Page 1 of A Witch and Her Dragon
Chapter 1
alina
THE MAGNOLIA TREES ARE IN full bloom, their white-and-pink blossoms providing cheerful color to the garden. It was a long, cold winter, and spring has finally arrived. Which means I’m outdoors again, breathing in the flower-scented air and feeling my boots squish into the rain-soaked earth. Just last night, it poured, the droplets striking the windows in my chambers loudly enough to drown out the sound of the fires crackling in the hearths.
A crisp breeze twirls through the garden, sending a tendril of wavy hair dancing in front of my eyes. But my focus is beyond that, on the target one of the guards set up for me. Straw bursts from the holes in the human-shaped dummy, and a few pieces fall to the wet earth, only to be swept away with another burst of chill air.
I take a breath and lift my longbow, drawing the bowstring back until my thumb rests just near the corner of mymouth. The fletching tickles my skin as I breathe out slowly, adjusting my aim just slightly to account for the breeze still making the magnolia trees sway.
Then I release my arrow, letting the bowstring roll off my fingertips.
The arrow flies with a soft whistle and embeds itself into the dummy—right in the middle of the chest.
Lowering my longbow, I smile. At my feet, my spirit companion, Yuki, lets out an approving whine. I kneel to scratch the Arctic fox behind his ears.
“What do you think?” I ask.
He flicks his gaze to the dummy, which is now peppered with arrows. “Better. Your aim is improving.” The breeze dances through his long white hair, making it ripple like an ocean tide.
“Your Highness,” calls a voice from behind me.
I stand and turn to find my lady-in-waiting, Ms. Florence Fairhaven, moving toward me at a rapid pace. She holds her skirts up with one hand, keeping them clear of the mud, and in the other is an envelope.
It looks like a thick envelope. An important envelope.
My breath catches.
“Can you take this, please?” I say, holding my longbow out to the guard currently overseeing me. I don’t know his name—the knights generally have very little to do with me apart from standing guard outside whatever room I’m in or accompanying me whenever I leave the castle, like statues with ever-watching eyes but very little to say. He steps forward and takes the bow from my hands with a sharp nod of his head, and once I’m free of it, I hurry to meet Ms.Fairhaven, Yuki trotting along beside me—though he’s careful to avoid the muddy puddles.
“Is that...?” I ask breathlessly as I come to stand before her.
“Correspondence from Coven Crest Academy,” Ms. Fairhaven says. She holds the letter out to me, her lips pulling into a small smile, and I take the envelope with trembling fingers.
The purple wax seal—depicting the phases of the moon—is unbroken, and the envelope is thick. My heart pounds in my chest. Slowly, frost begins to creep from my fingertips, crawling across the parchment.
I’m letting my fear get the better of me.
Quickly, I banish the ice, then look up and meet Mr. Fairhaven’s soft brown eyes.
“Go on, then,” she says, clasping her hands before her and giving me an encouraging smile. “We’ll not know until we know.”
I bite my lip. Yuki presses himself against my calf, his presence an anchor of calm.
Then, though my hands still shake, I use my magic to create an ice blade at the tip of my finger and run it through the wax seal, slicing it open.
Inside is a carefully folded letter. I ease it from the envelope and unfold the parchment.
Dear Princess Alina Ravenscroft,
It is with the utmost delight and honor that we extend to you this official letter of acceptance to Coven Crest Academy for the upcoming academic year. After careful consideration of yourapplication, we are thrilled to welcome you as a member of our distinguished student body.
Your unique talents and dedication to the study of the arcane arts have impressed our faculty, and we have no doubt that you will bring a remarkable presence to our halls. It is our privilege to offer you a place among the finest young witches, warlocks, and magical scholars in the kingdom.
As a member of the Coven Crest community, you will have access to our renowned curriculum and the guidance of our esteemed professors. We are confident that your time here will not only further refine your magical abilities, but will also allow you to form lasting bonds with fellow students and contribute to the academy’s rich legacy.
Additional information regarding your class schedule and roommate assignment will be forthcoming.
We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to welcome you to Coven Crest this fall. Should you have any questions before your arrival, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Admissions Office, and we will gladly assist you.
