Page 55 of Wings of Destruction

“You know.” I indicate Kieran with my nose.

I add an eyebrow wiggle so there’s no way for her to miss my meaning. “I can’t imagine he’s going to get you where you want to go. I mean, by all means, if you want to, then do it. I can’t see how you’re getting anywhere.”

Kieran shoots me an unreadable look, and curse me, but my heart beats a little faster. I hate myself for it. There is nothing about him that should cause me a physical reaction unless it’s my hatred.

Being this near to him, my skin prickling with proximity and heat and awareness, I’m on even shakier ground than before.

This is dangerous.

Evie gives no warning before her arm whips out and she slaps her palm to my face, exactly the same place Mrs. Milkin got me. Pain flares bright from my already bruised skin and, confounding the harpy, I cry out.

Everyone hears it.

The corner of the book slams the center of my foot before her fingertips have broken contact with my cheek. I’ve lost this round.

My posture goes rigid, and Evie tenses for a fight. Her gaze reaches the darkest parts of me. If I give in now, if I let the rage move my body⁠—

There will be no coming back from it.

Twelve

Kieran

Evie’s slap reverberates and kills whatever snide remarks the others have poised to make. Surprise flickers through me before I catch a glimpse of fire in Morgan’s eyes. I know that fire.

I live it.

She’ll erupt any second now, her body giving into the vibrations and the hatred. Evie has taken a step too far over the line. It’s her right to do it, too, in this place. DragonSpear not only allows but encourages violence among its students.

Evie has stomped on too many weaker people to count them and used their bodies to reach the top.

Not the middle, as suggested.

And I’ve never let her kneel her way to influence me, despite her attempts.

Morgan rears up and sucks in a breath. Preparing to do battle and ruin us all with her first—and last—hit.

Reacting, I grab Evie by the elbows and drag her away from Morgan.

If she gets kicked out of DragonSpear and her employment terminated, I can’t use her fire. I need her and I need her here. Otherwise it changes future plans and there are already too many variables up in the air.

“You vicious little snake. Do you think your sharp tongue makes you clever?” Evie gripes with a broken laugh.

“Stop it, Evie.”

The blonde kicks and struggles against my hold, digging her heels down. I grind my teeth and bear down. She’s got energy in her slender body and the training to make her a vicious, lethal fighter. If she actually gets herself together.

Evie Fortescue is direct, vicious, and a little chaotic. The mean girl tendencies have got to end. They probably never will.

The only one who appreciates her capricious mood changes is her mount, Emazo, a three headed dreg of a hydra who will eat a face off its owner without a second thought.

“Let go of me, Kieran,” Evie seethes. “Did you hear what she said about me? Did you hear what she implied?”

I snort. “Yeah, I heard her.”

“And what are you going to do about it?”

I need Morgan more than ever. I just have to find the right way to approach her.