He sighed again. “I didn’t mean to break your arm. My wolf didn’t want to submit, and this was the only way. It won’t happen again.”
Interesting. He spoke about his wolf as if it were another being, or only part of himself. Maybe it was—two halves of the same whole.
“Why didn’t he want to submit? Because I’m a Dreg rat?” I scowled. Was everyone a rich, judgmental jerk?
Kaelric peered down at me with his emerald-green eyes, and I couldn’t help but remark again at how handsome he was.
“He’s used to being in charge. We both are. We don’t submit toanyone.” He growled the last part, and I grinned.
Stepping forward, I popped up onto my toes in an effort to reach his height. A futile attempt. He was a giant of a man.
“And yet you did,” I whispered in his ear, tauntinghim. “You submitted to me.” I don’t know where this boldness was coming from—he was a wolfkin after all; he could tear my throat out. But he’d broken my arm, and I wanted him to pay for it.
I popped back down on my heels and saw the glare back in his gaze.
“You little magicless human, we submitted tothat.” He pointed to the sword in my hand. “Andnothingelse.”
Well, his pleasant demeanor was nice while it lasted.
“Now stop being stubborn and let me heal you,” he ordered.
I snort-laughed, backing away from him. “You will touch me again over my dead body.”
He growled in frustration. This time, it was half wolf, and I took two steps back.
Just then, the door opened and Cassian returned, a short male with slicked-back red hair trailing in his wake.
“This is my friend, Jasok,” Cassian said. “He can heal your arm mostly, but there might be some residual pain.”
Jasok waved shyly to me. “I’m still learning how to use my power.”
Kaelric grinned beside me, and my stomachflipped over at the sight of his gorgeous, straight white teeth, the two canines protruding onto his lower lip slightly. “I can heal you completely. No pain. No broken bones, no bruising,” Kaelric boasted.
“No thanks,” I told him, and walked over to Jasok, giving him my injured arm.
I could hear Kaelric’s heavy breathing beside me, but I didn’t bother to look at him.
Cassian and Jasok shared a look, then Jasok got to work on my arm. Kaelric stepped outside to guard the door while Jasok wove purple strands of light all over my arm, like weaving a basket.
Halfway through his weaving, I felt a snap and screamed.
Kaelric came bursting through the doors, hands shifting to claws as if ready to fight. When he saw that it was just me being healed by Jasok, he relaxed.
I peered at Cassian. “What happens next?”
“You will sleep this week at Aerlyn Academy. Each weekend, you will take the train to the Steel Mountains to fight in the Arcane Trials.”
I nodded. “I need to get word to my mother. She’ll be worried about me, and my brother will need to show up to my jobs or—” I stopped talking because they didn’t need the particulars. “I just need to send a letter.”
Cassian nodded, leaving the room and returning with a pen and paper.
Once my arm was healed, I thanked Jasok and then sat in the corner writing a letter.
Mom,
I survived the first step! I got a powerful weapon and bonded with a wolf who will protect me and keep me safe. I won’t be able to show up for my shifts, so have Tyrus cover for me for the next three weeks, so we don’t lose the income. I’ll send food if I can. I love you. Give everyone a hug for me.
-Brynn
