Page 16 of Rejected By Dragons

Unable to help myself, I look to Storm for a denial. But all I see is the harsh truth.

He did try to warn me.

If I subject myself to the trial again... If my dragon still refuses to Emerge...

I won't be a member of the Air Dragon Kingdom anymore. I'll be banished.

I'll never see Storm or Brynn again.

My heart cracks, but I refuse to let the fear inside me show. The idea of letting an Emergence pass me by and not trying to bring forth my dragon is absurd. I can't turn my back on my dragon.

I can't admit that I'm broken. Not after everything this town has put me though.

Exhaling hard, I stand up tall. "Well, then. I guess I'll just have to make sure that I don't fail."

Jasmine laughs out right.

Fury simply sneers. "Good luck with that."

With that, he tips his head toward the door. Again, I glance at Storm. Regret and fear swirl in his eyes. For a long moment, our gazes hold. I don't know what I'm waiting for. Some kind of acknowledgment. Some kind of defense.

He looks away, and my lungs constrict.

It's not until they're all gone that I can suck in a full breath.

"Assholes," Brynn mutters.

Seriously.

To my surprise, my hand is still clenched around the hanger of the dress.

The beautiful, amazing, perfect, way-too-expensive dress.

Well, fuck it. I turn toward the register.

If the Emergence is going to be my last stand, then at least I'm going to face it looking fabulous.

* * *

Late that night, long after I should be in bed, my phone chirps. I glance at the screen.

Storm: Sorry. Wish there was more I could do.

My vision fogs, but I blink the dampness away.

Ember: Yeah. Me, too.

Chapter Five

STORM

The morning of the Emergence, I wake with an itch under my skin. My dragon twists behind my sternum, as restless as I am. I grumble when I catch sight of the clock. It's almost nine. Considering that I slept like shit, I shouldn't be surprised to be up so late, but it still makes me feel even more unbalanced.

Throwing off the covers, I pad to the window and push back the curtains.

A heavy fog hangs over the world. The Oracle promised a clear night for the newly Emerged dragons to take flight, but I don't feel any easier for her assurances--or her magic.

Letting the curtains fall closed, I turn back to my room. It's huge, by anyone's standards. Probably bigger than some of the houses on the outskirts of town. Decorating it probably cost as much, too. I told my father's people I didn't care, I just wanted it to be comfortable. They swooped in while I was out one day and re-did the place in sleek, contemporary furnishings. Now it's all white walls with bright green and navy accents. Dark teak wood and polished chrome.

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