Page 46 of The Scars Within
“Laney got me hooked on this fantasy fiction series calledThrone of Steel,” I said, turning back to the shelves. “Ah, here’s the next one I need.”
As I grabbed the book and turned back to Shayde, my eyes caught sight of a familiar figure a few bookshelves down. It was Rhodes.
“Hey!” I whispered urgently. “Let’s head down that corner stairway. I haven’t checked out those shelves yet.” I started moving in the other direction, but Shayde straightened up, noticing my sudden shift. As he did, he must have caught Rhodes in his peripheral vision. Shayde paused for a moment but then whistled over to Rhodes.
Rhodes looked up from the book he was browsing, and his expression shifted from casual interest to surprise and confusion as he saw Shayde and then me.
“Ready for tomorrow, brother?” Shayde called out, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet library.
“Sssh!” a library assistant nearby shushed us.
Rhodes continued to stare at Shayde, and then at me. His relaxed demeanor seemed to crumble as he processed the sight of us together. The look on his face was a mix of shock and puzzlement as if he’d been caught off guard by something unexpected.
The palpable tension struck me as odd since Rhodes had never shown any interest in spending time with me or getting to know me aside from our shifts at the station. Yet it was clear that seeing me with Shayde had struck a nerve. Shayde didn’t give his brother a chance to respond. Instead, he turned back to me, laid his hand on my lower back, and guided me toward the corner staircase I’d mentioned.
As we moved away from Rhodes, I glanced over my shoulder. He remained rooted to the spot, his gaze fixed on us as we left. Now, it was me who felt a mix of something unexpected.
Chapter 19
“Where in the elements are you taking me, Shayde?” I asked as he guided me, his hands covering my eyes. I was completely blind, trusting him to lead me.
“Just wait, we’re almost there. Keep walking straight—I won’t let you trip. Unless you want me to,” he added dryly, and I could feel him shrugging his shoulders.
I took another cautious step forward. “And why would I want to trip?”
Shayde leaned in closer, his breath warm against my neck. “So I could be a gentleman and help you up, of course,” he whispered in my ear.
A spark of defiance flared in me. “And what makes you think I need a man to help me up if I fall?” I retorted.
“You don’t. I have zero doubts about that. But pinky promise me that if you ever do need saving, you’ll let me. Okay?”
His words shook me to my core. Nobody has ever promised to save me before.
I sniffled, fighting the sting behind my eyes. “Pinky.”
We came to a stop, and he whistled into the quiet.
With my eyes still closed, I stood still, feeling the cool breeze on the parts of my face that weren’t covered by his hands. I presume we are now outside the college grounds. The air was almost too calm when suddenly, I heard a powerful whoosh of wind. A deep, resonant rumble filled the air, growing louder each second. My heart began to race, but I focused on the sound.
The ground trembled with a thunderous impact. Vibrations traveled up through my legs as if something massive had landed in front of me. The wind whipped around us, rustling my hair and clothes. My eyes were still closed, but I could hear the heavy, leathery sound of wings unfolding. A warm, rumbling exhale of a dragon’s breath blew in my face as the growing vibrations told me it was stepping closer and closer.
I stood my ground, even as my heart pounded through my chest. I waited for Shayde to intervene, but he didn’t move. He didn’t step in front of me to guard me or signal to the dragon that I was a friend, not a foe.
A wave of anxiety crashed over me. Did Shayde summon his dragon to burn me to a crisp? Was he working with the ones who captured me and held me prisoner in that shed? Was this all a ploy to get me alone and finish what they started?
If it was, I had walked right into it like a child lured by a piece of candy.
The ground beneath me trembled as the dragon’s footsteps drew closer. Shayde slowly lowered his hands from my face, and I realized I’d been squeezing my eyes shut. The scent of citrusy bergamot and spice lingered in the air, telling me Shayde had moved past me toward the dragon. The sound of his boots in the grass confirmed he was now turning back to me.
“Scar,” Shayde called softly, reaching for my hands. “You can open your eyes.”
I hesitated, cracking one eye open. Shayde chuckled under his breath.
“I want you to meet Drithan,” he said, nodding toward the enormous brown dragon who almost appeared black with the growing night. Drithan exhaled again deeply, the warm breath blowing my braid behind me.
I cautiously opened my other eye, lowering my gaze to the ground. A fragment of knowledge surfaced in my mind—what to do in the presence of a dragon that isn’t bonded to you. It is said that in such moments, you should bow your head as a sign of respect, allowing the dragon to sense your intentions. Then, you wait, giving the creature time to decide whether to remain in your presence, leave, or—well, burn you to a crisp.
“He says hello.”
