Page 13 of Heartflame

The crystal warmed in my hands, and for a moment nothing happened. Then the surface began to shimmer, and my grandfather’s face materialized before me, his expression grave.

“Aeron,” he said, his voice clear despite the magical distance between us. “I assume you’ve heard about the breach.”

“Yes, Grandfather,” I replied, keeping my tone steady. “What happened? How bad is it?”

“It’s minor at best,” he said, and I felt some of the tension drain from my shoulders. “We’re not sure who attempted to breach the wards, but they were not successful. It seems the newer wards destroyed them before they could push through. However, we’re taking precautions, regardless. The Academy is on lockdown until we can verify the integrity of all the wards.”

“Should I be concerned?” I asked.

“No,” he said firmly. “You’re exactly where you need to be. Safe behind the wards. I’ve ensured that no one gets in without Elder Council authorization right now. Your job now is to stay in your room and wait for further instructions. Don’t leave the dorms. Can you do that for me?”

“Of course, Grandfather.”

“Good,” he nodded, and I caught the hint of pride in his expression. “It’s just a precaution, but I could never forgive myself if something happened to you. Your mother made me promise to keep you safe.”

I nodded, feeling a smile tug at my lips. “I made sure I didn’t look worried or panicked when I was around the other students. I know you’ll keep us safe.”

He smiled. “You’re doing well there, Aeron. Better than I expected, honestly. Keep it up.”

Then the crystal went dark, and I was left alone in my room once more, the sounds of panic still echoing through the hallways outside. I set the crystal carefully back in its box and leaned back in my chair, letting out a slow breath.

Everything was under control. Grandfather had it handled. There was nothing to worry about.

I just had to stay calm and wait.

Glancing around my room, my gaze fell on the books I’d purchased for my Magical Theory course. With a shrug, I reached over and grabbed one, flipping it open to the required reading for the weekend. I figured if I was going to be stuck in my room, I might as well refresh on the basics so I could dazzle Professor Blackwood in class. Maybe that would get her off my ass.

Chapter 7

Quill

Despite the ward breach and everything that had happened over the weekend, come Monday morning, the only thing I could think about was that stupid goddamn dragon and that fucking kiss. I’d managed to convince myself over the course of the weekend that the whole thing had been just adrenaline and proximity. That in the heat of the moment, with the party thumping around us and my defenses lowered, my body had simply reacted to the physical stimulation without actually wanting it. It was a convenient lie, and I’d almost believed it by the time Monday rolled around.

Almost.

But the moment I walked into Magical Theory and saw him already sprawled across his chair like some kind of scaled deity, all of that carefully constructed rationalization crumbled to dust. He was wearing a fitted black shirt that showed off the definition of his chest, and his tail was coiled around the base of the chair. He sat there, acting like he owned the entire classroom and everyone in it was just here for his entertainment. And the most infuriating part was that he looked fucking good doing it.

I felt my jaw clench as I took my usual seat three rows back, deliberately positioning myself so I wouldn’t have to look directly at him. The problem was, I could still feel his presence like a weight pressing against my back. Even without looking, I was hyperaware of every move he made, every shift in his position, and the expansion of his chest with every breath.

This was ridiculous. I’d been kissed before, and I’d managed to move on without this level of obsessive rumination. So what if this particular kiss had been more intense? So what if his lips had been warm and his tongue almost ended up in my mouth? It’s not like I wanted him to do anything else with that tongue. Or that I wanted to know what it felt like to taste his probably huge dragon⁠—

No. Stop. This was exactly what he wanted. For me to sit here and fantasize about him like one of his groupies. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

Professor Blackwood entered the classroom, and I forced myself to focus on her instead of Aeron. She was carrying a stack of papers that she set down on her desk with a sharp thump, and her expression suggested she’d had about as good a weekend as I had.

“I trust you all made it through the ward breach without incident,” she said, not bothering with pleasantries. “I’m sure the administration will have more information for us as the week progresses, but for now, we move forward.”

She began handing out papers to students in the front row, who then passed them back. When the stack reached me, I took one and passed it forward, finally allowing myself to glance toward where Aeron was sitting. He was watching me with that same infuriating smirk, and when our eyes met, he winked.

I felt heat flood my face and quickly looked away.

“These are your first group assignments,” Professor Blackwood continued, reclaiming everyone’s attention. “You’ll be working on them in pairs. I’d like a full breakdown of magical theory applications for defensive wards, similar to the ones used on the school. You’ll need to plan for every possibility including unwanted human interaction and animals. The assignment is due two weeks from today. Pairs will be posted on the board.”

She turned and wrote names on the blackboard in neat, precise letters. I watched as she worked, my stomach doing an odd flip with each pair she listed and announced.

Please don’t pair me with Aeron. Please don’t pair me with Aeron. Please don’t⁠—

“Aeron Pyre and Quill Aster,” she announced, and I felt my entire body go rigid.