Page 13 of A Witch and Her Dragon
“Me either,” Poppy says. She’s lingering by the door, a few paces away from Raelan, looking uncertain about having snuck into the classroom.
“One of my grandfather’s witches picked you,” I say, taking a seat on the desk at the front of the classroom. Yuki sets off to sniff around, exploring the books and potted plants.
“What do you mean?” Maeve tilts her head and narrows her vivid purple eyes.
“She’s a seeress. I don’t know how her magic works, but she saw you three...” I glance around at the three girls, all so different and interesting in their own ways. “Hopefully that means we’ll get along.”
Lyra lets out a crisp laugh, but it’s harmless. “We’ll see.” She looks out the window, then turns around and pops a hip, crimson-eyed gaze landing on Raelan. “And what about you, Sir Ashvale? How’d you end up here with the princess?”
My chest tightens up as my gaze slowly slides to Raelan. He’s not spoken a word since we were up in the north tower. He’s quiet as a shadow, though substantially more intimidating than one.
His dark eyes shift to Lyra. “His Majesty chose me for this duty. It’s an honor to protect Her Highness.”
Raelan’s words make my stomach squeeze. “While we’re here, you can just call me Alina,” I tell him. “No need to be so proper.”
Now Raelan’s eyes are on me. His sudden eye contact sends a shiver up my spine. In this light, his skin glows with a hint of gold, and something around his neck flashes. Looking closer, I notice it’s some sort of jewelry. A chain, maybe?
Odd.
None of the other knights wear any sort of adornment—as far as I know, that’s not within dresscode. I can’t recall if I’ve seen it on Raelan before or if he’s just started wearing it as of late.
At first, I think Raelan is going to refuse, to insist upon calling me by my proper title. But then he gives me a barely perceptible nod and says, “Very well, Alina.”
Another shiver goes down my back, accompanied by a single skip of my heart. He’s never said my name before. And somehow, it sounds different on his lips. Prettier. Foreign, almost.
The girls give me varying looks, but Lyra’s is by far the most obvious. Her crimson eyebrows are lifted, mouth turned into a sideways smile.
But before she can say anything, the door handle jiggles, and then the door swings open.
Poppy gasps and jumps out of the way so fast you’d think Maeve’s spirit companion, Isis, had just tried to strike her. Not that Isis bites—according to Maeve, at least. I’ve not yet become quite used to looking for the red-bellied snake before sitting on the couches. Lyra almost sat on her just the other day, and she probably would have if Poppy hadn’t pushed her swiftly out of the way.
A witch stands in the doorway, blinking at us in surprise. She’s wearing a robe trimmed in yellow—I believe that designates her as a second-year, while our robes are all trimmed in blue. Her gaze flits between the four of us, then lands on Raelan, and her eyes widen.
“Wh-what are you doing in here?” she asks. “Classrooms are off-limits outside of class hours.”
Poppy shrinks like she wishes she could disappear. Maeve just swings her legs some more, looking unbothered,and Lyra glances out the window into the sunlit garden like no one even said anything.
I open my mouth to reply, but Raelan shifts, turning so he’s facing the witch.
“It’s Nella, right?” he says. His voice is warm and soft, so unlike the tone he uses when he speaks with me.
Immediately, the girl’s cheeks flush pink. She blinks up at him. “That’s right. We met on move-in day.” Her fingers grasp for the hem of her school robe. “I didn’t think you’d remember, Sir Ashvale.”
His smile is quick and easy. And it’s so startling, I realize I’ve never seen it before. Every time we speak, he regards me with a neutral expression at best. Sometimes, though, I catch him watching me through narrowed eyes, his jaw tight, like he can’t stand having to be here and watch over me, like every moment spent in my presence is a nuisance to him.
But that’s between him and Grandfather. If he doesn’t want to be here, he should’ve said something before we departed for Coven Crest.
“Of course I remember. Your help was much appreciated.” He gives her another one of those smiles.
A kernel of heat flares to life in my stomach. Why is thisannoyingme so much?
“I was happy to help, but...” Her eyes scan the four of us again, then land on Yuki where he’s seated beside a potted plant, soaking in the sunlight. “But what are you all doing in here?”
“Just finding their classrooms before the semester begins tomorrow. We didn’t mean to intrude.”
“Oh.” Nella’s gaze slides back to Raelan. Her cheeks flare again, and she glances away like she can feel their heat. “It’s okay. I did the same thing my first year. But you’d better hurry up—the professors just got out of the faculty meeting, and they’ll all be getting their classrooms set up for tomorrow. I’m sure Professor Stone is on his way here now. And he can be a bit... moody. But don’t tell him I said that!”
Raelan’s dark eyes sparkle. I clench my teeth.
