I turned, expecting to see Miss Lee, but she was gone. There was only the dragon, who stood on all four limbs with Aura at his feet. Aura’s tail swatted the dragon in the face before she trotted over to John. The dragon snorted, a white fluff flying away, and then dipped his head toward me before taking off into the air.
Did the dragon just bow to me?
Chapter Thirty-Five
Selene
Priscillahadlandedthejet at the airport Fives Academy utilized and joined us for the ride back to the academy. She planned on staying for a short while to assist with the security of the academy upon our return. Guard Taylor, the same guard who had caught Ender and me the night we left, met us at the hangar and escorted us back to the school. The moment we arrived, I met Vivian on the east dormitory’s roof and began filling her in on everything. And of course, I had brought the Oreos I had picked up on the way back to the academy.
She ate the filling of a cookie as she contentedly swung her legs over the roof, the grounds quiet. The sun had set, but the days were starting to get longer again.
“So we technically have Mom’s last name?” She grabbed an Oreo from the package and split it in half.
“We do.” I smiled gently, happy that she still called Mom her mom despite now knowing that she wasn’t her biological mother.
“And her sister’s last name—my real mom?” Viv glanced at me, and I nodded. “That doesn’t seem very smart if they were trying to keep our identities hidden.”
I shrugged. They probably had thought it was a very common name, though she was right.
The last forty-five minutes had been story time about everything that had happened during the trip and what John had told me. The briefing I had given her over the phone had lacked details, and after the mage attack, John had successfully convinced me to travel back to Fives Academy. Ender wouldn’t go back without me, and Vivian was still in danger at the academy.
“That was the only Double Stuf Oreo package in the store. You might want to eat them sparingly; I’m not sure when we’ll be able to get more.” I glanced at the half-empty pack.
“I’ve been out, and we both know I get hangry without them.” Viv grinned, but it wasn’t her full, joyful grin. “Maybe we can convince the academy to add them to their food pickup.”
“It’s been, what? A few days without them? You had enough to last you weeks when I left,” I teased.
“It’s called stress eating.” She glanced down at her half-eaten Oreo. “I regret that I said it was okay for you to go without me.”
“I’m sorry.” I glanced up at the stars, sighing, then faced her. “It wasn’t fair for me to ask you to stay. But I am not sorry for keeping you safe. I will do anything to protect you.”
“I know,” Viv said. “I’d do the same for you, and that is why I should’ve gone.”
“Viv.” I softened my voice. “It’s not your responsibility to look after me.”
“So you only protect me because it’s your responsibility?” she asked, her voice edged with doubtfulness.
“No.” I bumped her shoulder. “It’s more than that. We’re family.”
Even if we are technically cousins and not biologically sisters.
“Exactly.”
I nodded in understanding. But I would still protect her even if that meant upsetting her. That would never change.
“So.” Viv’s voice lightened as she truly grinned this time. “Ender is your soul-bound?”
“Yes.” I glanced over the academy grounds. “We have an elemental bond.”
I had casually slipped it in while talking about our trip and why Miss Lee had stopped trying to kill me. Viv didn’t let it slide and told me we would circle back to that and go over it in great detail.
I had hoped she would forget.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Selene
ItwasChristmasmorning,two days since we had gotten back from Singapore. Viv had spent the nights in my dorm while Sydney stayed with April. We caught up, watched movies, and ate snacks. She went back to her dorm to freshen up before brunch at ten thirty.
