The king sits back in his chair, looking tired. “I will speak to my advisors and decide the best course of action. You will know my decision the evening of the upcoming ball. You may return to your rooms.”
All three of the princes and the advisor look like they want to argue, but none of them do. Our group exits to the hallway insilence and makes our way back to the academy. I kind of want to ask them what they think the king will decide, but it’s not like they’ve ever confided anything in me before, so I keep my questions to myself.
A servant comes running around the corner of the hall in front of us and sees me, and his eyes widen. He runs right up to me and says, “I have a message for you from your fiancé.”
I stiffen. “Could you–?”
I’d planned on telling him to give me my message in my room, but Prince Gareth interrupts and says, “What is it?”
“He says that he has heard the news of you becoming a dragon rider and will be here as soon as possible.”
Fucking great. Just great.“Thank you.”
The servant bows and walks away.
All three of the princes are suddenly way too close. Prince Lucien leans over me. “When were you going to tell us you were engaged?”
Like it’s any of their business.
I give them all the dirtiest look I can muster. “It’s complicated.”
Then I turn and walk away, ignoring their intense stares on my back.If they can be all jerky and unhelpful, so can I. They won’t be getting gossip, or more fuel to harass me, any time soon.
Now, I just need to go to my room and try to figure out how to handle things from here.
2
Harper
The next day,morning practice has long since finished, and I’ve bathed. I’m ready to escape for a little while. I pull my bag on and set out through the academy grounds, having decided early this morning that I’d be going on an herb-gathering mission today for a couple reasons. I don’t know this area, which is something I want to rectify. I also don’t have fresh herbs, or the variety I’m used to, in case I need them. I just have what the servants could provide. And that’s just not good enough for me as a healer. Regardless of my dragon rider status, I don’t intend to let my skills go to waste.
I spot Roland in the hall, and he smiles. “What are you up to?”
“Collecting herbs from the forest.”
He looks surprised. “Be careful out there. It’s easy to get lost.”
“Thanks.” I hesitate. “And thanks for keeping an eye on me. I know it’s not easy, given the circumstances.”
“No problem. But I will say, you seem to be getting the hang of things now. I’m not sure if you’ll need quite as much of my help.”
Grinning, I say, “And here I was thinking I was just as lost as I was on my first day.”
A couple more dragon riders come around the corner, and Roland’s smile vanishes. One of them invites him to join them, and Roland gives me the smallest nod of his head before taking off with them. As hard as it is that he doesn’t want anyone associating me with him, I don’t blame him. We’re not friends, not really. We’re just friendly with each other.
I’m off to explore the forest for herbs.I send the thought out to Ebron.
He responds, as if from a great distance.Be safe. I will continue enjoying my time with my three powerful females.
I know it should be mostly troubling to me that he’s getting closer to the female dragons, but I can’t help but be happy for him. Regardless of what Ebron says, I think he’s been lonely for awhile.
My braid bounces on my back as I make my way out to the courtyard the academy shares with the castle. I hurry to the open gates leading out to the city. The forest surrounds the city and the academy in all directions, other than where the land meets the sea. My plan is to dive into the forest and lose myself for a little while. Just enough time to sort through the complicated thoughts constantly running through my mind.
“Hey!”
Every muscle in my body stiffens, and I turn to see the three princes on the steps leading down from the castle. Prince Alaric is the one who called out to me, his expression serious. His brothers look to be in their usual bad moods, Prince Gareth with his customary glare, and Prince Lucien with an unfriendly smilethat doesn’t reach his eyes. I want to just turn around and ignore them, but doing such a thing in front of the castle, for all to see, when they’re princes, seems like a bad idea.
I wait, and they approach me. “What is it?” I ask.
