Page 27 of The Fifth Heir

Not abandoned.

Waiting.

Beyond the common room, a second arch led into a shared sleeping chamber.

Five beds had been arranged along its curved wall.

Not four established rooms with a temporary place found for me.

Five.

The bed nearest the windows was carved from dark wood. Another had silver posts, while a third stood beneath heavy blue curtains. The fourth was broad and plain, positioned closest to the chamber’s outer door.

The fifth was smaller than the others and covered in a clear layer of crystal.

I approached it before I could stop myself.

The moment my fingers touched the bedpost, color traveled through the transparent surface. Red, violet, silver, and blue separated beneath my hand, then merged into clear light again.

The room’s runes awakened.

All of them.

Heat flared behind me. Cold brushed my left arm. A current lifted loose strands of my hair, and the shadows around my feet deepened.

Four elemental powers answering the same room.

Answering me.

No one spoke.

For the second time that day, an ancient part of Crown Wing Academy had recognized me before any living dragon was willing to do the same.

Chapter 5

Talia

The crystal bed continued glowing beneath my hand.

Thin bands of color moved through the clear frame, gathering beneath my fingers before spreading into the floor. The nearest wall runes awakened in response, their light soft and colorless.

I lifted my hand.

The glow remained.

“This room has been waiting for you,” Rafe said.

I looked over my shoulder. “It responded to all five of us.”

“The corridor did. The bed didn’t light up until you touched it.”

“It could be reacting to the magic left on me by the beam.”

“An ancient wing opened, counted five people, and gave you a crystal bed.” He folded his arms. “But yes, I’m sure it’s nothing.”

Leander ignored him and returned to the sealed arch. His hand moved over the place where the entrance had disappeared, searching for a lock or release mechanism.

“We need to reopen this immediately.”