Who do you really serve, Remy?
ChapterNine
The sun was beginning its descent, casting long golden shadows over the Ascension Grounds. Most of the cadets had either drifted off toward the barracks or were still watching the aftermath of the last trial with wary eyes. The scent of scorched stone and blood still lingered in the air, curling in my lungs like smoke.
Major Kaler’s voice cut through the silence like a whip. “Rebec. Rayne. To the podium.”
Zander stiffened beside me, his brow furrowing as he stepped forward. “What is this about, major?”
The major didn’t even blink. “It’s not your place to question an order, Prince.”
I exchanged a quick glance with Zander as we stopped before the podium, the heat of the afternoon still clinging to the stone underfoot. My stomach twisted, not in fear exactly, but in that way it always did before something important happened. Or something dangerous.
The major turned to face us, expression unreadable. “Call your dragons.”
Zander’s jaw tightened. “Why?”
Kaler’s gaze hardened like ice sheathed in steel. “Now.”
Zander sighed through his nose, then lifted his chin, closing his eyes just briefly before the call rang out across the bond.
Hein,he whispered through the tether, reluctant.
I did the same, but slower.Kaelith?
Her response was instant, and sharp.
What does he want now?
To see you,I answered, feeling her irritation coil hot beneath my ribs.It wasn’t my idea.
No,she growled.It never is. But I go anyway, don’t I?
A shadow swept across the sky moments later, followed by another. Hein’s silver wings tore through the clouds like a storm descending, and Kaelith followed, her sleek amethyst form cutting across the light like a blade of violet fire.
They landed hard. Kaelith first, her claws carving shallow trenches into the stone as she touched down, wings flaring before she tucked them in with a twitch of visible annoyance.
She didn’t roar. Didn’t snarl.
But she radiated displeasure, her tail snapping like a whip, her eyes narrowed to glowing slits that locked onto Major Kaler with the full weight of ancient disdain.
What is this nonsense?she muttered in my mind, her voice like thunder wrapped in velvet.
Hein said nothing, but the way he stood behind Zander with his spine straight was obvious.
And on the podium, between them, the major smiled.
But it wasn’t the kind of smile that made anyone feel safe.
The major’s hands were clasped behind his back as he paced in front of the podium, the echo of our dragons’ landings still hanging heavy in the air. Every cadet still lingering on the Ascension Grounds watched with wide, wary eyes.
Kaelith’s breath was low and ragged behind me, steam curling from her nostrils as her wings twitched with barely-restrained fury. Hein stood beside her, his scales darkening shade by shade, his head angled like a predator waiting for the first sign to strike.
Zander sensed it too. “Whatever this is,” he said tightly, stepping forward, “you’d better start explaining. Fast.”
The major stopped, turning to face us with that unreadable mask of composure. “You and Rebec will be sent on opposing missions,” he said simply.
I blinked. “What?”
