I'd been so consumed by my own issues that I hadn't stopped to consider how difficult this outcome must be for Shovia. Shehad never wanted to be a rider, but that was more because she had no reason to believe she could, and I'd assumed that she had been pleasantly surprised to have been found gifted.
"I'm sorry," I murmured, turning on my side again. "I mean, I'm not sorry that you are here with me. It makes this whole thing so much easier. But I'm sorry that you had to give up on your dreams."
"Eh," she waved a dismissive hand. "Dreams are meant to be adjusted." She turned on her side to face me again. "The upside is that I'm going to spend eternity with my best friend, provided that neither of us gets killed, that is." She frowned. "Swear to me that you are not going to die and leave me alone here. It would be intolerable."
I smiled. "It's not up to me, Shovia. It's up to Elu or fate."
She snorted. "We make our own fate or at least help it along. Swear it and it will become true."
"You swear it first."
"Fine." She sat up in bed. "I swear that I won't let myself get killed as long as you are alive."
"That's not fair." I sat up as well. "It's blackmail."
"So? It will hold us both accountable to each other."
I shook my head. "If you want me to swear anything, I will only do it if you don't condition your vow on me being alive."
A smile bloomed on Shovia's face. "You are a tough negotiator, my deceptively sweet friend. But fine." She got out of her bed, crossed over to mine, and took my hand in hers. "I swear not to let myself get killed. Period. No conditions."
I squeezed her hand and repeated the vow back to her.
Letting out a dramatic breath, she pulled my blanket over her feet, letting me know that she had no intentions of going back to her bed anytime soon. "So, what's next with Alar? Are you two going to sneak off to one of those terraces and make out under the auroras?"
Was that her attempt to lighten the mood after our solemn vows to each other?
Or was it just my old friend who was overly interested in my nonexistent sex life?
If not for the fact that those terraces without railings scared the living auroras out of me, I had to admit that the image was tempting—Alar's arms around me, the cool mountain air, the dancing lights overhead—but I shook my head. "We're taking it slow. We've got enough to deal with just adjusting to all this." I gestured at the stone walls. "Besides, I'm pretty sure that's against academy rules."
No one had said anything yet, but they probably would tomorrow when the orientation continued and we were given the academy rule book.
Shovia scoffed. "Rules are meant to be broken."
"I'm not you, Shovia. I'm not a rebel."
"And thank Elu for that," she said, folding her arms behind her head. "One of me is more than enough for the Citadel."
I couldn't argue with that. "We've got more important things to focus on anyway. Like surviving orientation and figuring out how I'm going to overcome my fear of heights."
Shovia's expression grew contemplative. "About that. How did you do on the way over here? Were you so focused on sexy Ravel that you forgot to be afraid?"
I was distracted by a conversation with a dragon, but I couldn't tell her that.
"I was terrified, but having Ravel's arms around me helped."
"I bet." Grinning, she leaned over and kissed my cheek. "Now, tell me more about what happened with Alar. Was there a smoldering look? A caress? A kiss? Anything I can vicariously enjoy?"
I laughed. "No, nothing like that. We just talked. Cleared the air. He did call breakfast tomorrow a 'date,' though."
"Progress!" She clapped her hands. "I knew you two would work it out. And you did it all without my help. My little Kailin, all grown up and confronting relationship problems like a big girl."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling. "It wasn't a relationship problem. We're not in a relationship."
"Yet," she said, pointing a finger at me. "But you will be. By the way, did Alar mention anything about that blonde he was flirting with at dinner?"
I frowned. "Vessa? No, it didn't come up."
