“No, we do it mine,” I called, hurrying after him. “You want access to my dragon, you only get it if I’m with you.” I crossed my arms over my nightgown, suddenly more self-conscious about my attire.
A second’s hesitation, then, “Fine. Tomorrow night.” Before I could protest, he added, “One word of complaint, and I’ll expose him.”
Seething, I offered a firm nod.
“Now, I’ll wait until you’re back inside before leaving,” he said.
“Not a chance. You first.” I jerked my head toward the night waiting outside the long aisle of the lair.
“Saints. Fine. But you might want to cover up with that blanket, or someone’s liable to see you heading up the path.” He stormed from the lair, blew out his lamp, and disappeared into the darkness.
A few minutes later, wrapped in the dark wool blanket, I hurried back across the grounds, hoping no one was watching from the many windows of Cardan Lott.
CHAPTER 15
In history class the following morning, I could barely keep my eyes open as Professor Enplencourt droned on about the advancement of early draconarian techniques.
“The two brothers, after some experimentation, discovered the method by which to sever the nerve that feeds the flame duct,” she said, a smile lighting her olive-toned skin. “The death rate of young dragons plummeted, and the rate at which dragons bonded with humans exploded.” She lifted her arms.
“But so many dragons had to die before they figured it out,” Yvonne pointed out, tapping her pen against her paper, half-filled with notes.
“Indeed,” Enplencourt agreed, “but without their efforts, none of you would be bonded today.”
Yvonne shrugged and scribbled something on her paper.
“After their technique was confirmed as effective, it spread rapidly, and dragons were no longer the threat to our lifestyle that they had been before. It was their efforts that made the entire continent a safer place to live, and it was their discovery that brought Cavaria its initial power.” Our professor completeda circle around the room and paused, welcoming any further comments by spreading her hands before her.
When no one said anything, she cleared her throat, disappointment evident on her face. “You were not admitted to this school to simply act as sponges. Speak! Debate! Surely someone here besides Miss Martin has an opinion. Let no one attempt to convince you that history is solely comprised of facts.” She planted her hands on her wide hips, scanning our faces. “Miro, what do you think? You never speak.”
I jerked in my chair a little. “Um, I…” Snickers fluttered around the room. Vanya shot Scarlett a narrow glare.Success is your best weapon against them, Fairfax had said. I straightened my spine. “I’m curious what made the brothers think of cutting the flame ducts in the first place.”
Enplencourt’s head tilted in an approving way, but she lifted her hand to indicate she wanted someone else to join the discussion.
A boy from Sapphire laughed as his reply spilled out. “Why cut the flame duct? The dragons were decimating villages. Burning everything. Destroying entire harvests.”
Murmurs of agreement.
A glance at Enplencourt told me I was on my own to respond. “Yes, but then why not just kill the dragons? They were the enemy.” I hated the idea of killing dragons, but it was what humanity always did—we just killed the things that threatened us. The two brothers credited with discovering the flame duct solution had taken a different approach. I wanted to know why.
Horrified gasps filled the room. Then Covington leaned forward from his slouched position. “Because they could see the value in having a dragon that didn’t torch them.”
A few chuckles and nods from the other students.
I spun, elbow over the back of my chair so I could face him. “Sure. But what made them think it was possible to have a dragon without his flame?”
Covington’s brows flashed upward. “You never tried something just to see if it was possible?”
Prescott, who was sitting next to him, muttered, “House Ruby!” to a few hushed giggles and smiles from our housemates.
I rolled my eyes and faced the front once more. “Even now, we just kill the dragons deemed dangerous.” My heart was pounding as I thought of Myth, but I hoped my nervousness only looked like insecurity at speaking in class.
“Because the Crenshaw brothers discovered that cutting a dragon’s flame duct too late kills them anyway,” Mabel said, as if I’d made the stupidest possible statement.
Enplencourt, who’d strolled down the length of the classroom, clipped back to the blackboard. “Right you are, Miss Davenport. To drive this point home, I’ve arranged for a bit of show-and-tell today.”
She walked to the door, opened it, and leaned into the hall. “You may come in.”
A man wearing a suit and a thick leather glove strode into the room, a tiny green dragon perched on his arm.
