Page 67 of The Bond That Burns

Working on it?His tone was sharp, almost petulant.You’ve had time. Perhaps I should find a rider with better initiative.

Yes, well, good luck with that, I snapped.Besides, I’m notyourrider, remember? You’ve made that quite clear.

That earned me a huff of amusement.

You need to be patient if you want results, I said, trying to find my own sense of patience. I thought about Professor Hassan.The only news I have for you right now isn’t good. I doubt you want to hear it.

Does it involve me having to come and save you again?He said, sounding bored.

Basically, yes,I said reluctantly.

Then you are correct. I do not wish to hear it. Find me information before you ask for a favor. Do you know nothing of the ways of courtesy?Nyxaris said primly.

Before I could retort, he reared back, tilting his head skywards, and letting out a deafening roar. The sound shook the courtyard like a thunderclap.

I winced, my ears ringing. I knew he was doing it on purpose. The big show-off.

Students screamed, scattering like startled mice. I heard Blake yelling over the din, shouting that class was dismissed early.

Nyxaris,I said warningly.I go to school here, remember? The nice highbloods decided not to execute me. Can we please try not to make them hate us both more than they already do?

Simply consider that a reminder,he said coolly.Dragons do not like to be kept waiting.

Without another word, he spread his wings and launched into the air, his shadow momentarily casting the training yard into darkness before he soared away.

I found Theo waiting for me near the edge of the training yard. Visha had already vanished.

“That was... interesting,” he said, as I fell in step beside him and we started walking to our next class, Historical Strategy.

“That’s one way to put it,” I muttered.

“What do you think is really going on with Blake?” Theo asked, looking concerned. “It’s not like him to storm off like that.”

I hadn’t even noticed Blake take off, but now I raised an eyebrow. “Are we talking about the same Blake Drakharrow?”

“Well, at least, not usually in front of such a big audience,” Theo corrected. “Maybe he did it all the time with you.” He glanced at me.

“He’s probably just sulking,” I said. “Because I wasn’t as humiliated as he’d hoped for. Or maybe he wanted Laurent to beat me bloody but Nyxaris showed up and saved the day.” I paused. “That probably threw him for a loop, too.”

“Maybe,” Theo conceded. “You think Nyxaris appeared because of Blake? What was he doing there, anyway?”

I shook my head. “I know for a fact he didn’t. I think Nyxaris was mainly just bored.”

Bored and impatient. The most powerful creature in the world was impatient with me. If that wasn’t motivation to go to the library, I didn’t know what was.

Kind of ironic. Nyxaris and the Tribunal had more in common than they realized. Both wanted results I couldn’t just instantly give.

“Blake’s been off lately,” Theo said, his mind still on his cousin.

“Has he though?” I asked cautiously. “Look, he’s your cousin. Your friend. Maybe you should just try talking to him? I don’t have any answers for you. But look at how he treated us all this morning. It wasn’t right. You and Visha and Florence didn’t deserve that.”

“Neither did you,” Theo said sadly, looking downwards.

I sighed. “Try telling Blake that. He’s punishing all of you to try to get to me. But it isn’t exactly out of character for him, is it?” I shook my head. “Listen to us. It’s like our lives revolve around Blake. There are more important things to talk about.”

“There are?” Theo said, perking up and giving me a little grin. “Like what?”

“Likeyourlove life,” I teased, nudging him with my elbow. “Who have you got your eye on this year? Come on, you know you can tell me.”

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