Page 54 of On Wings of Blood

“I suppose I’m in trouble with the headmaster,” I said. “He didn’t seem thrilled with me climbing his dragon.”

Florence gave me a sympathetic look. “I’m not sure why he wants to see you. Maybe he just wants to find out who did it.”

“I can’t believe this was only the first day of school,” I grumbled.

“You did have a rough start. Hopefully the next one is calmer. Maybe I can show you the libraries after lunch? I have a spare, a period where I don’t have a class. If you’re free at the same time, we can meet up.”

“That sounds great,” I said enthusiastically. I frowned. “Hopefully I get a chance to eat lunch tomorrow. I wonder if I have Professor Rodriguez again.”

“You’ll definitely have to sort out your schedule,” Florence agreed. “Hopefully you can do that with the headmaster first thing. Speaking of lunch, you missed that, but there’s a dinner tray here for you. The healer wasn’t sure if you’d wake up tonight or not, or if you’d be hungry, but...”

I sat up straight, ignoring the pain in my back and sides. My ribs had taken an unneeded second beating when I’d jumped from that dragon. “I’m ravenous. Where is it?”

Florence grinned and passed over a tray of food.

I breathed in deeply, spotting chunks of beef and potatoes sauteed in a creamy tomato sauce, buttered bread, a raisin scone, and a cup of pumpkin spice pudding.

“I’ll leave you to eat your food and rest,” Florence said. “But I’ll keep an eye out for you at breakfast and lunch tomorrow.”

“Sounds good,” I said, from between a mouthful of buttery bread. “And Florence? Thank you. For everything.”

When she’d left, I devoured the tray of food, then propped it on the nightstand and leaned back on my pillows.

My hair fluffed around my face in a bush of curls. I knew I should get up to bathe and brush it out, but I was too tired. Everything hurt. Maybe I could braid it in the morning.

I closed my eyes, preparing to sleep, then thought of something and they popped back open.

Hey, you. Lady in my head,I snapped.Get out here. Or do you only come when you’re not wanted and at the worst possible times?

I waited.

I resent that.But the woman’s tone was mild.I come when you need me. I’ve only ever tried to help.

You come when the very last thing I need is a distraction,I said with a sigh.And to help? It’s arguable whether you’ve ever helped.

I’ve rallied you to help yourself, the woman said smoothly.Sometimes we just need a little push.

Speaking of push, I’d like to push you out of my head. How do we go about doing that exactly?

A pause.

I’m not sure. It’s not so bad like this, is it?

I snorted.Having a passenger in my own brain? Yes, I’d say that’s bad. I’d prefer privacy.

It’s an interesting conundrum,the woman said thoughtfully.And you can’t say I never help. I helped you get here in the first place.

Now it was my turn to pause.What the hell does that mean?

Tsk, tsk. Language. You’re of royal blood.

I’m nothing anymore,I snapped.Certainly not a princess. I think that much is very clear. And I should have been dead. I was supposed to be dead. Is that what you mean?

Silence.

What did you do? How did you “help”?I persisted.

I’m not sure I quite like your tone. This certainly isn’t the appreciative spirit with which I expected my gesture to be received.

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