Page 130 of Wings of Destruction

I believe her. There’s no way on this green earth I plan on letting her go to the mines. Her pulse skips another beat and blotches of color dot her face from exertion. I’m not going anywhere.

Neither is she.

I push off her but before she has a chance to scuttle off, I grab the front of that hideous gray dress and haul her to her feet with me.

“Don’t make me throw you over my shoulder again,” I say with a smile.

She growls, slashing at my face with her nails like a feral cat, leaving me no choice but to follow through. I grunt when her ribs collide against me and her knee drives straight where it doesn’t belong.

Morgan beats against my back. I’ve watched this girl manage to get close enough to ruin too many times to count, and she’s managed them all with the competence of a soldier on the front lines. My guess is, if given the opportunity, she’d hand out justice with compassion and understanding.

Patience? No.

I breathe deeply and pull air into my lungs.

My decision made on the tip of a pin, and just as painful as driving it into my skin, I march toward the door.

“Move.” The barked demand has Evie’s friends scurrying out of the way.

It’s the voice I use when I lead my father’s legions. The voice that forces strangers to jump in the air and do whatever command I’ve issued.

Morgan has to stay at DragonSpear. It’s the only thing I know, besides the fact that keeping her as a member of the staff is out of the question. No way will I be able to spin this in such a way to keep her working. Not to mention Mrs. Milkin.

The woman’s lips are permanently molded to the shape of Ryson’s backside. He does the talking for the royal family, the mouthpiece of the monarchy, and Milkin is one of the countless millions in Manifest who lap up every word.

She’ll go out of her way to keep me and my cousin happy while we’re here but keeping Morgan might just push her beyond her boundary of tolerance.

Not to mention what will happen when Evie recovers. She’ll heal, of course. When she does, she’ll go straight for Morgan’s throat. There are no protections for the maids. Morgan will be forced into a position where she’ll protect herself⁠—

And be damned to the mines again.

But as a student, Morgan has a chance. She should have been here learning anyway.

I make it to the open dining hall doors and round the corner before I pull up short. Astrid holds out a hand then ducks to avoid getting kicked in the face.

Morgan is still shouting and cursing to free herself. I’d tuned her out.

Strain lines furrow Astrid’s brow. “Where are you going?”

“The main office.”

I cut forward and Astrid trails me with impressive speed while pointedly staring ahead. Not looking at Morgan. Not reacting to the screams. Hers is the second sound of boots thumping the marble floors. My own click against the floors unusually hard, echoing down from the cavernous ceiling.

Evie’s friends can go to the Void for all I care, as long as they don’t follow me.

“Kieran, are you sure this is what you want to do?” Astrid asks. “You have to be sure.”

“I thought you were bringing the cavalry with you? Did you dump Evie with the healers and march right back to twist my ear?”

Astrid sniffs, displeased with my nasty tone. “Rude. You should thank me for making sure your girlfriend doesn’t scar. I came back to make sure you weren’t going to do anything stupid.”

Like I’ve already done. She doesn’t need to say the rest of the statement for me to hear the reprimand plainly.

My gut pulls and goes watery. I’ve messed up too many times to count.

“You’re seriously going to Harbi? What do you think is going to happen? She won’t bend a knee to you no matter how prettily you plead. Unlike the others.” Astrid crosses her arms over her chest.

The free afternoon keeps most of the halls empty. But soon they’ll fill when the bell rings for dinner.