Page 181 of Wings of Destruction

“Great news.” I force a grin.

Morgan’s head snaps up. “Wait—why would he have to leave?”

Harbi’s mouth tightens. “Mr. Ryson put his own place here on the line to vouch for you, Miss Whyte. If you had declined, he would have been expelled along with you.”

The color drains from Morgan’s face, and something flickers across her features—surprise, maybe even guilt, before her features harden into a glare. Her nose is swollen, and bruises spread out like an oil spill across her cheeks, darkening her freckles.

What in the Void happened?

She’s in worse shape than when I left her.

Fresh from a fight with a teenage dragon, I’m not in the best mood, and certainly not feeling congenial. Morgan stares me down with her chin slightly lifted as though she is utterly secure on her high ground and I’m the one floundering. I expect nothing less of her.

For some unjustifiable reason, irrational fury settles in my veins and moves my fingers for me. Who hurt her?

Whoever it is, I’ll make them pay.

“I’m sure we’re all excited for this,” Harbi says dryly.

She paces between us, an unspoken peacemaker, shrugging off our posturing like she has no clue the silent showdown is taking place.

“What changed?” I snap. “I thought you couldn’t possibly⁠—”

Morgan draws up and Harbi clears her throat.

“Mr. Ryson, please get your new charge settled in her room. We have space three doors down from you, I’d think.” Harbi pauses.

Three doors down…

Ah, yes, the slender looking first year who’d gotten caught on the wrong end of a knife fight. Those break out occasionally. He hadn’t been strong enough to endure this place and allowed his guard to drop.

It leaves a free space for Morgan as well as pulling double duty. This will allow me to keep a better eye on her.

A small part of me soars with glee at the prospect.

She’s in. She came around, regardless of who convinced her, and now she’s mine.

It doesn’t matter how angry the stubborn set of Morgan’s jaw makes me. I stare right back without breaking eye contact.

“Absolutely,” I murmur to Harbi. “It’s my pleasure.”

“I’ve advised her to join your team so she will be on your schedule, taking the same classes that you take. Since you are the one who vouched for her, it seems only prudent to pair you off.”

Harbi might as well not be there for all it matters.

Wind and rain batter our backs and the gust steals Morgan’s hair, the rope of braid tugged by invisible strings. The stray strands around her face curl from sweat. Her eyes are pools, and if I let myself, I’ll be lost in them.

Mozi stirs behind me, raising his head and swishing his wings.

Take it easy, I say firmly.

I might say the same to you. Do you need help with her? A single gulp and I’ll be able to rid us both of these problems. It may be a much simpler solution to this entire affair.

He growls low in his chest.

I’m so tired of other people trying to control the direction of my life. And curse me if I’m going to give Mozi the satisfaction of knowing I’m rattled. Morgan, too, for that matter.

Steeling myself, I step up to her, and she hesitates before saying anything. A flush creeps up to her jawline, but she keeps her eyes on mine. She’s proven herself to me time and again. She held firm, stood her ground…