Page 79 of Kingdom of Shadows and Wings

Hurrying into the dim interior, some subconscious urge leads me past the cold storage area and toward the dragon pens. I’m not even sure what I’m doing in the aerie, but now that I’m here, I need to see the dragons.

As I draw closer, unease crawls down my spine. This strange sensation—almost like a brushing against my mind—comes and goes, growing stronger one moment and disappearing the next.

The feeling freaks me out a little, but I’m probably just paranoid and exhausted. Between my classes, early morning training sessions, and scaling back on my magic suppressing dosage, it’s a logical explanation.

Despite my jitters, curiosity drives me forward. I creep closer to the enclosure and stop between the first two cells. Like yesterday, my heart clenches over the visual proof of the dragons’ maltreatment. Just the sight of these cramped prisons for such large beasts stokes my desire to howl and slam the walls until they collapse. Anything to stop these dragons from being so trapped.

Swallowing the knot in my throat, I wait for my inner turbulence to subside and peer between the iron bars.

Predatory golden eyes gaze back at me.

I retreat a step. The black dragon tracks my movement, and a loud snuffling noise escapes the iron muzzle imprisoning its mouth. I get the impression he’s taking in my scent.

My pulse stutters. Standing perfectly still, I lower my gaze, not wanting to set him off by staring him in the eye. Without warning, a riot of dark emotions slams into me, driving me to my knees. Terror, anguish, pain…so much pain. I try to rise, but I can’t move.

My vision dims, and frigid darkness threatens to envelop me. Fighting as hard as I can, I claw my way toward a clear head.

The darkness tugs harder.

As my vision continues to fade, fear morphs into panic. I’m not sure what’s happening, only that my emotions feel out of control, like a wildfire in a drought-deadened field. If I don’t rein them in, I’m scared they’ll consume me from the inside out.

I drag air into my lungs. Calm. I need to find my inner calm. If I want to banish the darkness trying to hijack my brain, I need to ground myself.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I recall everything that brings me joy. Sunshine filtering through the clouds. A soft breeze fluttering through my hair. My sister’s laughter as she stuffs a stolen cookie into her mouth. A pair of gold-flecked eyes turning molten before warm lips collide with mine.

Relief. Finally. The treacherous darkness surrounding me lightens, then retreats as fast as it came. With a trembling body, I rise to my feet.

The dragon slow blinks once before butting his head against the bars. He snorts, twin puffs of steam curling from his nostrils. My brain must still be a little woozy because his eyes have changed somehow. Become less tortured. More luminous.

Palm up, I ease my hand forward. The dragon lowers his head like he’s giving me permission to touch him. With measured movement, I stroke his scaly nose. He exhales again in a sound reminiscent of a sigh.

I continue petting his muzzle.I’m so sorry you’re here. You deserve to be free.

An odd tickling sensation prickles between my ears. The dragon blinks twice, shakes his dark head, and backs away from the bars.

All of a sudden, my muscles turn limp, like someone poked holes into my body and sucked the energy right out of them. I stagger before regaining my balance. As quickly as I can, I retreat. I burst outside and blow right by the guard, not slowing until I’m a good distance away, drained and fending off a worsening headache.

“Everything okay, Fledging Axton?”

I whirl around to face Vice Commander Torno. I was so wrapped up in getting back to the dorm that I didn’t even notice her. Let’s hope she didn’t spot me come out of the aerie alone. “I just have a headache. Gonna go lie down for a bit.”

She nods as I retreat. I’m grateful she didn’t pepper me with questions because I have no logical explanation for what I was doing near the dragon enclosure or what transpired there.

Back in my empty room, I collapse on the bed, willing the quiet to still my racing thoughts.

What just happened? Is all the stress messing with my sanity?

I know one thing for sure…I need to get out of this place, if only for a little while. A break from Flighthaven will help clear my head.

Reaching beneath the mattress, my fingers find the smooth surface of the tokens I liberated from Thorne’s room.

Tonight. I have to go tonight.

Voices echo in the hall. Class must be out. Sitting up, I scrub my palms over my face and mentally prepare myself to act normal and get through dinner.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

As silently as possible, I strap a dagger to my thigh and don my heavy black cloak. I poke my hand into the pocket, ensuring the leather pouch of coins is still safely stashed where I put it earlier. Both tokens dangle from the ribbons I looped around my neck, hidden beneath my shirt.

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