The blood in Lory’s veins nearly froze as Tabi spoke her mind so openly, even with the chatter of the morning crowd covering her words. “We can’t talk about that here,” she quickly hissed. They needed to find somewhere quiet and undisturbed in order to exchange information—not that Khayrivven would ever agree, but Tabi, Thal, and Jarek had come to her aid in the Amrin Mountains, fighting their own classmates to ensure Lory survived. She trusted them, perhaps more than she trusted herself, because with everything going on lately, she wondered if her own judgment was clouded by the chemistry between her and the ruthless, yet incredibly selfless captain she’d once feared so much.
“Midnight in the shower room on the second floor,” Lory murmured, hoping no one would cross that plan by putting her on yet another mission or pulling the blue ashlings out of their beds for special night training or something similarly absurd she could only imagine Ashthorn coming up with.
Letting go of her, Tabi gave her a curt nod, then looped her arm through Thal’s with a chuckle as if Lory had made a half-funny joke. When Thal demanded to know what was up, she playfully slapped his bicep, tugging him toward the stack of trays at the side of the breakfast counter. “Later.” She grinned up at him, but the smile didn’t touch her eyes.
Perhaps, coming from a military family of tradition, Tabi was even more distressed about the latest events at Ashthorn and the doubt Narica’s statement had sown, while Lory had never fully trusted the academy, just as Aiden hadn’t—just as Khayrivven.
Lory caught up with Anees at the counter, squeezing in between two ashlings to swipe a slice of bread and a dragon fruit onto her plate, ignoring their half-hearted complaints. She was no longer at the bottom of Ashthorn’s food chain, and since she’d survived the Amrin Mountains, people didn’t simply threaten her in the hallway anymore, one of the small perks of potentially turning into a living torch at any moment, she supposed.
“What are we working on today?” Lory asked over a mouthful of dragonfruit as she gobbled up her meal, the habit of eating fast ingrained into her through a life on the streets.
Perredin Washings raised a brow. “Ashlings are doing parcours and hand-to-hand. Thornlings are scheduled formagic training with Dunveil, but I guess you’re off the hook since you’re receiving special treatment from Falcrest.” With a wink, the phantom gave Lory a toothy grin.
“Shut up, Washings.” Hadrian Bleek shot him a glare that indicated he’d like to spear him with the blade hanging at his hip, while Anees pretended not to be paying attention.
“Magic training is mandatory at this stage of our education, Lory,” she explained without a look at Washings. “Khay asked Hadrian and me to substitute for him this morning.”
“Too bad Sil needs me for the Ashlings,” Washings complained, shoving his sleeves up his forearms before biting into a slice of bread. “I’d have liked to watch the fire spitter set herself on fire.”
Lory blew out a breath as her magic responded to the taunt as if Washings had known which buttons to push. “The problem is, Washings, that I’m just as likely to setyouon fire while I’m at it.”
To his credit, Perredin Washings laughed, even when his angled, slightly tilted eyes gave away he was just as scared as he was amused.
“I don’t enjoy human roast, don’t worry,” Lory amended, keeping the bite out of her voice as she turned to Anees. “I’ve been dying to learn more about my powers. When can we start?”
Nineteen
Lory
After breakfast,Anees and Bleek took Lory to the familiar stone chamber in the bowels of the academy.
Halfway down the stairs, Lory pondered asking if they had any news about the three Flames in Ashthorn’s dungeons, but she didn’t dare bring up the topic for fear someone could overhear them in the hallways.
Once inside the chamber, she readied herself to whisper the question to Anees, but the woman had already pulled a shawl-sized piece of fabric from the small cupboard in the corner and washolding it out to Lory.
“Today is about control, Lory. We’ve all seen you go up in flames. We’ve heard the stories about the Amrin Mountains and about how you turned into a living torch before you disappeared, but we know little to nothing about your control.”
Wait? How did they know about what happened in the mountains?
“Did Khayrivven tell you the details?” If anyone would tell her the truth, it was the two of them.
Bleek shook his head. “Lenya held a lecture for the rest of leadership and all tutoring students about what to expect if we were working on your powers. Not that your powers are anything to be afraid of…” he amended so fast Lory could barely get upset about the fact Lenya had found it necessary to voice a warning abouther.As if she intended to hurt anyone.
“It doesn’t say half as much about you as it does him,” Bleek said with the sort of roguish charm that made Lory wonder if he was following his own agenda.
Khayrivven trusts him,she reminded herself. So she’d trust him, too.
“I guess you’re right. If I don’t learn how to use my powers in small, digestible doses, it will one day blow up in my face.”
“If you ever get upset with me when I tell you that, I’ll remind you thatyousaid it first.” Anees gestured at the fabric in Lory’s arms. “Now try to singe that. Nothing more. No flame, no open fire. Just some smoke.”
Lory suppressed the eyeroll at the request, but the less defiant part of her was ready to dive right in.
“Close your eyes if it helps,” Bleek chimed in, his tone surprisingly unlike his courtier persona out of Gilded lessons. “Just remember to keep your eyes open when you face an opponent.”
With her focus on her palms, Lory reached for the well of power inside of her, finding her fire ready and waiting. This might be easier than expected.
With a tug on her magic, her palms turned hot, hot, hotter, and the fabric caught fire so fast it turned to ashes between her fingers.
