Page 76 of Wings of Ashes
That wasthe second time Nix implied she felt unsafe.
KILL, Ryker’s dragon purred in his mind. He wanted to know whom she felt threatened by. He wanted to know why she felt the need to become a strong fighter.
He wanted to rip apart anyone who made her feel unsafe—limb by bloody limb.
Other things he wanted to rip included Nix’s tiny combat uniform shorts. They were longer on her yesterday. Had she grown taller in so little time?
Her thighs also appeared more shapely today. Thicker. Deliciously round.
Ryker shook his head.
She mistook his head shake as a “no” to teaching her combat moves.
She pointed an accusatory finger at his chest and asked, “Is this because of what I said yesterday? I apologized for that. I’ve been…on edge lately. I know you are not some mindless, bloodthirsty monster. Yousavedme today. I’m, uh, I’m grateful to you.”
Grateful?Ryker’s heart pounded behind his ribcage.
“I misjudged you; you surprised me. I’m having to unlearn a lot of things in this life at the moment.” Nix huffed in frustration and kicked a pebble on the ground. “I’m sorry for how I’ve acted. Could we start over? Start fresh? Please?”
Ryker nodded.
“I’m Nix,” she said and reached out a hand for him to shake.
Hesitating, he shyly clasped her small hand in his meaty one, reminding himself to be as gentle as possible. He could break her wrist as easily as break a pencil. “Ryker.”
The moment her fingers touched his hand, his inner fire flared inside him, blazing hot.
He inhaled sharply, breathing in her tart strawberries and roasted marshmallow scent. Electricity burned his inner palm where he touched her skin, leaving a powerful sting and lingering warmth.
He quickly let go of her soft, fragile hand and stared at her again.
That sensation… It was like an adrenaline shot of power.
And it had come from her.
Ryker analyzed the new, light raspberry red color of her hair. Cygni were water shifters, known for water manipulation and siren-like enchantments.
The electric spark that jumped from Nix’s skin at the contact of Ryker’s hand on hers was not a water shifter capability.
If she was not a swan shifter, then what was she?
30
CHAPTER
When Nix got out of combat class, she typed, “Learn how to fight,” into her phone’s web browser and waited as it loaded.
If Ryker and Professor Matten did not plan to teach Nix real strategies to overcome an attacker, Nix would find the knowledge somewhere else.
Her phone screen loaded onto a fully white page that read, “Violence is a restricted topic at the academy. Your search has been logged. Please refrain from searching similar topics.”
The academy hadblockedher search?
Grinding her teeth, she typed, “Learn how to defend myself as a woman.”
The result appeared as, “Violence is a restricted topic at the academy. Your search has been logged. Please refrain from searching similar topics.”
“‘Defending myself’ is considered violence?” she muttered in frustrated disbelief. This was ridiculous.
