He glanced sideways at me, spotted my blazer, and turned to face me. “If he’s as smart as I think he is, there’s a chance he didn’t flame, even when provoked with pain.” At my cringe, he stepped closer. “If you had tried to stop my father yesterday, it would have only been worse.”
My heart tore free from whatever held it in place. “If he flamed, he’ll die today. And I can’t stop it. I can’t stop it!” I pressed my hands to my face, as if that could stop my tears.
Rush closed the distance between us and wrapped me in his arms, and I relished the way he crushed me to himself. “If Myth flamed, then my father will know he’s a source of magic. You can bet he won’t waste that.” When I stiffened and looked up, he nodded down at me. “But if hedidn’tflame, then he’ll think one of two things: either Myth can flame and chose not to or he can’t flame and you’re godborn. A bottomsider who can bond? That would turn our world upside down, and my father doesn’t love when the world changes without his permission.” When my quiet sobs started again, he tucked my head against his neck. “You are the bravest person I’ve ever met. No one has stood up to this world the way you have.”
“But it was all useless.”
He tilted my chin up with two fingers. “Not useless.” For a moment, he held my watery stare. Whatever had transpired in the past twenty-four hours between us had cemented something new, like a foundation being laid for a building whose purpose and design I did not know. “Trying to change people’s minds, even if you fail, is never useless. You changed my mind.”
I sniffed, not certain I believed him. “My meeting with Vaughan starts in fifteen minutes.”
Rush released me and grabbed my shoulders. “Then we need to make a plan in case things go south.”
I satcold and rigid in the chair across from the headmaster’s desk, hands on my knees, back straight. Merlon Fairfax stood beside me as Vaughan delivered his news like punches, one right after the other, with no preamble, no softening, only direct hits to my composure.
The first blow: “We received a telegram from the breeder in Avencia you claim to have purchased Myth from. Myth’s papers, it appears, were fabricated.” The second: “The board demands your immediate expulsion.”
My stomach shrank as my world caved in around me.
The third: “Because of your deliberate falsification of your identity in addition to your dragon’s, which has put many people in danger, you are also hereby under arrest.”
“I beg your pardon,” sputtered Fairfax. “Now, I’ve known you a long time, Casper, and this is not ordinary behavior. I demand that she be shown some dignity.”
The air rushed from my lungs and I caved forward, elbows on my knees as I stared at the floor. The headmaster’s vague reflection was a dark shadow on the glossy wood.
“You knowingly fabricated those documents, so I don’t think it is appropriate to demand anything. The police will find it convenient that you are here too.” Vaughan stood, his face now limp and tired looking.
“What is that supposed to mean?” barked Fairfax.
“You are guilty of forgery, Merlon. There must be consequences.”
Fairfax spluttered. “Preposterous. How is this my fault? Or hers? Those papers were falsified by the breeder, not by me. Do your research, Casper.” He crossed his arms beneath his reddening cheeks. I didn’t even know Fairfax as well as the headmaster did, but even I could tell he was lying.
Headmaster Vaughan’s expression faltered briefly. Then he sighed. “I am only passing along information given to me. I will look into a further investigation regarding the documents, but as it stands, the board requires her removal and the law requires her arrest. She, at least, is not who you said she is.” Then to me, “I’m sorry, dear. Truly.”
“And by board you mean the duke,” huffed Fairfax.
Vaughan did not refute the statement, which drew a deeper frown from Fairfax.
“What about the bond test?” I said, head snapping up.
“What about it?” asked Vaughan.
“You said yesterday that there’s a way to test a bond.” I stood up. “Myth will pass that test, sir.”
The headmaster’s frown returned. “I thought they performed that test yesterday.”
Fairfax turned to me. “The dragon did choose her; you must have seen this. Bryce, surely, has seen it. Call him in.” He sounded more desperate than I’d thought he would. His pockets couldn’t save us now, it seemed.
Vaughan pinched the bridge of his nose. “Even if the bond test were administered, and, against all odds, you were to pass it, you and your dragon are not permitted to return to classes at Cardan Lott, Miss Mireaux. You have fabricated not only your own heritage, but that of your dragon, and have thus brought a stain upon our school that threatens to shut its doors. If all of the families demanding your expulsion pull their funding, we will be forced to close.” He sighed. “Either you leave, or everyone else does. As headmaster, I must do what is best for the school.”
My eyes closed slowly. This had gone all wrong.
“Casper,” hissed Fairfax, his voice pure vitriol. “When did your ideals of a better tomorrow bow to the bigots of a powerful past? You took this job because you believed you could make a difference for this country, this world, by educating young minds, and not just young minds, but the most powerful set of individuals in this country. Bonded riders. You have the ability to create real change here, and you are afraid to offend those who disagree with you.”
A swelling of pride filled my chest. I opened my eyes and smiled faintly at Fairfax.
“You have at your disposal the ability to prove, once and for all, that a bottomsider like her can bond with a dragon.” He jammed his index finger into the desk. “This would be life-changing.”
