“Why does being a phoenix allow me to hear you?”
“You were reborn from the ashes, resurrected in the flames, and reinstated in your greatness. Similar to that of a dragon’s egg, although we’re not half as cool as you are. I haven’t discussed it with any of the others, so I don’t know if it’s just me or all, but we’re crafted from the same inferno now, Ivy.”
I gulp, unsure how I feel about the permanent reminder that I’ve died.
Baron clears his throat. “Are you satisfied now, Alaric? She needs to rest.”
The dragon seems to nuzzle further against me for a moment before he leans back, slowly maneuvering his insanely large limbs to stand.
I follow suit, rising to my feet before I take a step back, completely bewildered by the turn of events as I feel the late afternoon sun against my face. Inhaling, I let it warm me, rooting me to the spot instead of letting me hightail it back to my dorm room to pretend none of this ever happened.
Another deep breath, and I feel calmer. My gaze snags on Baron, and I find myself mesmerized by the way his hair flutters in the breeze. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen it down. It’s almost as long as mine, and it has a way of eliminating the instinctive anger that consistently emits from him.
My lips part to say just that, but it feels too much like a compliment, so I stop myself at the last second.
“Can I come and check on you again tomorrow?”
My lips purse. “Can you come alone?”
“No,” Baron answers, and I cock a brow at him. He doesn’t falter under my stare as he shakes his head. “Dragons aredangerous in general, but Alaric here can be a little more hotheaded than others. I don’t want you to get hurt. Not again.”
My gaze narrows as Alaric huffs, and I watch as tendrils of black smoke seep from his nostrils.
“I would never hurt her,”he snaps, and Baron sighs, planting his hands on his hips.
“Not on purpose, but none of my scars were planned either, were they?”
I can feel myself softening toward Alaric’s needs, and it doesn’t make sense. All I know is I need some space to think because this is insanity.
“I would be more careful with her,”Alaric insists, earning a scoff from Baron as I hide a smile behind my hand.
“Good to know, buddy,” Baron grumbles as he turns to face me. “Thank you. You didn’t have to appease this butthead, but you did, and I appreciate it.”
My lips twist, a sassy response resting on the tip of my tongue, but I swallow it down, taking the high road as I mentally acknowledge the fact that he didn’t knock on my door for himself, but for his dragon.
“No problem. I’d say anytime, but it seems we might need to limit him,” I admit, and I swear it earns me a half smile on Baron’s face, but it’s gone too quickly for me to be sure.
“Truce?”
I shake my head. “Maybe a half truce when we’re dealing with you,” I reply, refusing to look at Baron as I cut the distance to Alaric, placing my palm against the side of his head one last time before I turn for the dorms.
“Let me walk you,” Baron hollers, and I shake my head.
“I know how to walk into my building just fine,” I retort, not bothering to look back before I step through the flamed entryway.
The second they’re no longer in sight, my shoulders sag and a whoosh of air leaves my lungs.
Today has been a day. Damn, this week has been something else entirely, but I didn’t expect this. Not after I’d insisted Hugo leave so I could spend the rest of the day wallowing. At least the burning sensation at the back of my eyelids is gone now. Clearly, all I needed was a distraction, and Alaric provided it.
“Oh my gosh, there you are!” I jolt at the sudden sound, turning just in time to see Ember zooming toward me. She does two laps around me before she settles in front of my face. “Where have you been?”
I smile. “Seeing a dragon.”
“A dragon?” she screeches. “Why would you leave unannounced to see a dragon? That’s dangerous, Ivy,” she insists, and I wave her off as I head for the stairs.
“I was fine. It was Alaric, and Baron was there.”
“Oh.” I can practically hear her thoughts tinkering in her mind. “Ohhh. When do I get to meet the dragon?”
