Page 75 of Dragon Unleashed

“You’re so much better,” I tell Naeve as we walk away from the last training session before our exams. “Just remember how things were that first attempt.”

“You’ve got this!” Zephyr says, dancing along beside us. He’s nearly skipping. It’s easy for him; he’s trained with Farrell since they were kids. He might not be brawny but he’s quick, and he thinks sideways, using trickery. I swear helikesthe scenarios.

“I don’t know.” Naeve tugs on her scraggly bun. “I’m a scholar, not a fighter. I’m so strung out about it that it’s taken all the magic out of Solstice. Sugarpuffs! I can’t even enjoy my knitting, and I’ve barely seen Beck.”

“Andthere’sthe real problem. You haven’t been getting any.” Zephyr slings an arm around each of our shoulders. “Want my advice, ladies?”

“No,” I shoot back.

“Go get laid. Too late do to anything else before the exams tomorrow.”

He winks and vanishes in the direction of the professors’ residences. I guess he made up with Professor Allegra. All right for him. Not like Chano and I are even talking, never mind shagging. I rub my Aeternum mark. At least it hasn’t faded any further.

Naeve and I trudge back to our dorm, arms linked. There’s a knot in my gut, and an ache in my gums.

By the time we’re at our door, Naeve’s phone has rung multiple times.

“Zephyr’s right. I’m going to spend the night with Beck,” she announces.

One quick sweep of the room later and she has a bag packed. I stand, watching her leave. A single strand of yarn pokes out of her pocket and flutters behind her all the way down the corridor.

Serves me right for not getting my nerve up sooner to ask her. My gums ache in protest.

I’m still staring after Naeve when Chano stalks down the hall, fists clenched. My feet back me up into my room.I don’t need his bullshit, not tonight. Before I can shut my door completely, Chano jams a foot in the gap and shoulders inside. His biceps bulge, his crisp T-shirt outlining more muscles than he has a right to have; his sweatpants are slung low on his hips.

His gaze travels down me, and I wince. I know how I look. Sweaty, with bloodstained gym kit, grime under my nails, and tangled hair. Surreptitiously I sweep my hair into a more manageable ponytail.

“Ch-Chano, hi.”

He leans in toward me and I back up farther. Chano steps after me, letting my door shut behind him. I swallow.I’m not afraid of him. I’m not.

He looms over me, and I square my shoulders, standing my ground. Our breaths mingle for a moment before his lips collide with mine in a bruising kiss. My eyes flutter shut, and I lean into it, all my thoughts gone.

With a grunt he lets me go and takes a step back, rubbing his sleeve across his mouth.

“I came because it’s exams tomorrow.”

“Oh,” I say.

He sighs. “I came so you can feed.”

My eyes widen. “I…It’s not that I don’t appreciate the thought. I’m struggling with the pangs. But that would be weird. We’re not even talking. I—I don’t even understand what that kiss was.”

Chano scrubs a hand over his crew cut and scowls. “Don’t misunderstand, Lorelei. I don’t want you near me.”

I blink up at him in confusion.

“I don’t know what the kiss was either. Blame my demon. Look, I don’t want you near me, but I don’t want you failing.”

He reaches into the satchel slung over his shoulder and pulls out a bag of blood, thrusting it into my arms. The slight warmth takes me by surprise. “Drawn less than an hour ago. It should help.”

His fingers trail down the side of my face, setting my skin on fire. Slowly, he tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear, before snatching his hand back. He glowers at me like somehow it’s my fault, before storming out of my room.

Chapter Thirty-seven: Lorelei

I smooth my hands down the front of my plaid academy skirt and clasp them firmly in my lap. This is excruciating. Watching Naeve inside her illusion is torture. It was bad enough with the boys. They’re decent fighters, they’ve trained for years. Naeve, not so much. Iknowit’s not real, but watching her face an enemy alone is awful.

That I can even see what she’s going through is mind-bending. This level of tech? It’s state-of-the-art. I shuffle my ass on the hard plastic chair, bumping Val’s shoulder and shooting her a grimace. I half wish I didn’t have to watch this on the giant screen dominating the front of the hall. I feel so damn helpless. Although at least we don’t have to fight as an allegiance in the exam. We’d destroy each otherwithoutthe help of—I squint again at the screen—whatever the hell that thing is. A troll? I really need my eyes tested.

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