“I’m testing a theory.”
“You and your evasive answers,” I said, annoyed.
Still holding the bottle with the pliers, he strode toward the door.
“Do I really not get any answers? And don’t try the wholeI’ll have to kill youthing.”
Pausing in the doorway, he said, “You will. I wish there was a way that you could stay out of this, but…” He gestured toward Myth in a way that said I’d picked my fate already. “After the next night race, I’ll show you.”
Practically seething, I shook my head. “What if I’m not invited to that? What if Vanya doesn’t get invited either, and I can’t go?”
“I'll make sure you both are,” he said, cramming his hands in his pockets as he strolled away. “If you want answers, you do this my way.” As my lips opened to protest, he held up a finger to silence me, even though he couldn’t see my face. “My way, Miro.” When I said nothing, he lowered his hand and disappeared out the door.
CHAPTER 20
The following day, as I neared the back terrace of the school after flying lessons, I heard footsteps but didn't bother to look behind me until I heard Scarlett’s chuckle. She bumped my shoulder as she brushed past.
“How was your night, bottomdweller? You look tired.”
Don't respond. Don't respond, I told myself, struggling to remain calm and collected. She was trying to rile me, and I shouldn’t let her.
“Wherever you go at night, it’s a shame you haven’t been scooped up by the street sweepers yet,” she crooned.
My blood heated. She knew I’d been sneaking out, but it appeared she didn’t know why. I let out a long breath and stared at the grass.Don’t look down so much, Ari,my brother used to tell me.People will think you’re afraid. I forced my gaze up and kept walking.
“You know,” she said, stepping in front of me, “I'm surprised you even thought you had a chance of being a rider here. There are rules for how things work at Cardan Lott.”
“Let me pass,” I said as calmly as I could.
She giggled again, pressing her fingers to her lips. “Rush’s father is particular about who and what he lets near his dragons. His father and my father are friends,” she added with a little bounce on the balls of her feet.
Fear blazed hot and hurried up my spine. Did Scarlett know the truth about me, about Myth?
“Stop,” I said, unable to call up any other word.
“I’m only telling you the truth. You'll never make it here, Arivelle.”
The words pounded against my chest like brass-knuckled fists.
Scarlett spun on her heels and marched away, her blond hair whipping out beside her as Mabel and Yvonne, her two closest friends, chittered like squirrels as they hurried after her toward the back terrace. Turning to ascend the stairs, Scarlett peered down at me, her hand poised on the stone banister as her two ladies-in-waiting floated up the stairs, arm in arm.
She waited until I was only a few steps away before she said, “Your blood is worth less than the wild dragon they killed out there.”
I froze.
Like a debutante entering her first society ball, she rose to the terrace as if on wings, her steps making no noise at all.
Reluctantly, I followed, not knowing where else to go and wanting nothing more than to flop on my bed until the bell for dinner. Eyes focused on the doorway that led back into the school, I didn’t see the object headed my way until it hit my shoulder.
With a yelp of surprise, I hopped out of the way and braced myself for an attack. The absolute wrong thing to do.
Laughter erupted across the terrace. I turned narrowed eyes on the cackling students until my gaze snagged on the item that had hit me. My nose sensed it before I could admit what it was.
A hardened lump of dragon dung lay on the stones near my feet, cracked in half and now emitting a foul stench across the otherwise pristine space.
My jaw fell open as I realized what was nowon me.
I stepped over the dung, heading for the door, but I couldn’t fight the desire to turn, to look, to see if I could pick outwhohad done it. But when I glanced at the crowd of first and second years, I couldn’t tell who had thrown the refuse. I doubted Scarlett would ever touch it, even to chuck it at me, but I wouldn’t put it past her to tell someone else to do it. They had all turned away now, their attention already reabsorbed in themselves.
