Page 33 of Veiled

My stomach tightens, and for half a second, I consider turning around and crawling back into bed, pretending the world doesn’t exist.

But I shake my head, trying to force the negative thoughts away, and pick up my pace.

They’re trying to steal too much from me, my peace, my confidence, my damn reputation. But I will not be the girl I was in South Hollow. I’m going to do the same thing I always do—make myself be okay until I really can be.

They don’t get to take anything from me.

They don’t get to win.

And they sure as hell don’t get to consume another minute of my favorite part of the gods damned day. My runs are for me, and I refuse to let them ruin this one.

I stop, pull out my phone and headphones, and hit play on “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus because we don’t need stupid men.

Right as the tempo picks up, the trail starts to climb, winding up toward the Vanguard building, the world around me stretches open with possibilities.

The air smells faintly of dew and pine and a distant tang of smoke, because somewhere beyond those hills, the dragons await.

Just thinking about it sends a shiver down my spine with anticipation. What if, eight months from now, one of them could be mine? Bonded. Unbreakable. Connected in a way people spew on about legends and write whole damn songs about.

That’s it. It’s decided.

No rumors, whispers, or opinions of people I don’t give a flying shit about can get in the way of me making a future for myself. I won’t let it. Whether it is with dragons or on the front lines, I deserve more, and I’m going to fight to have everything.

I push harder, lungs burning now, but embracing the confidence my runner's high is giving me. The sun is starting to peek over the horizon, the first streaks of gold cutting across the academy rooftops and glinting off the spires of the east tower. I let myself smile.

Today’s not about Lucas or Aiden or any of the people who’ve decided they know who I am.

Today’s about me.

And the dragons.

When I get back to the barracks, my lungs are on fire from pushing myself so hard, but the fire inside me has shifted from anxiety to something lighter and stronger: determination. I tuck my headphones back into my pocket and climb the stairs to my room.

Chapter fourteen

Annalise

Strategy with Matt and Sasha has been, dare I say, fun this morning. The three of us are hunched over maps, moving figures across battle grids, arguing over lines of attack and defensive positions.

“Lee, your left flank is exposed if you advance along that ridge,” Matt points out, his brow furrowed, giving our exercise his full concentration. I nod, seeing what he’s talking about, and adjust my pieces.

Focusing on the fake mission we’re working through, I can pretend I don’t notice the commentary that seems to be following me across campus since I left my room this morning.

Matt has given his fair share of threats, and I didn’t even know Sasha could look mean until she overheard a few recruits make comments in formation and was snarling like a rabid dog at them.

By the end of class, we’ve set up what we think is a flawless ambush and are ready to claim victory in our imaginary battle in two days.

When I make it to Environmental Tactics, I’m relieved to find out we’re going outside in the forest close to the Combat Arena for today’s lesson.

Notebooks in hand, we’ll be studying the plants around us and the conditions they thrive in. I jot down notes and rough sketches of the different vegetation I’ll need to research later, imagining how I might use the terrain for shelter or to set traps if I were stranded out here.

A shadow blocks the little light I have, and a guy I have only seen in classes is now looming above me with a cocky grin plastered to his face. Ugh, I’m already annoyed.

“Hey, I was wondering what you’re up to tonight. A couple of us are going to hang out and have a few drinks. We thought you might want to come.”

I don’t miss the double entendre.

Does he really think that line is going to work?