“Bobby Kowalski,” Goth Girl said, like the name was the only explanation we needed. “That dragon hasn’t left me alone all summer. I swear to the Seven Gods he wants to bond with me.”
She pointed to her mouth and made a gagging sound. “He still doesn’t realize that it’s not gonna happen. I stole his carriage and ended up crashing into another one trying to get away from him. Simple hit and run, my bad. They’ll probably add reckless driving too, if I get caught.”
“Who are you, exactly?” I asked. People on the streets jumped out of the way to avoid getting run over. The police behind us had to slow down in order to avoid hitting anyone. We were losing them.
“Irena Delmare,” she said quickly. “But I hate my first name, so you’d better call me Delmare.”
“Point taken,” I said. “And you’re a…?”
“Dragon Faction,” Delmare breathed. “I like bad boys.”
She showed me her right hand quickly before returning it to the reins. On her palm, I saw the mark of a reptile footprint, with long claws.
I wasn’t surprised. Dragons seemed like they’d go hand in hand with her personality. She was destructive and loud. Didn’t mean that in a bad way— it meant she was fun.
“Dragons are so big and scary,” Odette said, and she shuddered. “Are you sure you can handle being bonded to one?”
Delmare snorted. “Dragons should be afraid of me.”
I smiled. I liked her.
“What about you?” Delmare asked. Odette looked at me in interest. I didn’t realize I hadn’t yet told them.
“Wolven.” I said the word like it was mine— like it was something I belonged to. With a start, I realized that it was. Ibelongedto the wolven Faction. They were mine, and I was theirs. If the mark on my hand was right, I was going to bond with a wolf. My future husband, my soulmate, was probably somewhere nearby, milling amongst the students at the University.
He could be anyone. Knowing that the person I was meant to be with was within the vicinity of the city made my palms sweat. I could meet himtoday.I wasn’t sure I was ready for this. I wasn’t even sure what bonding would be like. Would I lose my entire world, my sense of self, once I formed a bond with a complete stranger I’d never met? I wasn’t ready to sacrifice who I was for some guy. I never would be.
“Ah,” Delmare said. “Noted. Makes sense, with the standoffish personality.”
“I’m not standoffish!” I shouted.
“Temper, too. Goes with your red hair,” Delmare said. “Don’t worry. Doesn’t bother me much. Dragons are famous for that, too.”
She had me pegged. “Why don’t you just pull over?” I asked.
Delmare laughed. “And turn myself in? Never. This is too much fun.” She slapped the reins again. I glanced behind us as Delmare took a turn onto a side street that nearly made the carriage tip over. Odette and I clung to the seats like cats before the carriage righted itself and came slamming back down on two wheels again. Delmare took a few more crazy turns, zig-zagging around the multiple alleyways that Dolinska seemed to provide. I was getting dizzy.
Finally, the cries of the police were far in the distance. We must’ve lost them. “Whoa there,” Delmare said, and she pulled on the reins. The horses came to a slow walk, snorting. “Easy now.”
She turned around to look at us as the horses pulled forward. “So, Arcanea University, huh?”
“Yeah. First Year!” Odette peeped.
“Me too,” Delmare said. “Got any hobbies?”
“Ballet!” Odette said.
“Ice skating,” I rattled off.
“This is a school for jocks,” Delmare mumbled irritably under her breath. “Does anyone doartanymore?”
I shook my head. “I can’t draw worth a crap.”
“I crochet,” Odette added. “Does that count?”
Delmare let out a sigh. “Oh, well. I guess it’s only me.”
We left the alleyway and ended up on a wide road that led up a hill. There were a lot of carriages on this road, and it was packed with kids lugging their bags. This had to be the way to the university. “Why did you pick us up in the first place?” I asked.
