point in arguing. He knows my secret. Well, that secret. “What can I say? I like to be original.”

For a heartbeat, the lip twitch approaches a smile. “Too bad your exemption wasn’t approved.”

I wrinkle my brow. “What exemption? I didn’t request an exemption.” Not yet.

My mumbled statement makes him still. “Could you repeat that?”

“I said, I didn’t request an exemption.”

He drags a hand down his jaw. “That’s what I thought you said, but I was sure I heard wrong.” His stare dissects me like I’m some strange new specimen of magical creature that stumbled across his path and he can’t quite believe his eyes. “What kind of reckless fool doesn’t request an exemption from flight academy when the idea of flying makes them collapse in the dirt like a dead slug?”

“Thank you so much for that charming visual. I’ll be sure to cherish it always.” Exasperated, I dig my fingers into my upper arms and squeeze. “And me. Obviously. I’m the type of reckless fool to do that.”

“Why?”

The intensity of his searching look dampens my palms. I avert my gaze to focus on a fascinating section of grass. I could ignore the question, but there’s no point, and I figure I owe him that much for the rescue. “Because my sister went missing from here without a trace, and I swore to myself I’d do everything in my power to find her. And this,” I sweep my hands wide to encompass the Flighthaven campus, “is within my power. Even if I do find the thought of hopping onto an alicorn’s back terrifying enough to impersonate a dead slug.”

“Can you impersonate a dead slug when it’s not a person?”

I blow out an annoyed breath. “Really? You want to debate semantics right now?”

He ignores my words, instead studying me with an enigmatic expression. Delightful. Now Ifeellike a slug he’s pinned to a board to analyze at will. After the night’s adventures, I’m probably about as appealing as one too.

After an extended inspection where I’m tempted to wriggle my little sluggy self out of view, he tugs on his earlobe and heaves a disgruntled sigh. “Starting tomorrow, meet me at the alicorn paddock every morning, one hour before breakfast.” The gruff quality of his voice and stilted enunciation make the offer sound forced.

My suspicion rises. I knew it. He saved me, and now he’s going to punish me. Probably in some sadistic, humiliating manner. My mind summons a buffet of horrifying options before I remember his initial threat. “To muck out the stable?”

His eyes narrow. “Don’t tempt me. I was planning to help you overcome your fear of alicorns and flying, but if you’d prefer to clean out the stalls…”

He shrugs, awaiting my reply.

Snarky delivery or not, his willingness to help softens something in my chest. A stupid lump forms in my throat. “Getting over my fear sounds good. Thank you.”

“Let’s see if you’re still thanking me come morning. Now, if you’re done playing damsel in distress for tonight, I’m going to get some sleep.”

And just like that, the goodwill his offer of assistance generated crumbles into dust. I glare at his retreating back as he leads Zephyr away, wishing with all my might that the alicorn would spear him in the ass.

Zephyr picks that moment to whip his regal head around. He regards me with one baleful eye, glances at Thorne’s—admittedly fine—ass, and tosses his head with a whinny that sounds an awful lot like laughter.

“Fucking alicorns. Fucking annoying flight instructors. I’m so done with this day.” Muttering, I stalk barefoot across the grass and into the dorms. The hour is late, and thanks to Thorne, I get to wake up extra early.

Today’s only saving grace is that tomorrow will surely be better.

Chapter Fourteen

No one stirs when I sneak out of the dorms early the next morning while the darkness slowly releases the sky to the creeping gray-yellow light of dawn. A cool breeze caresses my face, tugging at the wisps of hair that threaten to escape my braid. I wish the air would sweep away my dread over my first private lesson with Thorne, but I doubt even one of the deadly windstorms that occasionally strike Aclaris and destroy businesses and homes would be strong enough for that task.

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