Page 48 of Kingdom of Shadows and Wings

With Nick and Abel nearby now, I can overhear their conversation. Apparently, they’re spending their time telling dick jokes and laughing uproariously.

Olive and I share agood godsglance.

Unfazed by our less-than-encouraging response, Nick launches into another joke. “Did you hear about?—”

“I think you should save the humor for your girlfriend.” Abel brushes off an eyril bulb like he’s been doing it for years. “Wouldn’t want you to wear them out on us.”

“She appreciates my jokes, unlike you three,” Nick snarks. “Among other things.”

Abel clucks his tongue. “Are you sure she isn’t lying to spare your delicate ego?”

Nick’s scowl returns. “I’m sure.”

As Abel continues ribbing Nick about his love life, I address Olive. “Does your family write you often?”

“My parents do.” Her eyes brighten then dull. “I wish my cousins would, though. They live in Kamor. My mom’s side of the family split off several generations ago, and half moved there. I know I’m supposed to despise them, but I can’t. They’re family.”

My heart squeezes. If I were in Olive’s situation and Leesa moved, I’d feel the same way. “I understand.”

She sighs. “I haven’t heard from them in a long time, even though I write. I hope they’re all right.”

“Maybe they’re just busy.”

“I suppose that’s possible.” She grows thoughtful, then shrugs. “Have you gotten any letters from home?”

“Not yet.”

When I straighten to stretch my spine, dizziness spins my head like one of those twisting, path-flattening storms. My legs tremble, and I sink to the dirt to avoid my knees buckling. Stupid weak spells. I keep hoping they’ll vanish as my body grows stronger, but that hasn’t happened yet.

A shadow blots the sun. Something grumbles overhead.

Clouds? A coming storm?

Using my hand to shade my eyes, I glance up and freeze.

An enormous black dragon glides across the sky. Alicorns trail the beast, arranged in groups of four.

I watch, a muted emotion tingling within, pulsing through my veins to my fingertips and toes. Joy…or maybe freedom. As the dragon soars, I can almost picture the sweeping view from the air. Flying over crashing waves…dipping close enough for the spray from those swells to dampen my face…coasting up toward the sun to dry my scales.

No hint of my fear of flying exists as I marvel. Just a yearning in my chest.

“I wonder what it’s like to fly.”

Olive’s voice shakes me from the strange vision. The dragon swoops lower and dips the wing closest to us, revealing a rider with bronze skin and a shock of wavy black hair. Instructor Thorne’s gaze locks on mine. The joyful sensation vanishes, replaced by a shiver of awareness.

He lifts one dark eyebrow, a question in his eyes. Wait. Does he know it’s me under the mask and protective gear?

Before I can do anything stupid, like wave or stick out my tongue, he guides the dragon higher until they become a small dot in the distance, the alicorns following in their wake.

By the time we finish filling our quota of vials, my back aches, my quads burn, and sweat dampens my entire body. We deposit our vials and gear and trudge toward the mess hall for dinner.

Fatigue quiets me as I fork roasted potatoes and rosemary-seasoned fish into my mouth. My weak spell in the field reminds me that I need to solve the mystery of Leesa’s whereabouts sooner rather than later. If my body gives out, they’ll ship me off to Forthaven or somewhere potentially less desirable, and I’ll lose my chance. I need to flip through Leesa’s notebooks. I still want to search Elijah’s room, too, but need a plan. It won’t go well for me if I’m caught. Thinking of Elijah makes me remember his buddy’s strange comment about Leesa and wings.

Beside me, Abel trades good-natured barbs with Nick. Theo sits with them, tossing in his two cents every now and then. When Elijah saunters in he stops mid-sentence and hisses. “That dirty bastard.”

Olive’s head pops up. “Who? Where?”

“Durand. That fucker stole my clean tunic again.”

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